The Main Meal

Vegan Pink Pasta

Vegan Pink Pasta made with gluten-free pasta and a homemade tomato-cashew sauce. Served with fresh basil and vegan parm!

This is a recipe I made for Valentine’s Day and never shared.

As per usual, M and I didn’t make a big fuss over the whole Valentine’s Day thing.

In fact, after a gift heavy holiday season and new year, we decided to put a moratorium on gift giving, too.

This year, we’ve decided to stay in and cook a nice plant based dinner together at home with Flora.

We planned to complete the meal with one of the “better” bottles of red.

You know, the bottle with a more expensive price tag that you feel a little weird about opening on a random Thursday.

I *really* like cooking with M, so the act of making dinner becomes an activity in itself.

Lately, it usually becomes dog training, too, so the whole family gets involved.

Flora, now 7 months old, is a huge counter-surfer, meaning, she loves to jump on all of the kitchen counters and steal anything within her reach.

So we reward the sh** out of the sits and stays and (try to) patiently correct the pursuit of chopped bell pepper, the kitchen dishcloth, and my rubber gloves.

Dinner might take twice as long, but we love giving Flora more freedom to roam, explore, and learn.

While she isn’t allowed upstairs yet, our downstairs is her kingdom to conquer!

What say you to conquering upcoming celebrations or just dinner plans with this Vegan Pink Pasta?

This Vegan Pink Pasta is made with gluten-free pasta and a homemade tomato-cashew sauce.

It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner for the family but can be gussied up for a date night-in experience, too!

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Pumpkin Chickpea Curry

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Pumpkin Chickpea Curry made in 1-pot with pumpkin, coconut milk, vegetables, and chickpeas. A cozy curry for cold weather!

Now that we’re looking into February, it’s a good time to assess where you fall with your new years intentions.

So, how’s it going?

In some areas, I feel like I’m crushing it, and in others, eh, let’s talk about that in March. 🙂

Lately I’ve been checking in with my girlfriends to make plans together for the year, share goals, and keep each other accountable.

They say it takes 21-days to form a habit, right?

If so, I’m currently in the habit of making a big pot of soup for the week ahead.

Even I think we don’t *need* the extra food, we *always* eat it.

In the winter months, I find re-heating a bowl of soup is such a satisfying and cozy lunch.

It’s one that I always appreciate mid-day when I’m typing on my computer with chilly fingers.

This Pumpkin Chickpea Curry is my current favorite soup obsession.

I love adding pumpkin to this recipe because it makes the texture thick and velvety.

It’s made in 1-pot with pumpkin, coconut milk, vegetables, and chickpeas.

It’s an easy, cozy, and customizable curry for cold weather!

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Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff

By Flora & Vino 3 Comments

Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff made with your favorite pasta and dried mushrooms in a creamy cashew based sauce. Serve with fresh herbs!

The days are flying by!

Each morning I change the advent calendar number in disbelief, truly baffled by where the time goes.

It goes to unhurried dog training, hurried walks before early sunset, teaching yoga class prep, and hand writing Christmas cards.

And it goes to baking Christmas cookies, dreaming of 2025, applying buckets of moisturizer, and bundling and unbundling myself in layers of clothes.

It also goes to holiday parties, cups of light roast coffee on the couch, watching Christmas Hallmark movies, and playing Christmas music on a loop until it annoys me.

The time goes to making too many social plans and then cancelling them, returning Amazon packages, replacing dead car batteries, and drinking ruby red wine.

Some also goes to reading my Kindle, moving my body every day, watering dehydrated plant babies, and rewatching all 8 seasons of House with M.

One thing is certain: the time goes.

With not many days left in 2024, I’m committing to eating cozy comforting meals for the remainder of the year.

Are you in?

Sure, I love a good holiday cookie as much as the rest, but I wanted to leave you with something hearty, cozy, and satisfying.

Something that will curb your appetite until 2025, so to speak.

This is our last recipe of 2024, and it’s Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff.

This Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff is made with your favorite pasta and dried mushrooms in a creamy cashew based sauce.

