Flora & Vino

Meal Prep

Raw Walnut Cashew Butter

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#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!

2-ingredient homemade raw walnut cashew butter made super creamy in under 10 minutes  Serve it with Bare Snacks Banana Chips for an easy snack!

Raw Walnut Cashew Butter by Flora & Vino

Did you pull any epic pranks on April Fools Day?

After one of my aloe plants fell out of it’s pot for the fourth (or fifth?)  time last week (it was poorly potted and in a precarious position), I had a plant funeral and buried the evidence in my trashcan.

RIP, aloe. 

As part of an April Fools day joke, I purchased a new plant and propped it up on the late aloe’s plant stand on April the first, waiting for M to notice.

I smirked while he ate his breakfast, finally asking, pointedly, “So, do you notice anything different???”

After doing a lingering living room scan, he finally picked out the monstera deliciosa sitting pretty near the window sill.

I laughed, assuring him I would keep my plant murderess tendencies contained. 

I’m so infatuated with this little green plant and it’s smooth heart-shaped leaves already turning towards the sunshine. 

Let’s see how long it survives…

Hopefully longer than this Raw Walnut Cashew Butter that I made last week and served with banana chips. 

It requires just two ingredients and a blender without any added sugars or oils.

It’s true: I wouldn’t kid about something as serious as nut butter, not even on April Fools! 

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Triple Berry Granola (Oil-Free!)

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Baked berry granola with three kinds of sweet berries and SunButter for an oil-free option. Perfect to make ahead for breakfast and snacking!

Triple Berry Granola (Oil-Free!) by Flora & Vino

Granola doesn’t last long in my house. 

It’s one of the staples that both M and I eat daily, piling it high on big breakfast bowls or grabbing a handfuls before an evening workout. 

If you’re a bit of a granola connoisseur like I am, you know the good stuff it can be expensive.

So, for the past few weeks I’ve been making us homemade granola on a regular basis. 

This is either the beginning of a granola series or the beginnings of a granola product line…ha!

Anyway, it’s been really fun testing new variations each Sunday. 

I bake the mixture in the oven and then break it into cherished chunks before transferring it to an airtight bag for the week. 

When I asked M what granola flavor he wanted this week, he requested “something fruity or tart.”

So I made this Triple Berry Granola (Oil-Free!) and infused it with three kinds of berries for a perfectly sweet and chunky granola. 

It’s totally gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally-sweetened with maple syrup and berries! 

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Vegan Meal Prep Recipe Round Up

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Simple and delicious vegan and gluten-free recipes that make plant-based meal prep easy, time efficient, and fun! Mix and match throughout the week!

Vegan Meal Prep Recipe Round Up by Flora & Vino

Hi, friends! 

January is stereotypically the time of year of start plans. 

New workouts, new diets, resolutely resolving to break bad habits and add healthy routines. 

By now, you might have heard me talking about the cookbook that I’m working on.

The theme is Vegan Meal Prep and includes mix and match recipes for how to be plant-based even when life is crazy (which it always is– right?).

It’s funny, because I feel like I’m carefully crafting a product that I would  love to consume.

Meaning, that yes, I too, would covet a collection of vegan & gluten-free recipes that take the guesswork out of meal time. 

So I’ve been working my way through the F&V archives, drawing inspiration from my favorite easy-to-prep plant-based recipes. 

While making my meal prep list, I thought, why not share this resource with you guys, too? 

If you’ve been here a while you know that all of the recipes on Flora & Vino are pretty darn simple with minimal ingredients. 

Therefore, it could easily be argued that *all* F&V recipes are meal-prep-able.

However, there are definitely some that fit more conveniently into the meal prep lifestyle more than others!

In this Vegan Meal Prep Recipe Round Up you’ll find Grab & Go Breakfasts, Quick & Easy Lunches, Portable Snacks, Sheet Pan Meals, One-Pot Soups & Stews, Easy Dinners, and Fuss-Free Desserts.

