Flora & Vino

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10 Homemade Vegan Candy Recipes

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10 homemade vegan candy recipes that taste better than the originals and are made with real ingredients. All of the recipes are gluten-free, too!

Hellooooo, friends! 

It’s that time of year when bags of Halloween candy mixes tower over us near the store check out line. 

Instead of grabbing a bag, why don’t we make some of our own? 

I realized this month that while I have a Halloween Recipe Round Up, I don’t have an archive exclusive for candy. 

I’m fixing that today by bringing you 10 Homemade Vegan Candy Recipes.

I think that these homemade copycat candies taste better than the original and they’re made with real food ingredients. 

They’re all vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free.

While you never need my permission (or anyone’s, for that matter)  to enjoy a sweet treat, but I hope these recipes inspire you to indulge a little!

This round up is perfect for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or anytime of year when you’re craving candy. 

Bookmark this round up and come back to it to make everything at least once! 

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Black Sesame Noodle Bowl

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Cozy Black Sesame Noodle Bowl made with soba noodles and oven-baked vegetables in a delicious Black Sesame Butter Sauce. 

Black Sesame Noodle Bowl served in bowl topped with cilantro and sesame seeds          

Happy Halloween week, friends!

It’s funny, we’ve lived in our condo for about 4 years now and we’ve never seen a solitary trick or treater. 

It’s not for lack of trying! 

The first year I thought it might be a fluke because we’re at the dead end of the street with our lights off. 

After that year, I made sure to leave the porch light on and the carved pumpkins street facing with a fresh tea light candle in the center. 

Still, no trick or treaters. 

There are *definitely* kids in our neighborhood, but, for whatever reason, they don’t stop at our house. 

Maybe it’s haunted and we don’t know it.

That doesn’t stop me from buying a small bag of candy each year…just in case. 

This week we had M’s friend over for pumpkin carving and fall food. 

Every year I romanticize pumpkin carving…until I’m up to my elbows with pumpkin guts and the living room floor is littered with seeds and orange goop.

It takes two to carve a pumpkin, right? 

Or, at least, it does in my house. 

I usually delegate all of the knife work to M (who is less concerned about stabbing himself with pointy objects) and I take over the scraping.

The scraping is not for the faint of heart, though, because it takes stamina and arm muscle and a high tolerance to handling slime. 

But the end result is always idyllic, right? 

All those orange jacks grinning and glowing from within on the patio. 

These Black Sesame Noodle Bowl will make YOU glow from within this fall season!

These cozy Black Sesame Noodle Bowl are made with soba noodles and oven-baked vegetables in a delicious Black Sesame Butter Sauce. 

I made mine for a dramatic dinner to celebrate Halloween week! 

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SunButter Chocolate Easter Eggs

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Easy SunButter Chocolate Easter Eggs with just 5-ingredients! Perfect for an Easter treat or anytime healthy candy substitute.

SunButter Chocolate Easter Eggs served in white bowl with parchment paper with SunButter and chocolate chips on the side

A few years ago, at a get together at my cousin’s house, my sister made a point of getting M to try some marshmallow peeps. 

Growing up in Germany, M had no idea what to expect from Classic Peeps.

(I’ll note that this moment was made arguably even better by the fact that my sister had purchased neon pink peeps instead of the classic yellow.)

So M, ever adventurous, bit into the marshmallow fluff covered in pink sugar, chewed a few times, and said, “This is pretty gross!” 

We all burst into laughter, our suspicions confirmed. 

M isn’t a sugar lover, and peeps are nothing but pure sugar! 

Although peeps were always a part of my Easter basket, they were never my thing, either. 

They were too sweet, too airy, too artificial tasting. 

Not that the rest of the Easter candy I was consuming was by any means healthful, but at least they had normal coloring.

Which is why I stand by the fact that Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs are by far the superior Easter dessert. 

They always had what I’ve heard described as “the perfect ratio of chocolate to peanut butter”, even more so than chocolate peanut butter cups! 

That is, until today, because I made you some SunButter Chocolate Easter Eggs that are the real winner. 

These easy SunButter Chocolate Easter Eggs are made with just 4-ingredients!

They’re perfect for an Easter treat or anytime healthy candy substitute.

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Savory Stuffed Dates

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Savory Stuffed Dates with vegan cream cheese, crushed pistachios, maple syrup, and hemp and chia seeds. Perfect for an elevated appetizer!

Dates stuffed with cream cheese and topped with pistachios, hemp hearts, and chia seeds on white plate

I’ve made an exciting and daunting new goal for the year ahead: read 50 books in 2025! 

So far, I’ve completed 4, so it feels like I’m off to a pretty good start. 

My plan to achieve this goal is to hit the target from two fronts: audiobooks and kindle reads. 

During the day, I love to have a self help-y, conversational, motivational read on during the day while I’m shooting a recipe, testing food, or cleaning the dishes. 

I just finished Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory and am delighting in saying, “Let Them!” to everything applicable.

(And so many things are applicable…IYKYK.)

By night, M and I have settled into a routine of snuggling up with our kindles and a glass of wine or kombucha while Flora takes a (much needed) nap before dinner. 

