Dressings, Dips & Spreads

Smashed Edamame Toast

Smashed Edamame Toast made with tahini, seasoning, and herbs spread on sourdough bread and topped with sauerkraut and hemp hearts.

Recently, we dropped off Flora at her first doggy daycare experience.

It was significant because:

This is the first time Flora has *ever* been away from us with other people, except for the vet visits when they take her back for bloodwork.
Flora is scared of other dogs! From an early age just a dog barking or slightly approaching was enough to elicit a full blown fear response.

As her doggie parents, we struggle between the dichotomy of wanting to both protect and socialize her.

A neighbor of ours recommended a local family-owned small business that does doggie daycare, so we booked an appointment.

I’m glad that socialization won out and that all three of us were brave enough to give it a chance.

At first, we received photos of Flora looking half terrified (but alive!) and then later pictures of Flora playing with a new best friend named Maisie.

We joked that here we were all worried for nothing, and Flora was making friends easier than M and me.

(Making friends in your 30’s is HARD, y’all!)

When we picked her up at the end of the day, she was ecstatic to see us.

Tail wagging, whining, jumping, colliding, uncontrollable on a leash happiness.

The daycare providers warned us that Flora would be exhausted after a day full of mental and physical stimulation with other pups, so we planned for her to pass out.

WRONG.

If Flora is consistent about anything, it’s being inconsistent with what how dogs *usually* behave.

She strutted inside and immediately initiated play with a rubber squeaky ball while M and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

You can’t keep a good dog dow-wow-wow-wow-own (anyone get the reference?).

I propose a toast, to trying new things, like this Smashed Edamame Toast.

It’s made with tahini, seasoning, and herbs spread on sourdough bread and topped with sauerkraut and hemp hearts.

The perfect spring toast packed with protein for a light lunch, breakfast, or snack!

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SunButter Date Caramel Apples

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

SunButter Date Caramel Apples made with apples topped with homemade caramel and rolled in sunflower seeds and dark chocolate chips.

In the past week, Flora took her first 1-mile walk with us!

The walk, which should normally take about 20-ish minutes, ended up taking over 30 because of lots of…

“Leave it, Flora!”, zig-zagging, “Drop it, Flora!”, dragging, “Heel, Flora!”, pulling…you get the idea.

Long story short: we’re still working on leash walking, and it’s a PROCESS.

She immediately came home and proceeded to lap water ferociously, lay down dramatically, and then initiated more play 10 minutes later.

Well, I guess we can’t tire her out.

With all this dog walking and dog training, I’m relying on healthy snacks to get me through this fall.

I’ve always been a sweet snacker, and this SunButter Date Caramel Apples hits just right for the season.

This good-for-you snack is made with your favorite apples topped with homemade caramel and rolled in sunflower seeds and dark chocolate chips.

It’s the best fall snack and a great way to use up all of those apples we collect this time of year!

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Fruit Spread Recipe Round Up

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

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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Cheezy White Bean Dip

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Cheezy White Bean Dip made with white beans, nutritional yeast, and tahini. Serve with vegetables or crackers or added to salads and bowls.

This past week I gave M the prestigious role of being my accountability buddy for my writing course.

His job is to check in me with daily and ask, “How is your writing going, Lauren?”

Lately he’s taken to asking as a snarky retort to a conversation.

For example, I’ll ask if he did the dishes yet, and he will respond with, “No, but how is your writing going?!”

Well, you got me there.

I think we can agree that while this isn’t the best delivery, but the man is doing a good job of keeping my accountable, friends.

The goal of the class is to have “sitting in the chair” for at *least* one hour every day, practicing our writing.

Luckily, I do a lot of writing for my blog, social media, and correspondence with brands and the F&V community.

But, does that count?

And I’m asking for myself, not expecting you to have a response, friend.

I’m still working on what I want to write, what I want to say, and whether or not that can be found inside of the tiny niche I have created in the vegan food scene.

But today we are very much inside of the vegan food scene, and I’m glad to be here with you.

Today I’m sharing a dip that is to die for.

This is a dip that hands down makes everything taste better, elevated, …MORE.

This Cheezy White Bean Dip is made with white beans, nutritional yeast, and tahini for a delicious dip that’s as versatile as it is delicious.

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Beet & Kale Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

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Pretty pink salad with Cal-Organic Red Kale, Cal-Organic Red Cabbage, Cal-Organic Red Beets, and Cal-Organic Red Radishes in an easy raspberry vinaigrette.

Happy Valentine’s Day, buds!

I hope you’re giving your loved ones, and most importantly, yourself, a big hug today.

Lately, I’m focusing on talking to myself like I would a friend.

The next time you catch yourself in a shame spiral or a negative thought sinkhole, ask yourself what you would be saying to your friend if they were in your position?

Likely, it would be words of kindness, encouragement, and love.

So….why can’t we treat ourselves with as much compassion, understanding, and unconditional love?

Well, we can.

And a good way to start is by nourishing your mind, body, and soul with some beautiful and nourishing food.

You might have Valentine’s Day desserts bookmarked for days, but how about a Valentine’s Day salad?

Lately, I’ve been focusing on RED recipes, and this one has all of my favorite red produce.

This pretty pink salad is made with Cal-Organic Red Kale, Cal-Organic Red Cabbage, Cal-Organic Red Beets, and Cal-Organic Red Radishes in a raspberry vinaigrette.

This Beet & Kale Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette looks beautiful on a plate and is also an edible Valentine to your body.

