Grain-Free

No-bake chocolate cheesecake bars with a grain-free date-nut crust and chocolate cheesecake center finished with a sweet raspberry swirl.

Hiiiii how was your Valentine’s Day Weekend?

I was fortunate to have many opportunities to celebrate the love over the past few days.

On Valentine’s Day I did a Galentine’s Day dinner with my sister, then on Saturday I had a Valentine’s Day themed brunch with my bookclub.

If I’m being honest, I was a little bit apprehensive about the day.

This was my first Valentine’s Day as a single lady in over 15 years, so I wanted to make it especially sweet.

I watched RomComs with my long distance BFF long and ate plenty of Hu Kitchen chocolate, and even did a little retail therapy online.

Don’t worry, I left enough chocolate for this latest recipe.

If you didn’t get the chance to treat you and your loves with something sweet this V-Day, I’ve got just the thing.

These Raspberry Swirl Chocolate Cheesecake Bars scream self-care, self-love, and healthful indulgence.

They’re made with just 8-ingredients for a vegan, grain-free, and refined sugar-free treat.

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3-ingredient chocolate strawberry truffles made with coconut milk, dark chocolate, and freeze-dried strawberries. Try pairing with Rosso wine!

I recently re-watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for the first time in over a decade.

Have you seen it?

It’s one of my all-time favorite films, even though it’s not the kind of movie I can watch every day (or every decade, apparently).

Anyway, I had to chuckle when Jim Carrey’s character says that V-day was “invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap.”

I definitely wallowed a bit in the perceived truth in that quote, but then I dusted myself off and made some plans.

This year, I’m celebrating all of the love surrounding me.

Familial love, deep friendship, passion for my blog and business, and love for you, too, friend.

I’m also celebrating my love for all things wine and chocolate in this new plant-based wine pairing.

Get your heart right and make these 3-Ingredient Chocolate Strawberry Truffles enjoyed with a glass of Rosso!

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Grain-free chai-spiced cookies made with nut butter, coconut flour, and coconut sugar. Infused with chai spices using a convenient chai concentrate! 

Tonight I went to a young professionals networking event with a friend.

I wore my best pair of dark denim for the occasion and brought out a classic button up shirt that emerged from my closet since my corporate office-dwelling days.

Somehow my name tag got stuck in my hair (I couldn’t make this up if I tried!), which made for the perfect icebreaker for introductions.

“Hi, um, you have a name tag stuck in your hair,” this one guy said and I definitely thought he was kidding, HA HA, until I reached behind my head and tore the words “Lauren, Flora & Vino, LLC” from strands of blonde hair.

Who needs the business cards tucked in my back pocket with publicity like that?

Unfortunately, I don’t have any good brands or eats to report back with, but it was nice to connect with local peers, ya know?

It was also nice to practice my “pitch” to strangers outside of my field who have no idea that this industry exists.

I answered the dreaded question, “So, what do you do?” in different ways, feeling out which one sounded the most me.

Usually, I say I’m a food photographer, recipe developer, and content creator of a plant-based website.

Sometimes I just say I’m in social media.

Both true.

Also true: Coconut Flour Chai Cookies would make networking and socializing a lot easier.

These vegan, gluten, and grain-free cookies are made with coconut flour, chai concentrate, and almond butter!

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Vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with a pomegranate twist! Vegan, gluten-free, and grain-free with an almond flour base.

Confession: Lately I haven’t been feeling much like a food blogger.

Let me explain.

I put so much energy into creating eats for the blog during the day that when it comes time to make anything extracurricular, I just can’t.

For example, last Friday night book club when we all brought a dish to share…you bet I showed up with a bottle of wine, a package of my favorite hummus, and a box of grain-free crackers.

And I felt pretty OK watching my friends roll in the F&V recipes while I stood there dunking crackers into pureed chickpeas that I didn’t puree myself.

I blame the season for my slight identity crisis.

It’s hard to show up in all the ways you normally show up plus get all the gifts, send all the cards, and bake all the cookies.

I set an alarm this past Wednesday morning  (ONE week before Christmas!) and scribbled out all of my Christmas cards in one furious four-hour sitting.

I wrote my name and address over and over and over again on red envelopes with achey glitter dusted hands.

Last night I had a massive Amazon shopping spree, adding items to my cart and obsessively checking the ship date to ensure arrival before Christmas.

All of the expectation of gifting and receiving can be tough, but you know what should be effortless?

Your holiday cookies– these Pomegranate Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

You’re going to love these healthier holiday cookies packed with pomegranate arils and dark chocolate chunks!

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