Right now, like so many of you, I’m making my way through Onyx Storm, the 4th and long awaited book in Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing series. 

So, I’m hoping with this routine I can actually accomplish my 50 books this year! 

I re-realized recently just how much joy reading brings me, so I want to prioritize reading even above podcasts and TV and definitely above social media consumption.

Whenever we’re having our reading party upstairs while the pup naps, snacks are always welcome. 

These Savory Stuffed Dates are served with vegan cream cheese, crushed pistachios, maple syrup, and hemp and chia seeds.

They’re perfect for an elevated appetizer!

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8 Favorite Fig Recipes

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8 of my favorite fig recipes to celebrate the transition from late summer to early fall! Incudes both savory and sweet fig recipes!

It’s been a wild (almost) two weeks since becoming dog mom to Flora, our Australian Shepherd puppy. 

Yes, it’s true that time flies when you’re having fun, but it also flies when you’re busy AF. 

Flora has us in a new routine of getting to bed early and getting up even earlier, which I like more than I thought I would. 

Between puppy training (read: watching Flora repeatedly get the zoomies), brainstorming fall recipes, and big yoga moves, it’s been a busy August so far.

Let my update you on my yoga. 

Last weekend I attended a Restorative Yoga Workshop so that I can begin incorporating restorative yoga into my teaching. 

I also recently started teaching yoga on a weekly basis (every Saturday!). 

If you’ve been around here a while, you know that having my very own class has been a goal of mine since graduating from YTT.

So I’m super excited at the opportunity to teach more frequently. 

Some other milestones to celebrate this past week are: 

  1. Flora had her first taste of peanut butter and is obsessed,
  2. M and I took Flora to her first coffee drive-through,
  3. and I found fresh digs at the super market.

Ah, figs. Which brings us to today’s collection of recipes that I have for you. 

I love them so much, even if they have a weird origin. 

Something about a wasp dying inside the the fig to pollinate them? Google it. 

Either way, they’re delicious, and I’m excited to eat them for the next few months. 

This recipe round up includes 8 of my favorite fig recipes to celebrate the transition from late summer to early fall!

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10 Tomato Recipes for Summer

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10 of my favorite tomato recipes that will get you excited for juicy summer tomatoes! Incudes both savory and sweet tomato recipes!

We’re on week two of having a newest family member, Flora, join the family and F&V community. 

Flora is our 9 week old Australian Shepherd and if I do say so myself, she’s pretty perfect. 

I mean, have you seen her on my Instagram?! 

As I’m writing this she’s passed out beside me in her crate, completely wiped after her first rounds of vaccines today at the vet. 

And while I would love more cuddles and less razor sharp puppy teeth, it’s been a pleasure being her new dog mom. 

Right now, we’re working on the basics, like *sit*, *stay*, *down*, etc. 

We’re also working on potty training, crate training, socialization, and learning how to be alone. 

Looking at the socialization check list, I have to ask myself how well-socialized yours truly is. 

*snort*

One thing I am well-versed on is the beauty and deliciousness of a summer tomato. 

My personal favorite is a colorful heirloom tomato or a sweet juicy cherry tomato, but all tomatoes have their place in the fruit world.

Yes, I’m sharing 10 of my favorite ways to use tomatoes in recipes! 

This recipe round up includes incudes both savory and sweet tomato recipes!

Bookmark this roundup and check back whenever you have tons of tomatoes to enjoy. 

1. Hummus Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Celebrate summer with this easy and light peach salad. Juicy peaches, crunchy pecans, hearty quinoa, and fresh spinach with maple tahini dressing.

2. Flatbread Tortilla Pizza

Easy flatbread pizza made with gluten-free tortilla, sweet corn purée, late summer produce, and herbs. Perfect for a lightened up pizza night in!

3. Cherry Tomato Salsa

Fresh homemade salsa made with sweet cherry tomatoes! Enjoy as a dip with your favorite crackers or as an addition to tacos, burritos, and bowls.

4. Summer Squash & Chickpea Meal

Summer Squash & Chickpea Meal packed with summer produce in under 30 minutes! Perfect for busy summer nights and weekly meal prep.

5. Sweet & Spicy Tomato Jam

Easy unique jam made with cherry tomatoes and simple ingredients that achieve the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Perfect as the topping for any meal! 

6. Vegan Chickpea Ratatouille 

Easy 1-pan vegan chickpea ratatouille baked with your favorite late-summer veggies. Perfect for meal prep and easy weeknight dinners.

7. Oven Roasted Summer Veg

Easy summer roasted vegetables baked with simple seasonings baked in a parchment roasting bag. Serve as a summer side to your main dish.

8. Corn, Tomato, & Avocado Salad

Easy raw summer salad with corn, tomato, avocado, cucumber, and zucchini noodles. Oil-free and simply dressed. Perfect as a light nutritious summer side!

9. Savory Zucchini Oats

Savory oats with zucchini spirals, spinach, avocado, and cherry tomato seasoned with nutritional yeast. Perfect for a savory breakfast or lunch!

