Grain-Free

Oven Roasted Summer Vegetables

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

Where did summer go, friends?

Yesterday was a gorgeous 75 degree day and I was walking around the neighborhood with a friend.

It’s the same streets I’ve been walking since quarantine, but it’s amazing how they look a little wider and sunnier with someone by my side.

“It feels like fall,” I remarked to him, astonished.

Then I realized that we’re somehow halfway through August, and, well, Fall is upon us.

Crazy.

I proceeded to share my theory with him: One in which time froze when COVID hit in March this past Spring and therefore it can’t possibly be Summer, let alone almost Fall.

A sound argument to explain my mental space surrounding most of 2020– PAUSED.

“But then, how do you explain all of the 93°F+ days we’ve had recently?” he teased.

Yeah, well, that’s hard to explain away.

And even harder to explain or wish away the bounty of summer produce in my fridge.

So why don’t we celebrate what’s left of Summer 2020 and make Oven Roasted Summer Vegetables.

You bake them easily in one pan in the oven for a colorful and nutritious summer side!

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Vegan 7-Layer Mexican Dip

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Vegan 7-layer dip with refried beans, guacamole, salsa, cauliflower cashew queso, tomatoes, black olives, and green onion. Serve with grain-free crackers!

Serious question– do you wash your avocados?

Usually I rinse mine (*so* important so bacteria from outside of the avo isn’t transferred inside when slicing), then cut them open with a blade.

Until recently.

The other day my friend taught me an epic way to open avocados.

He grabbed an avocado, and, applying pressure with both hands, split it open like two halves of a coconut.

The creamy green flesh protruded out between two crudely but efficiently torn halves he presented in his hands like an offering.

I stared, dumbfounded.

If you could open avocados without using a knife, what other shortcuts have I missed in the kitchen?

This Vegan 7-Layer Mexican Dip might leave your mouth hanging open, too.

It’s easily assembled for a quick appetizer with seven plant-based layers that are prime for dipping and snacking!

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Vegan Peach Galette

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Easy rustic peach galette that’s vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free. Serve with a scoop of vegan ice cream for an easy summer plant-based dessert!

Hi, guys.

How was your week?

I’ve been fighting a major case of writer’s block that’s got locked three recipes in the cue without an accompanying intro.

But it’s selfish to keep all of that deliciousness to myself just because I’m tongue-tied, right?

So I’m going to release them, starting with this Vegan Peach Galette.

Because I’m pretty sure we’ll all have a lot more to say after dessert, right?

This galette is sweet with ripe baked peaches and a gluten-free vegan crust.

You’re only SEVEN ingredients away from making the vegan and gluten-free galette of your dreams!

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Hummus Stuffed Zucchini Boats

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Zucchini boats baked with all of the Greek fixings like hummus, tomato, olives, red onion, and pine nuts. Try them for a light snack, meal, or appetizer.

Friends!

It’s true that the hardest part of doing something is starting.

I ran this morning for the first time in over a month.

After lacing up my Brooks running shoes I did three invigorating laps around the paths just beyond my neighborhood.

The pavement felt like it was propelling me forward each time it connect with the sole of my cushioned shoe and my iPhone felt weightless in my hand despite the fact that I left my running belt at home.

Kind of like this post, that for whatever reason, I felt like procrastinating.

Writing about food isn’t always as much fun as eating it, you know?

Unless it’s a stuffed vegetable, which, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know is my forte.

These Hummus Stuffed Zucchini Boats are the best way to use that summer zucchini hiding in the bottom drawers of your refrigerator.

Grab a zucchini and let’s make a zucchini boats!

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Dark Chocolate S’mores Bars

By Flora & Vino 4 Comments

Dark Chocolate S’mores Bars with a date-almond crust, a dairy-free chocolate ganache, and a marshmallow topping. Perfect for summer dessert!

It feels like tumultuous times here, friends.

Like every big decision begets yet another big decision.

Life stuff.

Work, relationships, moving– it all feels upended and messy. `

It seems nearly impossible to plan anything when we (read: I) have no idea what the state of the world will be in 6 or 12 months.

So, lately I’ve been throwing caution to the wind and seeing where my impulses take me.

And lately, my impulses have been guiding me towards chocolate.

Lots of chocolate.

These Dark Chocolate S’mores Bars are made with just 8 ingredients for a sweet summer dessert that’s made with simple ingredients.

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Flourless Chickpea Afghan Cookies

By Flora & Vino 7 Comments

Afghan inspired cookies made without flour! Instead, make them with chickpeas, nut butter, cacao, and dates finished with a walnut cacao frosting!