Everything you need to make plant-based eating easy and fun all week long!  

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Warm Kale Quinoa Bowl with Citrus Tahini

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Warm lunch bowl with kale, quinoa, chickpeas, and roasted sweet potatoes with an oil-free citrus tahini dressing. Perfect for a cozy working winter lunch!

Warm Kale Quinoa Bowl with Citrus Tahini by Flora & Vino

Hi, friends.

It’s kind of a strange time of year.

The novelty of the new year has worn off and the next big holiday in sight is Valentine’s Day.

I’ve been hunkering down and working on the cookbook with the fire of a fast approaching manuscript deadline.

Honestly, the hardest part of cookbook recipe creation is keeping said recipes from you! 

I’m so accustomed to the instant gratification of the blog posting process that hoarding all of this content feels downright miserly.

Which is why I’m letting one of the recipes slip through the cracks today…

This Warm Kale Quinoa Bowl with Citrus Tahini is my current, go-to lunch!

It’s served warm, and packed with complex carbs, plant-based protein, and a creamy, oil-free citrus tahini dressing.

So, if it can fuel me to write my first cookbook, I can’t wait to see what it does for you!
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Thai Salad with SunButter Dressing

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Vegetable Thai salad with raw vegetables, baked tofu, cilantro, and an easy oil-free SunButter dressing. Perfect for an easy meal prep lunch or dinner!

Thai Salad with SunButter Dressing by Flora & Vino         

Last week I impulsively decided to cut my bangs. 

New year, new hair? 

I haven’t done *true* bangs in almost 15 years, since I was obsessed with Anne Hathaway’s thick bang in the Devil Wears Prada.

Remember how chick she looked, guys!?

Well, I didn’t look like that at all. 

The hacked locks stacked on my forehead like a massive mop, a hair helmet of sorts.

So yeah, I’ve been avoiding bangs for a bit. 

But change is good, and I’m getting used to the feeling of movement across my forehead. 

Aaand coming to terms with the fact that, if I actually want them to lay right, I need to style them. 

Doh. 

I’d much rather just style my salads…

I’m excited to share this Thai Salad with SunButter Dressing with you as a fresh option after post-holiday indulgences! 

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Homemade Christmas Chocolates

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Homemade vegan dark chocolate Christmas candies made with fun holiday silicone molds for an easy 1-ingredient refined sugar-free Christmas treat! 

Homemade Christmas Chocolates by Flora & Vino

Does it snow where you are, friends?

Today we got our first snow of the season in Virginia. 

The white stuff started coming down around 10 AM and by 11 AM the grass, asphalt, and neighboring rooftops all had a fluffy frosting. 

I don’t care what anyone says…I *love* snow. 

Snow days always make me feel giddy with childlike anticipation and energy. 

I plowed through a holiday shoot in the studio today, powered by holiday hits and the gorgeous light reflecting off my snow-saturated deck. 

Afterwards, I dawned my Sorel snow boots, fuzzy hat, and heavy duty gloves to explore the winter wonderland. 

If you’re home for the holidays, maybe you’re in the mood for a sweet homemade present.

These Homemade Christmas Chocolates are the perfect DIY Christmas treat that you can make from home!

All you need is some seriously delicious dark chocolate and your favorite holiday silicone molds….

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Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies

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Your favorite banana bread turned into breakfast cookies! Gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweetened with banana and maple syrup. Perfect for meal prep!

Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies by Flora & Vino

I just received the cutest Christmas ornament from a friend and colleague that I hung on the tree last night. 

It’s a ceramic circle with 2-0-2-0 in big bubble letters. 

Surrounding the bubble letters are cute drawings and text illustrating all of the activities that exemplify the year.

Some of my favorite examples are: “what day is it?”, “survived the toilet paper shortage”, and “wash your hands”!

I’ve created a new tradition of adding an ornament to my collection each year, but this time I don’t need to search.

