Grain-Free

Vegan Strawberry Brownies

Vegan Strawberry Brownies with fresh strawberries, and dark chocolate chips. A fun dessert to combine strawberries and chocolate!

Have you ever stopped and actually done those “10 Questions for Your Girlfriend” quizzes that you swipe through on TikTok?

M and I have, because I think they’re fun.

It’s a welcome reprieve from doomscrolling an endless “For You” page of trending sounds and videos and an opportunity to interact in an otherwise antisocial sport.

So, anyway, back to the quizzes.

I mean, who doesn’t want to decide which dog their boyfriend is out of 10 different options or whether they’d choose cookies or brownies for dessert?

These are important questions that demand answers.

It was during a food-themed quiz that M informed me that he would rather eat brownies over cookies.

“WHAT?!” I shrieked, totally flabbergasted.

“Yes, over cookies, I would!” he vehemently argued.

This honestly doesn’t mean a lot coming from my dessert-opposed boyfriend who can eat raw rhubarb and think it’s sweet enough.

Friends, I don’t think I’ve seen M eat a single brownie during our four years of dating.

But, apparently he’s a brownie guy.

So, this brownie recipe is dedicated to the boy I live with who hasn’t touched this pan since I made them.

That’s OK, because these Vegan Strawberry Brownies are too good to share.

These vegan and gluten-free brownies are made with fresh strawberries and dotted with dark chocolate chips.

They’re essentially a chocolate covered strawberry in brownie form!

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Vegan Mushroom Omelette

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Vegan Mushroom Omelette made with silken tofu and chickpea flour stuffed with sautéed mushroom. Serve for a protein-packed breakfast!

When M and I first started dating, he showed me the art of omelette-making.

Because we started dating during the pandemic, our first dinner together was over a computer screen.

We made meals separately in the kitchen and then hopped online to eat and chat.

I brought my Cauliflower Rice Veggie Burger Bowl (my go-to recipe at the time), and M brought a circular omelette piled high with vegetables and avocado.

And of course, lots of mushrooms, always mushrooms, because M loves them.

Before we moved in together, and even for a while after, omelettes were his go-to meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

When he finally made them in front of me, my mouth watered at how good they smelled.

There’s something about a good savory breakfast that feels like the ultimate form of self care.

Because I started a new strength program in recent weeks, I’m focusing on vegan sources of protein to fuel my body pre and post-workout.

While M’s omelettes weren’t vegan, but the ones I’m sharing with you today are.

These vegan made with silken tofu and chickpea flour stuffed with sautéed mushroom and spinach.

I love to serve them with avocado, berries, and hot sauce for a protein-packed breakfast!

They’re also totally worthy of a virtual first date, just sayin’.

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Kale Caesar Salad

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Kale caesar salad with crispy chickpeas and vegan caesar dressing. Serve with cherry tomatoes, hemp hearts, and cheezy white bean dip!

I’m hard to please when it comes to eating out.

That’s facts.

It’s something that I’m working on accepting about myself, because my whole life I’ve wanted to be easy going, relaxed, and go-with-the-flow.

But many times when I purchase food out, I take a few bites and would honestly rather be eating something at home.

Now, in my defense, that’s because I’m super sensitive to salt, garlic, and spiciness, three things that people love to dump on vegan food to make it “tasty”.

Yeah, it’s kind of like I’m allergic to flavor (HA!), but I truly believe that plants taste delicious as they are.

Can anyone else relate?

Anyway, there used to be a kale caesar salad from my local Greenheart Juice Shop that I always grabbed for a healthy lunch along with a juice or smoothie.

It was delicious and flavorful and made you feel a bit like you’re glowing from the inside out after consumption.

I’ve spent a long time trying to recreate that salad at home, because they don’t sell the salad anymore!

Now, I haven’t had the salad in years, but I think what I came up with is pretty darn near perfect.

For my picky eater-outers, this is a salad that doesn’t compromise flavor but also won’t knock you over with the big three!

This kale caesar salad is made with crispy chickpeas and a creamy vegan caesar dressing.

I highly recommend it with cherry tomatoes, hemp hearts, and my latest cheezy white bean dip!

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Cheezy White Bean Dip

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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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Curried Chickpea Salad Collard Wraps

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Curried Chickpea Salad with almond milk yogurt, avocado, and curry seasoning. Add cranberries and walnuts and serve in collard leaves!

I’m taking a four week writing course this month.

I’ve always enjoyed writing.

As a kid, whenever adults asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I responded, a writer.

I created a children’s book series in elementary school sharing the adventures of a miniature Schnauzer, Joana Schnauzer, and her house pet friends.

All throughout middle school and high school, I wrote in my composition notebook journals with the word “PRIVATE!” roughly taped to the front.

In college I wrote sestinas and stream of consciousness in scrolling cursive about learning, love, and loss.

After college I mostly wrote for my job, technical stuff I didn’t really understand, or, frankly, like.

Then I found Instagram, and shared posts with you about food, fitness, and life as a 20-something.

Now as a 30-something (almost 36!), I can safely say that you’re my favorite person to write for, friend.

Writing isn’t a skill I’ve actively tried to improve since my school days.

So I hope this writing course will re-inspire an old burn in my *and* help me communicate better in words just how delicious plants are.

