Meal Prep

Breakfast Stuffed Squash

Breakfast Stuffed Squash with yogurt, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, granola, and sunflower seed butter. Perfect for meal prepped cold weather breakfasts!

Did you remember to fall back, friends?

I like to play this game where I live in the pre-time changed world for as long as I possibly can.

It works best if you’re too lazy to change the analog clocks in the house; their striking hands acting as a portal to that parallel universe where 8 AM is still 8 AM.

Looking at the time, I’m transported to that other world where time marches on unchanged by Federal Law.

At this time, pre-Daylight Savings Time Lauren is bowing deeply in child’s pose on her yoga mat.

There she is serenely sipping on a steaming green Cinnamon Almond Matcha Latte.

Oh, and now she’s standing by the glowing oven, impatiently waiting on squash halves to bake.

Get it girl.

This Breakfast Stuffed Squash is the perfect meal prep breakfast for colder months; ready in just 30 minutes for you and your doppelgänger.

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Chickpea Waldorf Salad with Creamy Kombucha Dressing

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Easy chickpea salad with apple, grapes, nuts, herbs, and a creamy almond milk yogurt and kombucha dressing. Serve by itself or on greens!

Well, hello, November, where the heck did you come from?

You know the boy that called wolf?

Well, lately, I’ve been feeling like that girl that called “busy”.

I’m too busy for this, too busy for that, too busy to tell you I’m busy.

It’s become a sort of boring refrain, an overused metaphor, a worn out sweatshirt.

Are you busy, too?

Luckily, we all have time to start the month by making today’s recipe.

This Chickpea Waldorf Salad with Creamy Kombucha Dressing has a tons of fun texture and taste with a super low prep time.

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5-Spice Squash & Chickpea Stew

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

5-Spice Squash & Chickpea Stew made in 1-pot with lots of cozy vegetables and plant-based protein! Make a pot on Sunday night and enjoy leftovers all week.

Last night Dan and I had the pleasure of babysitting my niece and nephews.

We went over, ordered pizza, and watched the kids get sleepier and sleepier on the couch watching Nick Jr. before the procession upstairs to read a Paw Patrol book before bed time.

And I’ve got to say, they were so well behaved, they made parenting almost look easy (although I’ve heard that’s not the case!!!).

The hardest part was staying up a bit past our usual bedtime.

I caught Dan falling to sleep on the job several times while I stayed awake dreaming of cozy recipes to be.

And what else do you dream up a quarter to midnight but a big comforting stew?

This 5-Spice Squash & Chickpea Stew is perfectly spiced, subtly sweet, tomato-based, oil free, protein packed, veggie goodness.

Despite the long descriptors, all you need are five spices, chickpeas, and your most favorite squash!

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Roasted Fig Arugula Salad

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Roasted Fig Arugula Salad with Maple Tahini with juicy roasted figs, toasted walnuts, and an oil-free maple tahini dressing. Perfect for fall salads!

The other day I asked on Instagram if anyone could name a fruit sexier than a fresh fig.

My brother-in-law did chime in with a cheeky “Rambutan!” comment.

I also got several Passion Fruit and Pitaya responses, all very good contenders, boys and girls, but have you tried roasted figs before?

Now my main contender for the fruit beauty pageant.

They’ve got looks, taste, and a pretty intriguing backstory about being an inverted flower pollinated by a female wasp (I just did my research on this– did you know??).

Oh, and they’re absolutely delicious in this simple Roasted Fig & Arugula Salad with Maple Tahini that’s perfect to jazz up your fall meal prep!

*mic drop*

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“Cheezy” Chickpea Sheet Pan Meal

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

“Cheezy” Chickpea Sheet Pan Meal with chickpeas, veggies, and nutritional yeast seasoning. Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, and perfect for meal prep!

Well hello there!

How was your weekend?

This past week/weekend I went to Natural Products Expo East and visited with all of my favorite brands and scoped out the newest products in natural foods.

It was a lot of walking, a lot of talking, and a lot of sampling!

Somehow I had the bright idea to hit the grocery store on the way home from the trade-show, to, you know, kill two birds (two tofus?) with one stone, so to speak.

After being surrounded by food and chatter about food all day PLUS lugging of all of the loot from the show AND all of my groceries up three flights of stairs (we’re on the top unit of a stacked condominium!)– I decided I didn’t want to see or hear about food again. Like ever.

But then of course that changed because…a girl’s got to eat.

I eased back into the kitchen today with this fail-proof 1-Pan Meal that’s perfect for meal prep!

If you’re feeling a bit tired, frazzled, and food-overwhelmed like me, this “Cheezy” Chickpea Sheet Pan Meal is exactly what you need.

Come on, let’s do it!

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Summer Spinach Salad with Turmeric Tahini Dressing

By Flora & Vino 4 Comments

Summer spinach salad with turmeric tahini dressing, quinoa, summer vegetables, and avocado. Perfect to meal prep for lunch!

