Be Free For Me Blog

When I was growing up fish and chips on Fridays, especially during the Lenten season, was a weekly staple. But since being on a gluten-free diet most anything that is labeled as “crispy” and “battered” have been off limits. That is why I was more than thrilled when I found the battered Starfish haddock.

This all-natural gluten-free, soy-free, milk-free and egg-free “ready-for-your-oven” fish is delicious. And coming from a gal that grew-up on Cape Cod I have discriminating tastes when it comes to my seafood!

I was surprised at just how crispy the batter was and the flakiness of the fish.

Fish and Chips on Friday’s are again on my gluten-free menu! Rejoice!

Snacking is big for me. And any snack that is low-calorie, plus good for me is even bigger. That’s why I love to grab a cheese stick for a quick protein boost on the go.

My favorite is the Sorrento Stringsters Reduced Fat Mozzarella String Cheese. Because they are individually wrapped I can take these healthy gluten-free snacks anywhere I go.

I also like that these cheese sticks are only 70 calories each, high in calcium, and 25% less fat than low moisture part skim string cheese.

Say cheese… and smile!

When I am on the go & traveling to and fro, I like to grab a handful of Gin-Gin’s Ginger Candies and throw them in my bag.

I love the spicy & fresh taste of the ginger. My favorites are the hard candies or the soft chews since they are wrapped in their own individual wrapper and so easy to transport. But I am also a huge fan of the sweet, yet spicy, crystallized ginger too.

I like the fact that they have a whole gluten-free section on their website, and also offer tons of products like spreads, syrups and sauces… all made with, you guessed it, ginger!

They say that ginger has medicinal purposes. Fondly called the “potion of motion” ginger has been known as a soothing remedy for any type of motion sickness. Ginger has also been linked to helping with nausea, nixing pain and also promoting digestion.

But beware Gin-Gin candies are addictive. Once you try them you’ll be a fan for life.

Along with finding some fantastic products at my local celiac support group’s winter meeting this past weekend, I also met some fabulous people too. Many thanks again to all of the BeFreeForMe members who came up and introduced yourselves. Your kind words mean the world to me, and make my work (and my world!) a lot more fun!

I wanted to give a special thanks to Amanda for introducing herself to me. Your enthusiasm, support of the Healthy Villi group, and passion to spread the word about celiac disease and give back to others is inspirational!

I just love the bond that all of us celiac share!

Along with meeting new friends, I also found some new (and revisited some old) gluten-free and allergen-free products too. Here is Part 2 of my finds:

Bakery on Main Granola: Made in small batches, crunchy and sweet this granola should be tried! My favorite is the Extreme Fruit & Nut Granola, which is gluten-free and casein-free. Also worth checking out are their granola bars.

Everybody Eats: These guys are from Brooklyn, NY and make pizzas that do their neighborhood proud! Everybody Eats also makes a phenomenal gluten-free baguette that tastes like the “real deal” and sinfully sweet Cinnamon Sticky Buns. All are a must try!

Food Should Taste Good: As always, it is pleasure to see Andrea and her yummy tortilla chips from Food Should Taste Good. My fav is the Olive. Check out their website for delicious recipes, too!

Gluten-Free Naturals: If you are looking for premium baking mixes check out Gluten-Free Naturals. I tried the yellow cake mix, and it was moist and delicious. They also carry bread mixes and corn bread mix.

Pamela’s Cookies and Mixes: A favorite of many celiacs, Pamela’s was a popular booth with their yummy mini-cupcakes! If you haven’t tried them yet, check out Pamela’s Cheesecakes! Cheese-alicious!

Pure Bars: Certified gluten-free, vegan and no refined sugars these bars make a great breakfast or snack. Cherry-Cashew is my favorite!

Woodman’s Of Essex: A New England favorite! Gluten-free clams, chowders, and French fries. And coming soon, a make-it-yourself from home “Chubby’s Original Fried Clams” kit can be sent direct to your door!

Bard’s Beer: Gluten-free and refreshing! It’s been awhile since I had a gluten-free beer, and Bard’s hit the spot! Grab yourself a cold one and enjoy!

GaGa Sherbetter Sherbert: Not quite ice cream, but creamier than regular sherbet, GaGa Sherbetter is just plain ole’ … better! My favorite is the Rainbow. All flavors are gluten-free.

Today was one of those just fabulous days! It was full of gluten-free food, fun and folks!

I just got home from the Healthy Villi Gluten-Free Winter Membership Meeting in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Like many of you, I belong and participate regularly in my local celiac (as well as food allergy) support groups. I love to join in the activities, find support and also meet some awesome fellow celiacs / food allergen-free folks that make my life just so much nicer.

I met so many wonderful BeFreeForMe members today… Thanks for stopping by and introducing yourselves!

Here is a summary of some of fabulous food finds from the exhibits today:

Willoughby’s Muffins: Gluten/Nut/Dairy and Soy-free these muffins are like homemade. Made in a designated gluten-free facility, Willoughby’s may make muffin pans a thing of the past! Buy on-line at EdiblesByJack.com

More Than a Macaroon: Can I say YUM? A must try, these cookies are chewy, gooey and hands-down one of the most addictive cookies I have ever eaten. A family-owned and operated business, with a passion for celiac baking, this cookie company will become a household name in gluten-free households everywhere. Mark my word.