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Spinach Artichoke Cashew Dip

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Spinach Artichoke Dip made creamy with cashews and “cheesy” with nutritional yeast. Perfect to serve as an appetizer with chips, bread, or veggies.

Happy February, everyone!

This year is already flying by.

It feels like a good time to fiercely focus, doesn’t it?

It seems like all of the people that I love are on a personal journey this year.

Buying houses, starting families, hitting work milestones…

The big stuff that makes you smile at far you’ve come since the Facebook Time Hops that pops up when you log in.

I’m focusing on the big stuff, too, this year, but trying to enjoy the small stuff along the way.

For example, the groundhog saw his shadow this Groundhog’s Day, so, if we trust Punxsutawney Phil, we have a cold 6 weeks ahead of us.

And he wasn’t lying, because we have a cold front coming in here this weekend with temperatures down to the teens!

So, let’s cozy up to this Spinach Artichoke Cashew Dip.

This delicious dip is made creamy with cashews and “cheesy” with nutritional yeast.

It’s perfect to serve as an appetizer with chips, crackers, bread, or veggies for the Super Bowl or winter entertaining!

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SunButter Yogurt Dip

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

SunButter Yogurt Dip made with non-dairy yogurt, Organic SunButter, and a hint of maple and cinnamon. Perfect as a nutritious dip for sliced apples!

This week I take my second course in Lead Climbing at my indoor climbing gym!

Lead climbing is my latest project in my climbing journey.

Instead of having a set anchor point, the climber leads with the rope, clipping the rope into carabiners along the way.

So, basically, the climber sets new anchor points as they climb!

Climbing like this allows for more versatility in the nature of the climbs, and my ultimate goal is to be able to lead outdoors with M.

But first, I’m trying to master all of the new information indoors.

In class, we have to practice catching and taking falls as both belayer and climber.

When my instructor shouted, “Lauren, Fall, Fall, Fall!” I had to just…let go.

It’s a weird thing to intentionally *fall*, and my feet found the wall again before I could really register the falling or the fear.

It also was a very real representation of what I knew to be true: that the worry, anxiety, and dread is often so much worse than the thing itself.

But I do wish that this SunButter Yogurt Dip had caught me for a sweet soft landing.

This light and fluffy dip is made with just 4 ingredients and is the perfect partner to sliced apples for snack time!

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Quick Corn Salsa

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Quick corn salsa with frozen sweet corn, fresh cilantro, and lime. Perfect to serve as dip with chips or as an addition to tacos, burritos, bowls, and more!

Recently, I taught my first yoga class in my new position as a substitute teacher!

I was all nerves as I arrived at the studio wearing my lucky yoga tank (the one I got during teacher training) with my yoga books and prepared routine.

Whenever I’m nervous, I remind myself that anxiety and excitement kind of feel the same way in the body.

It just means that I *care*.

But as soon as I started teaching, breathing, being with the class, it was all good.

If you’ve been around here a while, you know when I completed YTT in 2019 I firmly believed that I only wanted to know more about yoga.

I never saw myself actually teaching…and now, I am.

It feels good, right, and fulfilling.

Afterwards, M and I ordered tacos and burritos from Chipotle to celebrate.

I usually get their corn salsa, which, in addition to the lonely bag of frozen corn in my freezer, was the inspiration for this recipe.

This Quick Corn Salsa is made with frozen sweet corn, fresh cilantro, and lime.

Serve it with chips or as an addition to tacos, burritos, bowls, and more!

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Rainbow Vegetable Kabobs with Creamy Sriracha Sauce

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Rainbow Vegetable Kabobs with Creamy Sriracha Sauce made on the grill or grill pan. Enjoy them over rice with fresh herbs for a fresh summer meal!

It’s grilling season!

Lately, when I take my daily walk through the neighborhood, I come back hungry.

And not because I walked 10,000 steps.

It’s because tantalizing smells are wafting from the neighboring houses.

It takes all I have not to pop in their garden or patio where upbeat music plays, voices carry, and smoke rises from the grill.

Clearly, I didn’t get the invite.

But friends, I’m cordially inviting you to my plant-based grilling party.

It’s a Rainbow Vegetable Kabobs with Creamy Sriracha Sauce party!

Attire: grilling casual.

RSVP, yes or no?

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Rainbow Rice Paper Wraps with Black Sesame Sauce

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Rainbow rice paper wraps with crunchy raw veggies and baked tofu with black sesame sauce. Perfect for a light and fresh summer meal!

This year M and I have been making our way through the Marvel universe.

It started with all of The Avengers films and led us all the way to, most recently, to Venom (which kind of loosely connects to the Spiderman world, right?).

Anyway, this is all relevant because the night we made these Rainbow Rice Paper Wraps with Black Sesame Sauce I took a giant bite of rice paper wrap dipped in black sesame sauce.

I overestimated the size of the bite and drippiness of the sauce so black sesame sauce dribbled down my chin while I greedily chewed.

M took one look at me and burst out laughing, saying that I looked just like Venom.

If you know, you know.

Afraid to look at myself in the mirror, I hastily wiped the inky sauce off of my face with a wet paper towel.

Anyway, these Rainbow Rice Paper Wraps with Black Sesame Sauce are too good to worry about looking cute while you eat them.

They’re made with crunchy raw veggies and baked tofu with a delicious black sesame sauce that you’re going to want to drink.

Make them this summer for a light and fresh warm weather meal!…

Dressings, Dips & Spreads

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