10. Watermelon Kale Quinoa Salad

Fresh light summer salad popping with juicy watermelon, heirloom tomato, cucumber, quinoa, mint, and roasted sunflower seeds. Perfect for summer lunch!

More Vegan Recipe Round Ups

I Want To Hear From You

If you make anything from this 10 Vegan Peach Recipes, let me know!

Give me a shout on Instagram and use #floraandvino to show me your creations.

For more Recipe Round Ups, check out my Vegan & Gluten-Free Appetizer Round Up and Vegan Meal Prep Recipe Round Up!

Check out my Pinterest page to pin more recipes like this one to make later!

Love this post and want more? Go to my homepage and subscribe to get updates delivered right to your inbox!

XO Lauren

10 Vegan Peach Recipes

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10 of my favorite vegan peach recipes that will get you excited for summer stone fruit! Incudes both savory and sweet peach recipes!

This week we brought home Flora, our Australian Shepherd puppy. 

I’m writing this post in advance, so I’m currently not able to gush about cute and sassy and cuddly she is. 

(But I will, soon!) 

Anyway, we planned to spend the week getting to know her and establishing a routine!

I decided it might be best for all of us if I took the week off shooting new content so she can slowly get used to her mom’s passion for food.

AKA making a huge mess in the kitchen. 

So, while I don’t have a pup-date, I came happy to rave to you about peaches. 

Is there *anything* better than biting into a ripe summer peach? 

I think not. 

Well, maybe using them in some of the recipes I’m rounding up for you today.

Yes, I’m sharing 10 of my favorite ways to use peaches in recipes! 

This recipe round up includes incudes both savory and sweet peach recipes!

Bookmark this roundup and check back whenever you have a bunch of peaches to use creatively. 

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Fruit Spread Recipe Round Up

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A collection of my favorite fruit spread recipes from naturally sweetened berry jams to smooth fruit butters. Spread them on everything!

If you’re like me, you probably only think of making homemade fruit spreads when you have an excess of something. 

You made all of the pies and tarts and crumbles you can handle so you resort to making jam or jelly to use up fruit. 

But what if we made jams, jellies, and fruit butters the reason (for the season!) 

I remember the first time that I made homemade jam I was astonished at how easy it was to yield delicious results! 

Over the years, I’ve compile some favorites that I make with seasonal fruits. 

As we head barrel towards late summer and early fall, it feels like a good time to share this Fruit Spread Recipe Round Up with you today!

This collection of my favorite fruit spread recipes has everything from naturally sweetened berry jams to smooth fruit butters.

That means you can find something homemade and spreadable here for any time of year.

And these jams are low maintenance and easy to make without pectins, artificial sweeteners, and canning required. 

Spread them on everything!

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10 Cool Summer Meals

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10 Cool Summer Meals that are chill to make and cool to consume. Ditch the oven and make these light and hearty recipes!

Back during 2020 I initiated a walking every day ritual to get out of the house, get some movement in, and breath some fresh air. 

It was an easy, tangible goal that I could achieve even in the height of the uncertainty of COVID.

Walk away from the house and walk back.

My daily walk benefitted me *so* much, I’ve kept it up for the past four years. 

Until this summer. 

For shame, I really have fallen off of my daily walk ever since we got back from Wyoming in June.

I want to blame the intense heat wave we’ve experienced here in Maryland.

And while that totally contributes (I’m about to sound like a cliché here), it’s the *humidity* that really sends me running back into my air conditioned foyer. 

M and I joke about this area being a swamp, because the air is thick, wet, and makes your nose and lungs work to suck it in for respiration. 

So while I don’t want to say I’m ready for fall, I’m definitely ready for easier breathing, cooler temps, and walks that I enjoy. 

Speaking of the heat and humidity, it’s the worst time of year to turn on your oven!

I made that mistake last week and the AC had to work double hard to cool down the kitchen. 

If you, too, are looking for some chill meals to make this summer that don’t require an oven or much cooking at all, I got you.

Check out these 10 Cool Summer Meals that are light, fresh, and cool, but hearty enough to pass for the main meal. 

Bookmark this recipe round up for a heat wave!

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10 Vegan Zucchini Recipes

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10 of my favorite vegan zucchini recipes that will get you excited for late summer! Incudes both savory cooked and baked sweet recipes!

PSA: This is *the* perfect page to visit after you’ve been to the Farmer’s Market and return home with WAY too much summer squash.

‘Cuz it’s squash season, friends! 

If you have zillions of zucchinis, fear not.

I’m excited to share some of my favorite ways to use zucchini this summer and fall. 

Zucchini is *such* a versatile vegetable with a mild flavor that lends itself to well, anything. 

You can cook with it, bake with it, eat it raw, and even blend it into shakes and smoothies. 

With the right seasoning and prep, zucchini can be the star of any late summer meal you prepare. 

Bookmark this 10 Vegan Zucchini Recipes post to make whenever you feel like getting creative with zucchini.

This round up includes ideas for both savory cooked and sweet baked zucchini recipes!

Let’s squash some squash and get that zucchini recipe index from zilch to zillion. 

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