Flora & Vino

Oil-Free

My Go-To Trail Mix

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5-minute mix it yourself trail-mix with cashews, cranberries, dark chocolate, shredded coconut, and a shake of cinnamon. Perfect for on-the-go snacking!

My Go-To Trail Mix by Flora & Vino

At my hair appointment last weekend I sat in the salon chair and said, “Well, I’m not a hiker.”

“If you’ve got hiking boots, you’re a hiker,” my hair stylist said, motioning towards the hiking boots that protruded from under the long black salon gown that I wore buttoned around my neck like a cape.

I laughed and nodded in agreement.

I hadn’t had time to change before my hair appointment to change out of the hiking gear I wore to climb Raven Rocks with my girlfriends.

Earlier that morning, exhilarated by the crisp fall air and endorphins, we made a pact to do 12 hikes in 2020.

So maybe I am a hiker, huh?

I thought to myself as my stylist wrapped strands of my hair into highlighting foils.

And every good hiker knows to bring plenty of snack with you when you hit the trail.

Whether you’re a hiker or not, you’re going to love this easy snack mix that I call My Go-To Trail Mix.

It’s perfect to mix up for nutritious pre-portioned snacking on the go!

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Cashew Butter Buckeye Brownies

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Three layer vegan cashew butter buckeye brownies that are vegan, grain-free, and refined sugar-free with almond flour, cashew butter, and dark chocolate. 

Cashew Butter Buckeye Brownies By Flora & Vino

Last night I observed a yoga class for yoga teacher training!

Between training weekends, we have to show up on our mat but also observe others teach, too, to see the teaching experience from a new perspective.

I sat cross-legged in the back of the room, taking notes on a spiral notepad while I watched the room breathe and flow.

It’s hard not to get a bit of FOMO watching the transformation happening around the room.

The audible inhales and exhales made my own chest rise and fall with synchronicity.

But then I had a similar transformation in my kitchen yesterday, one that I’m excited to share with you today.

These Cashew Butter Buckeye Brownies are three layers of deliciousness that you need in your life.

They’re vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free with just 9 simple ingredients!

You don’t just have to observe this post friends, you get to participate.

Let’s layer up!

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1-Bowl Butternut Bread

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1-bowl butternut squash bread made with butternut squash purée, nut butter, and oat flour. Perfect for a hearty fall breakfast bread! 

1-Bowl Butternut Bread by Flora & Vino

Hello!

Since we last chatted daylight savings time went into “Fall backwards” mode, leaving us with an extra hour of  sleep and an abruptly dark dinnertime.

Everyone says that the day after Halloween is officially the start to the “holiday season”.

Nothing felt drastically different on November 1st save the mostly full bowl of Halloween candy by the door.

(I got a whopping TWO trick-or-treaters, guys!)

Bu when I scheduled my 8-week hair appointment with my stylist yesterday she said “Enjoy the holidays!”– that’s when it hit me.

I won’t see her until January and the holiday hustle is upon us, hair highlighted or not.

If you’re tired of pumpkin but still feeling like baking something cozy and orange, read on.

This 1-Bowl Butternut Bread is made with less than 10-ingredients that are vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweetened!

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Vegan Pumpkin Donuts with SunButter Maple Frosting

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Healthy pumpkin donuts made with almond flour and pumpkin purée naturally sweetened with maple syrup. Frost with an easy SunButter maple frosting!

Vegan Pumpkin Donuts with SunButter Maple Frosting by Flora & Vino

It’s Halloween Eve!

Do you have any spooky traditions that you do every year?

Nada over here.

I have heirloom pumpkin on the stoop and a candy-filled ceramic pumpkin bowl perched by the door in anticipation of trick-or-treaters at the new place.

Growing up, my parents used to get us donuts and apple cider to snack on before the trick-or-treaters showed up.

I’m not sure if that’s just a my family thing or if it’s a your family thing, too, but for this reason, I always associate donuts with Halloween!

There’s nothing much better than sweet circles in seasonal flavors, right?

These Vegan Pumpkin Donuts with SunButter Maple Frosting are just what you need for fall.

They’re vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar free with a delicious 3-ingredient maple-sweetened SunButter based frosting!

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1-Bowl Apple Oat Cake

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Simple apple almond cake made in one bowl with gluten-free oats,  tart apples, and slivered almonds. Try it for fall dessert, breakfast, or snack.

Guys, apparently I missed the apples.

WHAT?!

At my farm photoshoot last week I was seriously excited to pick some apples but as it turns out the apple orchards were closed for the year.

So I played with pumpkins instead and later bought some gorgeous Granny Smiths for the sole purpose of baking with.

They were clearly destined for cake, although I didn’t know it then.

If you’re thinking, Lauren, the last thing I need right now is another dessert recipe with Halloween candy laying around in plain sight.