I was glad to receive one that so succinctly and sweetly summed up the insanity of the past 12 months. 

The one thing the ornament is missing is all of the loaves of banana bread that we collectively baked. 

We can’t forget the year of banana bread, folks!

It’s okay, because I baked some into cookies so we can commemorate 2020 and take our banana bread with us no matter where 2021 takes us. 

These Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies are made in just one bowl with hearty oats, ripe bananas, and plenty of dark chocolate and walnuts. 

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Moroccan Mason Jar Salad

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Safeway. All opinions are 100% my own.

Make ahead mason jar salads with raw chopped vegetables, chickpeas, quinoa, herbs, and  a zesty Moroccan-inspired dressing. Perfect for meal prep!

Moroccan Mason Jar Salad by Flora & Vino

Psst. 

Did I tell you that I’m writing a cookbook? 

If you’ve been following me on social media, you might have heard the news about my first book. 

Because the cookbook is meal prep inspired, I’ve been living the meal prep lifestyle here at home. 

This means reserving time on Sunday and stuffing lots of fresh food into Tupperware and mason jars. 

You might not equate the holiday season with meal prep, but honestly, it’s one of the times I crave stability the most. 

Amongst a string of holiday commitments and festive food, it’s easy to feel a bit frazzled and malnourished. 

So, it’s amazing to have a fresh meal from the fridge to balance things out between all of the happy chaos. 

These Moroccan Mason Jar Salads are so easy to prepare for a portable lunch that’s packed with raw vegetables, herbs, and a zesty Moroccan inspired dressing.

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Tahini Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

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Chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies with a tahini twist and plenty of dark chocolate chips. A vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free dessert!

Tahini Chocolate Chip Macademia Nut Cookies by Flora & Vino

OK, it’s officially cookie season, and I’m excited to share a cool new cookie with you. 

I don’t use macadamia nuts enough, do you? 

I’m always nuts for nuts, but macadamia nuts are one I tend to overlook. 

My parents used to get a canister of them from Costco growing up and I savored the rich buttery nuts like golden nuggets. 

These healthy holiday cookies are absolutely decadent, combined with tangy tahini and bittersweet dark chocolate.

You’re going to want to add these Tahini Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies to your holiday baking list this season.

They’re vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free made in 1-bowl with just eight easy ingredients. 

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Sautéed Apple Pie Yogurt Bowl

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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 blueprint breakfast yogurt bowl with warm berries, sautéed apples, yogurt favorite granola, nut butter, and baked apple chips for crunch!

Sautéed Apple Pie Yogurt Bowl by Flora & Vino        

I still remember the first time I *really* meditated. 

It was a Friday night and I decided to stay after my normal vinyasa flow for the later meditation class. 

Sitting cr0ss-legged, I tried not to fidget, alternating small micro-movements in my fingers and toes to prevent my phalanges from falling asleep. 

I focused on the guided words of the instructor and my breath, anything to prevent my mind from an internal laundry list loop.  

Afterwards, I blinked my eyes open, certain only ten or so minutes had passed since I closed them. 

When I realized it had been a full thirty minutes I was astonished.

I conveyed this to a fellow yogi practicing beside me and he smiled knowingly and said, “That’s how you know you’re meditating.”

“Hmm,” I said, still sitting.

I stretched, assessing the waking world beyond my mat with bleary eyes, feeling as though I was returning from a really special place I didn’t know existed. 

Guys, I miss that place.

Lately my meditation practice has been sorely lacking.

I’m the first to admit that I click the “X” out of my virtual pre-recorded yoga before the savasana party even begins. 

But I’m trying to get back into it, practicing quieting my mind in the AM before making a big bowl of yogurt for breakfast. 

This Sautéed Apple Pie Yogurt Bowl is apple pie in yogurt form with sautéed apples, almond milk yogurt, and a crispy apple chip flourish. 

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