Grain-Free

The Best Oil-Free Hummus

Oil-free hummus with chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and a splash of almond milk. Perfect to prepare for snacking, dips, and spreads!

Last weekend I got out for my first outdoor adventure in Maryland.

I made it to see Weverton Cliffs with one of my oldest friends from high school.

One of the definite perks to moving to Maryland is living in the same state as this lady who I’ve kept in touch with since the 7th grade!

The hike to the top is short but our conversation felt long as we caught up on life the past year.

We’ve both changed a lot since we last hugged in person, and in communicating “what’s new” that change felt like something to be pretty proud of.

We stopped at the overlook and took pictures, embracing, and posing against a breathtaking backdrop of tree canopy and blue sky.

Then we completed a breath work meditation, resting against slabs of rock with our eyes closed.

It was kind of magical.

Also magical is this The Best Oil-Free Hummus recipe that goes with…literally anything.

This hummus takes just 10 minutes to blend up without any preservatives or added oils!

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Vegan Chocolate Cake with Sweet Potato Frosting

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Vegan chocolate cake with sweet potato frosting. Perfect for birthdays or any celebration where cake is required!

This weekend I had my parents over to show them the new place!

Which means that the house is the cleanest and tidiest that it might be…ever.

After I showed my parents the layout and we laughed about the boxes of American Girl Dolls (did you collect slash play with those as a child, too???) still stacked high on M’s side of the bed, we settled in the living room for to chat.

I offered my ‘rents and sister a chocolate cake I baked yesterday and finished with sweet potato frosting.

If you’re like me, you’re always ready to celebrate.

Birthdays, work wins, sort-of-holidays, anniversaries, MOVING; you name it and I’ll be there with a bottle of red and a baked good to cheers and nom.

So, yes, this Vegan Chocolate Cake with Sweet Potato Frosting is perfect for any celebration.

I deemed it the most appropriate dessert I could think of to celebrate almost one month in Maryland.

It’s rich, chocolate-y, and lightly sweet with dark chocolate.

This vegan and gluten-free cake is finished with a 4-ingredient no-sugar-added sweet potato frosting!

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SunButter Apple Nachos

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Quick and convenient apple nachos made with cinnamon, dried fruit, dark chocolate, granola, and a squeezable SunButter packet. Perfect for a speedy snack!

How many meals do you eat a day, boo?

I’m usually a 5-6 meals a day diner, spreading out the deliciousness in 2-3 hours windows.

M eats much less frequently than me, enjoying a satisfying breakfast and dinner, and occasionally, lunch.

During the move, I (sort of accidentally?) experimented with eating less frequently.

What’s the worst that could happen, I thought?

So the decision to spread meals out was due to curiosity, poor planning, and an amiable attempt to meet M in middle to break on boxes on eat together.

I’ve decided, however, after being near to tears one evening when we couldn’t decide on pizza takeout, that I do much better when I’m snacking.

Hanger is a very real thing and if prompted, M would probably tell you it’s not something he’d like to experience again!

Yeah, snacking makes me my best self.

Which is why I’m excited to share with you one of my most favorite snack ideas today.

These SunButter Apple Nachos are a delicious way to elevate your snack time in less than 5 minutes.

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Pineapple Guacamole

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

//#ad This post is brought to you by Bare Snacks, but all words and eats are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that keep me hungry!

Easy guacamole with plenty of avocado and a sweet pineapple finish! Serve as a fun summer appetizer or side for dipping or a spread for the main meal.

I may be in the process of moving, but I refuse to miss a taco Tuesday.

Which is really just a weekly excuse to make guacamole.

How do you make tacos at your house?

Every Tuesday I count the squishy avocados and lay them on the counter for M to open and smash.

He’s unofficially the resident in-house guacamole maker.

He makes the guacamole while I prepare the fajita veggies and black bean filling.

If you’re looking for an excuse to make guacamole this summer, try this Pineapple Guacamole!

It’s adapted from the stuff I enjoy with M weekly with the addition of a fruity flair.

This minimalist guacamole is made with all of your tried and trues plus the addition of pineapple chips for sweetness and crunch!

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Vegan S’mores Dip

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Vegan baked s’mores dip made with dark chocolate and vegan marshmallows. Serve with graham crackers and fresh fruit as a summer dessert or appetizer!

Remember how we counted sleeps before Christmas?

Well today is my last sleep before the big move.

Tomorrow I have friends and family come and help me muscle stuff from Virginia to Maryland.

I’m slowly accepting the chaos that is life in flux right now.

I finally realized that letting all of the uncertainties and unknowns remain uncertain and unknown is a lot easier than desperately trying to control them.

You’ve heard of the hot girl summer, right?

Well, here I am, proud of my hot *mess* summer.

My time and creativity in the kitchen has been limited, too.

I’m mostly working my way through the fridge and freezer; using up random jars of sauerkraut and frozen peas in a desperate attempt to lighten up the U-haul situation.

But that’s okay because the recipe I have to share with you today requires minimal ingredients and prep!