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Vegan Chili Mac

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Vegan Chili Mac made with two kinds of beans, your favorite noodles, and vegetables. This chunky chili is great to make for fall meal prep.

Growing up, my mom *always* added macaroni noodles to the chili she made.

I loved the way the velvety noodles complimented buttery beans and veg in a flavorful tomato broth.

It’s something I didn’t see a lot in the chilis I made, ordered, and shared later in life.

So, since it’s soup, stew, and chili season, friends, I’m here to bring you my latest favorite combination of Chili + Mac.

I’m excited to share my first recipe in a bowl this Fall with you, this Vegan Chili Mac.

When I first mentioned the concept of noodles in chili to M, he looked mildly confused.

It could be said that we at F&V love thick chunky chilis in this house, so this Vegan Chili Mac didn’t disappoint.

This Vegan Chili Mac is made with two kinds of beans, your favorite noodles, and vegetables.

It’s super versatile so you can add your favorites and leave the rest.

This chunky chili is great to make for fall meal prep and reheat with all of your favorite toppings!

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Green Pesto Pasta Casserole

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Green Pesto Pasta Casserole with chickpea noodles, homemade pesto sauce, and green veggies baked to perfection. The best workweek dinner!

As a kid, my favorite colors were pink and purple.

If I ever had a choice between colors of backpacks and pens and school notebooks, pink or purple was my favorite shade.

As a teenager, I begin to. gravitate towards blue because it felt safe, cool, and inconspicuous.

As a twenties something, I loved teal and coral.

The pairing together made my heart happy and I made it the theme of my outfits and my wedding colors.

Now that I’m in my 30’s, I am in love with the color green.

From the sage of my yoga mat to the mint of my planner to the evergreen of my favorite cozy sweatshirt.

Sometimes when my cell phone case and Kindle cover color and blouse are all matching it feels like a problem, but, hey, I like what I like!

Which is why I *love* the dozens of plants scattered around the perimeter of our main level.

The color green transforms the space from empty and generic and stale to something alive: a living room.

I always look for green on my plates, too.

(Sometimes, I even heat up some steamed broccoli to serve with a monotone takeout meal for a little color…

Which I do realize defeats the purpose and gift of takeout, haha.)

Which is why I loved the idea of this Green Pesto Pasta Casserole from first glance.

It’s made in a casserole dish with chickpea noodles, homemade pesto sauce, and green veggies baked to perfection.

This is the best workweek dinner for colder weather no matter what your favorite color is!

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Portobello Mushroom Schnitzel

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Portobello Mushrooms Schnitzel made with breaded and air-fried portobello mushroom “steaks” served with a side of sauerkraut.

The first time that I visited Germany with M, we sat around the kitchen table as I met his family after a long flight.

Practically swaying from exhaustion, jet lag, and nerves, I took in the house and surroundings with dazed wonder.

M’s mom asked something to him in German, gesturing towards me.

He then turned to me and asked if there were any German dishes I was curious in seeing recreated during my stay.

“Hmm, maybe Schnitzel,” I said, knowing it was standard German cuisine and also knowing that *nothing* about it was vegan.

M’s mom laughed with a knowing smile, saying in German that we could definitely make that happen.

I did see plenty of Schnitzel during our trip, along with a lot of other standard German fare, either made by M’s mom or dining with friends.

Alas, the main meal in Germany consistently thumbed its nose at me.

While many of the sides are cabbage and potato based, lending themselves to vegan options, the main dishes are very decidedly meaty.

Typically I make my own protein and enjoy sides with the family, so I get to enjoy part of the meal M’s mom worked so hard to create.

This is the time of year that reminds me of my first trip to Germany, Oktoberfest, and hearty meals at home.

So I decided to make a version of Schnitzel that I would love on my plate as the star of the show.

This Portobello Mushroom Schnitzel is battered and breaded in breadcrumbs and air-fried to crispy perfection.

I love it served with a side of french fries and sauerkraut for a hearty plant-based meal in!

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Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Chipotle Cashew Crema

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos made with frozen cauliflower served in tortillas with a chipotle cashew crema and your favorite toppings.

Recently M and I got into a heated debate about whether tacos and sandwiches were the same thing.