Happy Sunday!

How are you enjoying the end of your summer?

It’s honestly felt a lot like fall here in Virginia in the past few days, but I’m not complaining.

The crisp cool weather felt so amazing on our Sunday run this morning.

This Summer Spinach Salad with Turmeric Tahini Dressing is my last ode to summer in salad form.

The combination is fresh, bright, and light, with a sweet cider-y dressing that will get you jazzed about fall.

It’s also perfect for meal prep, for anyone going back to school or just back to the kitchen basics!

Oh, lunchtime.

I feel like most people would say that breakfast is the most hectic meal of the day, but for me, it’s definitely my mid-day meal!

Usually, when lunchtime rolls around I’m halfway through a photo shoot in a kitchen that looks more like the target of a natural disaster than a place for civilized eating.

So, I’ve been a bit lazy about my lunchtime “recipes” lately.

And by lazy I mean I’m throwing all of the raw and steamed veggies, leftover quinoa, avocado, and a tahini dressing in a bowl.

This solid blueprint never fails to fuel me, and if it ain’t broke…

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Strawberry Coconut Almond Butter Overnight Oats

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Easy overnight oats with strawberries, shredded coconut, and a spoonful of almond butter. Prep several jars in advance for easy weekday breakfast on the go!

Do you partake in “self care Sunday”?

Self care is all the rage lately– putting yourself first, saying no to things that don’t serve you, choosing to do a face mask and drink kombucha when you *should* be folding laundry.

So I’m going to throw it out there for the taking– I think the best way to pamper yourself is with overnight oats!

Because, hear me out, what are overnight oats but a delicious gift from present to future self?

And my future self looooooves gift.

These Strawberry Coconut Almond Butter Overnight Oats come together with a handful of ingredients you can mix in advance for easy breakfasts on the go!

I did my self care Sunday pretty late last week, per usual.

It must have been close to 9 PM when I pulled down three mason jars and apathetically measured out oats, almond milk, chia seed, and shredded coconut.

Eying them under the artificial kitchen lights, I decided they needed something, so I tossed in a big spoonful of roasted almond butter.

Because nut butter makes everything better.

I placed them in the fridge, fell asleep, and forgot about them.

Monday morning, amidst the fast pace of a new week, I remembered said oats, covered them in diced strawberries and was so enamored with the flavor combination that I could have KISSED Sunday night me.

Thanks, Sunday night Lauren, you’re a real gem.

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The Best Vegan & Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

By Flora & Vino 15 Comments

The Best Vegan & Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins naturally sweetened with maple syrup for a nutritious breakfast or snack.

The Best Vegan & Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins served on blue plate with a knife on wooden board

Well, well, well. If it isn’t Sunday again.

I’m writing this blog post from our community pool.

It’s Sunday and I wanted to bring my work outdoors.

This sounds like a reasonable thing, yes?

Aside from the fact that I’m typing this on tiny half visible keys over shrieks and splashes of kids and the gossipy couple that sat down in the chair next to me (out of all the seats!).

I really can’t believe it’s August already, can you?

So I keep harassing myself with not so gentle reminders to get outside and enjoy the sunshine while it’s here.

But enough about me– can we talk about breakfast?

Let’s talk about these Vegan & Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins.

Correction: The BEST Vegan & Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins!

They only require one bowl, a serious love of blueberries, and a mug of something warm to enjoy them with.

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Tofu Steaks with Apricot Cucumber Mint Compote

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Protein-packed grilled tofu “steaks” marinated, grilled, and served with an easy apricot cucumber mint compote and fresh seasonal veggies.

Have you made it away on your summer vacation yet?

I’ve been dreaming about…a totally extravagant…STAYCATION.

You know, the kind where you just sort of press pause on life and do ALL of those things that you never seem to have time to get done.

Yes, I dream big.

But someone will probably have to bar me from the kitchen for it to be at all effective…

Because next thing you know I’ll be 5 feet of dishes deep in a recipe with my camera in my hands.

These Tofu Steaks with Apricot Cucumber Mint Compote are my latest and greatest way to enjoy tofu this summer.

They’re complete with some serious grill marks, a sweet four-ingredient compote, and fresh seasonal veg!

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Crispy Garden Quinoa Burgers

By Flora & Vino 8 Comments

Quinoa-based burgers made with fresh seasonal summer veggies! Oil-free, gluten free, and extra crispy. Perfect for layering on a bun, lettuce, or by itself!

Happy July!

Can we talk about where June went?

Well, it’s July and I’m finding myself craving all of the fun fiery hot weather foods, lately, twin stacks of nutritious burgers included.

I thought I’d kick off the month with an epic plant-based burger combo– in case you needed another one for your Fourth of July shenanigans.

These Crispy Garden Quinoa Burgers require only a handful of ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge.

They’re the perfect plant-based, gluten-free, oil-free burger to bite into this summer!

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Meal Prep

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