This Vegan S’mores Dip is so easy to bake and enjoy for whatever season you’re in this summer.

It’s made vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free with just three ingredients and your choice of dippers!

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Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Easy banana protein cookies packed with dark chocolate and walnuts. Bake them for a portable protein rich snack for all your adventures!

The moving count down is ON, friends.

In just five sleeps I’ll be slumbering in a new state!

Right now life feels really busy.

When I’m not working on stuff for F&V, I’m working on the loaded logistics of moving.

Scheduling U-haul rentals, final cleaning, and key exchanges in their appropriate order.

Bribing friends and family to pretty please come help me move in exchange for pizza and vegan treats.

So, would you come for Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies?

I’m hopeful these cookies get me through my moving week and I know they’ll sustain whatever adventures you have going on right now.

They’re totally vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free with a banana-oat base and plenty of dark chocolate and walnuts.

Mix and bake them for a protein-packed snack that’s perfect for an outdoor adventure, moving day, or workday snack.

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Peach Mango Smoothie Bowl

By Flora & Vino 3 Comments

Peach mango smoothie bowl made with frozen stone fruit, frozen zucchini, and SunButter. Serve your bowls with fresh fruit and granola!

It’s the height of summer here in Virginia; every day the temperature scaling past 90 degrees!

So hot that I’ve been nope-ing out of my usual afternoon walk, looking wistfully at my wilting marigolds from the coolness of my air conditioned living room.

I’ve been craving all of the cold seasonal things– salad bowls, ice cream, and smoothie bowls.

Everything raw, sweet, and refreshing.

I realized looking at my archives that it’s been a while since I shared a smoothie bowl recipe here on the blog!

But I still make them often, more often than protein shakes, because I prefer to “eat” my smoothies instead of drink them, you know?

This Peach Mango Smoothie Bowl is one of my new favorites for my breakfast rotation.

This summer-y peach mango smoothie bowl is made in just 5 minutes with frozen stone fruit, frozen zucchini, and SunButter.

Grab a blender and some stone-fruit and let’s get cool!

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Cookie S’mores

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Easy s’mores made with vegan marshmallows, dark chocolate, and your favorite homemade or store-bought cookies. Perfect for a fun summer dessert.

S’mores lovers, this one’s for you.

Camping this summer I had my first ever campfire s’mores at the age of 33.

My friend Anna, camping boss that she is, walked me through the whole process.

From selecting the perfect campsite twigs to the perfect level of marshmallow “burned-ness”, to putting it all together.

There’s photographic evidence of me biting into one, a look of dreamy satisfaction washing over my face, my features lit up from the flash against the dark behind me.

But who says s’mores have to be made with graham crackers?

These Cookie S’mores are a fun twist on s’mores with a cookie encasing with the same gooey good stuff in between.

Make them around the campfire or out of the comfort of your own home this summer!

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Cookie Layer Bars

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

No-bake cookie bars made with a crushed cookie crust, dark chocolate center, and sweet almond butter fudge topping. Perfect for a fun dessert to share!

A few weeks back M and I had a dinner party at a friend’s house.

Whenever I have a group event coming up, I like to recipe test to pawn off the leftovers on my friends’ unsuspecting tastebuds.

On this particular event, I must have been feeling brave, because I brought these Cookie Layer Bars without even taking a bite first.

After wine and my first experience with the Impossible Burger, my girlfriend cut into the frozen slab and took a bite.

“Oh my god”, she said. “It’s amazing.”

At first, I thought she was just being nice, complimenting the recipe testing food blogger on her first Frankenstein.

But as more of the guests grabbed first and seconds, I started to realize that, hey, this stuff must be pretty good.

Since then, I’ve received several requests to make more in exchange for payment.

Just saying.

But today, I’m giving you guys the recipe for free!

These Cookie Crack Bars are made with a crushed cookie crust, dark chocolate center, and sweet almond butter fudge topping.

They’re the perfect fun dessert to share, or to win some popularity points at your next dinner party!

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Date-Sweetened Donuts with Chocolate Frosting

By Flora & Vino 4 Comments

Vegan cake donuts made with oat flour and sweetened with Medjool dates, topped with a two-ingredient dark chocolate frosting. Perfect for a healthy dessert!

Hi, friends.

It’s been a while since we last chatted.

June has been an absolute whirlwind for me and I can’t quite believe just *how* much has changed in the past two weeks.

For one, I’m moving!

I’m in the process of packing boxes and making plans to move to Maryland with M.

Secondly, I’m reconnecting with friends and family in a major way; scheduling dinners and hikes and hugs.

After a *very* trying 2020, all of this feels like a new beginning, a clean slate, a fresh start.

But between all of the positive changes in life, summer keeps running on, hot summer days spilling into cool summer mornings.

And what do you know, this weekend is dad’s day!

Let’s put all of the busy-ness aside for a second and celebrate dad, OK?

These Date-Sweetened Donuts with Chocolate Frosting are just what any man in your life needs this Father’s Day.

They’re totally vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free with a cake-y interior and a 2-ingredient chocolate ganache!

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Grain-Free

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