Are you a LOTR fan?

Let me tell you about my level of fandom circa early 2000s.

After purchasing the trilogy on DVD (I had the Director’s Cut–ha!) I watched The Fellowship of the Ring on repeat.

Because, you know, watching Frodo Baggins battle forces of evil on his quest to destroy the one ring as casual background noise is always good fun.

I was really interested in film studies at the time, and the cinematography and overall production of the films totally wowed me.

Not to mention, I was totally crushing on Frodo, er, Elijah Wood.

I mean, those blue eyes, though!

When I found out that the movie was filmed in New Zealand, I immediately wanted to pack my bags and take a trip to the South Pacific Ocean to stand on steep mountains and run across sprawling fields.

Props to my parents for sitting through the entire trilogy, from the long drawn out orc battles to the

You know what else I’m crushing on that has New Zealand roots?

These Flourless Chickpea Afghan Cookies that are made totally vegan and grain-free with less than 10 ingredients!

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Black Bean Mousse

By Flora & Vino 3 Comments

Protein packed mousse made with black beans, cashews, and cacao powder sweetened with maple syrup. Perfect for a nutritious snack or sensible dessert!

So here’s the state of affairs:

Yesterday I played a state guessing game on the phone with a friend.

I was presented with a map of the United States completed with bold black state borders.

When the game populates a state name, I had to accurately select the corresponding state by clicking on the correctly shaped territory.

Well, let me tell you friends, I was never good at geography.

After accidentally clicking New Jersey about 4 times instead of other north-eastern states, I knew I needed to brush up.

I did get 77% accuracy, which I’m going to take as a win.

If quarantine is making your world feel small, grab a map and explore a little.

Or, we could explore in the kitchen.

If you don’t feel like baking, how about an easy no bake dessert that’s packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and complex carbs?

Today I made this Black Bean Mousse that’s vegan, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup.

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Blueberry Pecan Arugula Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Light summer salad with arugula, blueberries, and toasted pecans. Toss with a zippy blueberry vinaigrette made with blueberry kombucha.

It’s thunder-storming as I write this post and I’m counting the seconds between the lighting and thunder.

One mississippi, two mississippi, three mississppi.

Earlier today it was bright and sunny, and I used the abundance of blueberries in my fridge to make a salad.

Summer thunderstorms in Virginia come and go about as quickly as this sweet and satisfying summer salad.

This Blueberry Pecan Arugula Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette is simple, light, and refreshing.

It’s perfect to mix up for summer when the weather is warm!

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Trail Mix Overnight Oats

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Meal prep trail mix overnight oats naturally sweetened with maple syrup and topped with dried fruit, nuts, and nut butter. Perfect for make ahead breakfast!

How was your fourth of July?

Did you see any fireworks?

I spent Independence Day from the comfort of my own home with good food and good company.

The only fireworks I saw this year were the sparklers that lit up the asphalt on my neighborhood streets.

Every time we heard a bang I ran to the window, craning my neck left to right for any trace of glowing sky.

You’d be proud to know that I took the entire weekend off work to really relax and commemorate the red, white, and blue.

It’s honestly been hard to get back into the swing of things this week after a long holiday weekend.

This past Monday I woke up and had to take a few hours to center myself back into the work and kitchen mindset.

Can’t I just eat leftover watermelon and plant-based burgers all week?

Well, maybe…

But one of the things that always makes me feel more grounded and prepared is make ahead breakfast.

These Trail Mix Overnight Oats are so easy to mix up and top with my favorite trail mix blend of organic nuts and seeds!

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Raw Carrot Hummus

By Flora & Vino 6 Comments

Bright carrot hummus made oil-free and super creamy with tahini, lemon, and and seasonings. Perfect to make in advance for snacking!

As I type this my fingers are smarting.

Last night I dusted off my guitar for the first time since I moved to see if I still remembered how to play.

If you live next door to me, I sincerely apologize, because you might have heard me strumming and belting out Wonderwall at something close to 11 PM.

Oops.

I kind of forgot how much volume my acoustic guitar has.

The good news is that, yes, I do, in fact, remember how to make chords with my left hand and hold a pick in the right.

The bad news is that my fingertips do not remember the callouses that cushioned them back when I used to play with regularity.

So my fingers are pretty darn sore today, which I’m reminded of every time I press them into my MacBook Pro keyboard.

Luckily, it’s only my left hand, because my right hand is ready for snack time.

I’m excited to share this colorful new cracker and dip combo to make your snacking both pretty and delicious.

This Raw Carrot Hummus is ready in less than 10 minutes for easy snacking that’s raw, oil-free, and packed with nutrients!

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