His argument was that they were both essentially breading wrapped around protein, making them essentially the same.

“NO!” I practically spat out in the kitchen, hardly suppressing my laughter.

“They’re nothing alike! A taco is in tortillas and a sandwich is made with bread and tortilla does not equal bread, end of story.”

He said both bread and tortilla are just carriers for deliciousness, which I suppose is true.

But it’s also true that tacos are magical and no sandwich could ever compare despite how hard it tries.

Do you agree or disagree?

I can M and I both agree, however, that this newest taco recipe I have to share with you has got *it* goin’ on.

These Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Chipotle Cashew Crema are made with frozen cauliflower served in tortillas with chipotle cashews crema.

Add your favorite toppings and enjoy for Taco Tuesday or any day of the week!

Just don’t call it a sandwich, mmk?

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Smashed Cucumber & Black Soybean Salad

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Smashed Cucumber & Black Soybean Salad with raw vegetables in sesame sauce served over grains with avocado. Perfect for light lunch or dinner!

Lately I’ve been feeling good in my skin, strong in my body, and confident in my presence.

Maybe it’s the warm weather that cocoons our condo by noon, maybe it’s the dumbbells I’m lifting before breakfast, or maybe it’s the shorts and t-shirt uniform.

I really think summer is my season, and every time it rolls around, I wonder if I might be 10% happier if I lived in a place that was habitually 70 degrees and sunny.

Maybe.

But I also want summer to be like the candle I only light on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings; special and significant when it comes and glows.

Because it’s been warmer here, I’ve been enjoying a lot more fresh vegetables in our meals.

This Smashed Cucumber & Black Soybean Salad is bound to make you feel good in your body, your skin, and your soul.

It’s made with raw vegetables and black soybeans in an easy sesame sauce served over grains with avocado.

I think it’s perfect for a light lunch or dinner for warmer weather!

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Forbidden Fried Rice

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Forbidden fried rice with asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, and steamed edamame. This hearty plant-based meal is a great way to use black rice!

Last Year True Food Kitchen had a Kimchi Fried Rice on the spring menu that had me completely captivated.

The next time M and I visited I ordered it without hesitation, substituting tofu for the jammy egg on top.

Friends, it was amazing.

I loved the untraditional combination of forbidden black rice, asparagus, and mushrooms with heat of kimchi.

So, I set out to create a recipe like this for our archives, so we can share in the deliciousness of this union of flavors.

I decided against making this a kimchi fried rice and instead made a Forbidden Fried Rice, because kimchi isn’t for everyone and sometimes they aren’t even vegan…

(Read the label for the addition of fish sauce!!!).

Plus, you can always add kimchi on top. Smiley face.

So, here is my favorite rendition of Forbidden Fried Rice, made spring-y and seasonal with asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, and steamed edamame.

Instead of kimchi, I paired it with a vibrant spicy sriracha aioli for a little kick.

This hearty plant-based meal is a great way to use black rice for a weeknight dinner!…

Lentil Shiitake Barbacoa Tacos

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Lentil Shiitake Barbacoa Tacos made with green lentils and dried shiitake mushrooms served in tortillas with your favorite toppings.

One of the foods I missed the *most* when I was in Germany over the holiday season was tacos!

Tacos aren’t really a big thing there, and finding ingredients to make them vegan is even harder.

So as soon as we got back to the US, I got back into the taco tradition.

Yes, Taco Tuesday has become a bit of a weekly occurrence at F&V HQ.

We have all sorts of taco Tuesdays on deck, depending on the mood and energy levels.

There’s the lazy Taco Tuesday, where we open a can of beans and smash avocado on tortillas with a spoonful of salsa.

There’s the classic Taco Tuesday, where we emulate flavors inspired by the masters, Chipotle and Taco Bell, made healthier.

Then there’s the creative Taco Tuesday, where we put plants in tacos that taste amazing that you maybe hadn’t thought of before.

Lentil Shiitake Barbacoa Tacos are the latter, friends.

These tasty tacos are made with green lentils and dried shiitake mushrooms served in tortillas with your favorite toppings.

They taste delicious on Tuesday or any day of the week!

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The Main Meal

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