Today’s recipe is also taking an old idea and making it new.

This Curried Chickpea Salad is made with almond milk yogurt, avocado, and curry seasoning for a delicious light lunch.

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Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Whipped sweet potato breakfast bowl topped with fresh berries, granola, and shredded coconut. Perfect to meal prep for breakfast!

Some people crave sweet potatoes when the weather is cold and the days are short.

Truthfully, I’ve never understood those people.

My love for sweet potatoes knows no seasons, no temperatures, and observed daylight savings.

Which is why I’m sharing this Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl with you today!

This blueprint breakfast bowl has become one of my staple breakfasts that I throw into the weekly rotation.

I love it because, well, it’s sweet potatoes, duh, but also because it’s extremely versatile and customizable.

You can serve it chilled or heated and add whatever toppings fit your mood and the season.

Although it takes a bit longer to meal prep because of the bake time, it makes for a delicious 5-min breakfast in the mornings that follow.

The sweet whipped consistency is the perfect fluffy base for whatever your heart desires.

It’s giving…Barbie fashionista.

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Viral Date Bark (Nut-Free!)

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Viral Date Bark made nut-free with Medjool dates, No Sugar Added SunButter, sunflower seeds, and vegan dark chocolate. The best sweet treat!

I have a list on my phone for all of the “viral” trending recipes that I want to try from TikTok.

So many recipes, so little time!

Sometimes I don’t get around to making them until the trend is already old news on social media.

Like the baked feta pasta that I *just* got around to making a few weeks back (and wasn’t fully impressed with the vegan version!).

However, this week, I dug out some dates from the back of the refrigerator and decided it was time to try the Viral Date Bark, with a few variations.

I was surprised at how delicious this simple recipe is!

The few ingredients pair together beautifully to create a sweet and salty treat with an addictive crunch.

That paired with how insanely easy it was to make meant I have to share it with you.

You’re going to love my version of Viral Date Bark made Nut-Free with SunButter and sunflower seeds.

It’s perfect to store in the refrigerator or freezer for those instances you just need a little something sweet and healthy.

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Spicy SunButter Cauliflower Wings

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Cauliflower Wings battered and air-fried, then mixed with Spicy SunButter Sauce for a delicious appetizer or small bite.

Did you watch the Super Bowl a few weeks ago?

M and I had a little watch party at home complete with beer, vegan burgers, and lots of, “What just happened?”

Neither of us are the biggest sports fans, and even though football has been explained to me approximately 32356 times, it still hasn’t sunk in.

But the commercials were great and the food I made was even better.

It was Super Bowl weekend when I dug out the air fryer and tested some new savory snacks.

I’m so excited to share with you the very *first* air-fryer recipe on Flora & Vino!

Naturally, it had to be with cauliflower, because cauliflower can do anything.

It can even fly, because today, we’re giving it wings.

These Spicy SunButter Cauliflower Wings are battered and air-fried, then mixed with Spicy SunButter Sauce for a delicious appetizer or small bite.

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Thai Carrot Sweet Potato Soup

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Thai Carrot Sweet Potato Soup made on the stovetop with root vegetables and yellow curry paste blended with a spoonful of nut butter.

It’s jarring when things that used to feel easy start to feel hard.

Maybe it’s physical challenges, maybe it’s maintaining relationships, maybe it’s your routine.

If I’m being honest, a lot of things feel hard for me personally, right now.

Every morning I snooze my alarm, wishing for *just 5 more minutes* of sleep.

I struggle on the indoor climbing wall doing climbs that normally would be within my grade.

Meeting up with friends feels like an epic adventure, one that I would rather embark on in pajamas, please.

I’m ready for warmer weather, longer days, and lightness.

Right now, I’m in a self-imposed crunch time; sticking to a routine, chasing dreams, and marking off action items.

Luckily, when everything else feels hard, this Thai Carrot Sweet Potato Soup feels easy.

It also tastes amazing and every warm spoonful is like a comforting embrace.

This Thai Carrot Sweet Potato Soup is made on the stovetop with root vegetables and yellow curry paste blended with a spoonful of nut butter.

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Creamy Vegan 1-Pot Pasta

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Creamy Vegan 1-Pot Pasta made with chickpea pasta with almond milk, marinara sauce, and nutritional yeast for an easy dinner.

Do you ever feel like making dinner is the hardest thing you do all day?

Sometimes it feels like that for me, and friends, I create food content for a living.

Really I think the “hard factor” comes from the decision fatigue of food options as opposed to the actual cook time, you know?

After a long day, the last thing you want to is learn a new recipe, test new ingredients, or dirty every pot you own.

So lately I’ve been focusing on getting back to classic recipes that allow me to think less about food, if that makes sense.

The shorter the ingredient list, the better!

I’ve been keeping a 1-pot pasta from you for several years now, and I think it’s the perfect opportunity to share.

This Creamy Vegan 1-Pot Pasta is made with chickpea pasta, almond milk, marinara, and nutritional yeast for an easy dinner.

You can make it as elevated or basic as you’d like by adding or subtracting garnishes and sides.

Either way, you’re guaranteed a healthy meal that’s ready in 1-pot in 10 minutes.

Think how much of your precious brain space that frees up!

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Grain-Free

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