Lola’s Italian Groceria: Craving gluten-free Eggplant Parmigiana, classic Italian Lasagna or a sweet cannoli? Check out Lola’s and have a tray delivered to your house for your next get-together or small party. Delicious!

Glutino: The number of gluten-free items, and the quality and tastiness of the products Glutino’s has in their line-up always amazes me. The pretzels, the cookies, the meals … all delicious and truly some of my all-time favorites.  Thank you Glutino for being the benchmark for gluten-free products!

Ian’s Natural Foods: The products in Ian’s line-up make me secretly wish I was a kid again… but, then again, Big Kids can love Ian’s products too! If you haven’t tried them yet, check out Ian’s Maple Sausage & Egg Wafflewich for a fast & easy breakfast idea!

Riceworks: A favorite of the gluten-free community, riceworks are just so good! Crunchy and tasty, Riceworks gives back tons to the gluten-free community too. Make sure you nominate for your favorite non-profit group for Riceworks Show Us Your Goodness program!

Kettle Cuisine Soups: It’s about 20 degrees over here in Massachusetts so I was so excited to see Kettle Cuisine here at the show today! If you haven’t tried them yet, you MUST! With 10 (yes, TEN!) gluten-free varieties and five that are dairy-free and five that are vegan, this is one of those staple gluten-free items that I always have on-hand. Need to buy? Find out where here. 

Mr. Ritt’s Bakery: A favorite at tradeshows, Mr. Ritt’s carries it all! Breads, cookies and pizza crusts – a favorite gluten-free designation!

Check out more finds from the Healthy Villi Winter meeting tomorrow on BeFreeForMe.com!

One of my favorite ready-to-eat desserts is Kozy Shack Tapioca. I loved this stuff even before being diagnosed as a celiac.

Rich and creamy, with just enough sweetness – I’ll even grab a cup as a morning snack, while checking my emails or planning my day.

And the best part is that all of Kozy Shacks puddings, flans, and gels are gluten-free; as well as manufactured in facilities that are free of peanuts and tree nuts. (However, according to the company website Most Kozy Shack products contain milk, eggs, or other milk derivatives. So they recommend that you read each ingredient statement that clearly states any known allergens.)

My favorite is the 70 calorie No Sugar Added Tapioca… any dessert good for my middle is good for me!

With Kozy Shack, you can have your dessert and diet too!

I love to have a little sweet snack here and there. But sometimes, I don’t have the time to bake or go shopping for gluten-free desserts. This is when Jell-O puddings jump into my day!

The convenience of the pudding cups (my favorites are the fat-free 100 calorie packs) make anytime be dessert-time. I like that I can throw a gluten-free pudding cup in my lunch cooler and enjoy a little sweetness in my day, almost effortlessly.

The convenience of a sweet and tasty dessert-on-the-run (almost guilt-free too with only 100 calories!) is why this weeks Friday Favorite honors go to Jell-O Pudding cups.

Note: To see the gluten-free labeling statement from Kraft Foods (the manufacturer of Jell-O) click here.

This week’s Friday Favorite is one of the most versatile items in my pantry: Mission White Corn Tortillas.

These gluten, egg, dairy, soy and nut free tortillas can do it all.

These tortillas can wrap up any meal right before your eyes – especially when bread is sometimes scarce or nowhere to be found.

I love these tortillas as a Breakfast Burrito; as a Corn Quesadilla snack; in  main course Jalapeno Chicken Enchiladas or Baked Chimichangas recipes; and even as an ingredient in a dessert when making Chocolate Raspberry Burritos with Raspberry Glaze or N’more Graham Cracker S’mores.

Another reason why these allergen-free tortillas receive BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite honors is that they are just 110 calories for 2 tortillas, and only about .13¢ per tortillas (the retail price I paid was $1.50 for 12 tortillas); just two more reasons why these should be a staple in any allergen or gluten-free kitchen.

With Mission White Corn tortillas… meals are simply a wrap!

There are so many things that bring back happy memories that include the sweet and sticky marshmallow…Making S’mores on hot summer nights, Congo Bars packed with care in my school time Road Runner lunchbox, and mini-marshmallows topping a steaming cup of hot chocolate after making snow men (and ladies!) with my two sisters many years ago on Cape Cod.

What’s not to love about the marshmallow? Full of fun… Full of memories… and NOT full of gluten!

Simply stated and most definitely under-rated… Kraft’s Jet-Puffed marshmallow gets my vote for the most fun-packed gluten-free food, as well as this week’s BeFreeForMe Friday Favorite honor!

Additional Note: Please notice Kraft Food’s policy on listing gluten in their products. It is straightforward, easy to read… and understand! Thanks Kraft Foods!

The honors of this week’s BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite was an easy choice… Kretschmar Deli Meats.

Not only are all of Kretschmar’s deli meats gluten free, they are also free of MSG and artificial flavors. What’s not a gluten-free gal to love?

Truthfully, the deli department at your local grocer can be one of the hardest places to navigate when shopping gluten-free. That is why I ask for Kretschmar deli meats… without hesitation or a question about its gluten-free status.

Kretschmar deli meats taste fantastic too. The turkey taste like the real-deal (think Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches) and the roast beef and hams taste like a thin-cut version of the meats you cook at home.

Fresh, tasty, 100% gluten-free… Pick a number, step up to the deli counter, and order away my gluten-free friends!