Well, this is the kind of cake you can enjoy all fall long once the candy is long gone.

Also, can I just add that this 1-Bowl Apple Oat Cake is so much more than dessert.

It’s nutritious and filling with gluten-free oats, tart apples, and crunchy almonds.

Apple season is when we say it is and I say it’s now and it’s in our kitchens!

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Vegan Peanut Butter Butterfingers

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Easy vegan butterfinger bars made with peanut butter and cereal sweetened with date paste and coconut sugar with a dark chocolate coating. 

Vegan Peanut Butter Butterfingers by Flora & Vino

Do you guys ever get emotionally attached to TV shows?

I’m currently rationing out my last 4 episodes of Lucifer on Netflix.

Yes, I could finish up season 4 tonight…but what’s the fun in that?!

Ever since moving to my new place those characters have been companions, their playful banter filling up the empty spaces of my living room before there was my large area rug, couch, throw pillows, and plants.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, because I get this way with books, too.

You know what else I’m emotionally attached to ATM?

These Vegan Peanut Butter Butterfingers that I made today.

You just need 6-ingredients to make this vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free treat version of the childhood classic!

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Vegan & Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread

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Vegan and gluten-free cinnamon raisin bread that’s refined sugar free and packed with raisins and texture. Made cinnamon-y with a secret ingredient! 

Vegan & Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread by Flora & Vino

Hey you!

Do you have a gratitude practice?

Lately I’ve been enjoying writing down 5 things I’m grateful for each morning that happened within the past 24 hours.

This practice encourages me to continuously look for the good stuff that happens each day.

And these aren’t life-altering statements, friends, these are small every day things that spark joy.

Like, today, I gushed about my morning matcha, a phone call with my sister, my freshly rotated mattress, my Roomba, and my first day wearing boots.

What would you write today?

Tomorrow, I might write how grateful I am that this Vegan & Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread came out of my oven.

Because I have so darn much gratitude for this sweet cinnamon loaf.

It’s sweet, hearty, and easy to make with just 1-bowl and plenty of cinnamon and raisins.

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Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Hummus (Oil-Free!)

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Creamy oil-free hummus with organic turkish tomato halves, chickpeas, tahini, and seasonings. Perfect for dipping veggies, crackers, and spoons! 

Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Hummus by Flora & Vino

Hi, friends!

This past weekend I saw Downton Abbey, the film, with my parents and sister.

Have you seen the show?

I binge-watched all six seasons in long sittings in my first apartment almost five years back.

My parents were simultaneously watching the show at their house, so on our phone calls circa 2015 we chatted about what all of Downton’s characters were up to.

When I discovered this year that there was now a full feature movie I knew we had to all go see it family-style.

And by family style I mean rolling the 10 AM matinee showing like we own the place.

I won’t go into any details in case you’re planning to see it, too, but the film does give all of our favorite characters a mini storyline to triumph and grow a little.

My storyline lately has been continuing to organize the new house, and organizing always involves snacks.

This Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Hummus requires just 7 ingredients for a creamy spread that’s savory, tomato-y, and spreadable.

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Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tostadas

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Vegan tostadas with crunchy corn tortillas, refried black beans, roasted sweet potato wedges, and an easy purple cabbage slaw. Perfect for taco Tuesday! 

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tostadas by Flora & Vino .

Well, I’m here to report that it *finally* feels like fall here in Virginia.

I woke up this morning to a crisp autumn morning that I embraced with a warm matcha latte and my maroon The North Face sweatshirt.

I’ve also been embracing the changing season with lots of roasted veggies.

You might have tried adding roasted sweet potatoes to your tacos, but have you ever tried tossing them on your tostadas?

Their jeweled juicy sweetness paired with savory smashed black beans is a gem in Mexican inspired cuisine!

Dawn a sweatshirt and let’s make these Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tostadas.

These plant-based and gluten-free tostadas are ready in under an hour with some serious texture and crunch.

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Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Skillet Cookie

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Easy vegan and grain-free skillet cookie made with almond butter, almond flour, and naturally sweetened with coconut sugar and paleo chocolate chips.

Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Skillet Cookie by Flora & Vino

Remember when I said to wake me up when September ends?

Well, it’s September 30th and I still feel like snoozing.

That being said, I think (read: hope) that things will calm down a bit here in October.

I remember looking ahead to September on my giant office wall calendar, snorting at the idea of that blue cursive ink scrawled across dates coming to fruition.

But it did.

In September, I moved my life, my business, and my fridge, started yoga teacher training, traveled for a trade show, and somehow lived to tell about it.

And here I am, tired, and ready for dessert.

This Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Skillet Cookie is vegan, paleo, and grain-free without any added oils or refined sugars!

You just need 6 ingredients, a small caste iron skillet, and a love for gooey cookies.

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