Oil-Free

Purple Sweet Potato Overnight Oats

Make breakfast both easy and beautiful with these overnight oats made with purple sweet potato purée and fresh berries! Perfect for easy breakfast meal prep.

In elementary school my favorite color was purple.

Closely followed by pink.

I’m talking Lisa Frank purple and pink, best shown by unicorns and rainbows and big fat bubble letters.

I see myself with more of a blue-aura now, but the purple of these jars brings me back to my first color crush.

On Instagram you guys have definitely noticed my obsession with purple sweet potatoes lately.

They say you eat with your eyes first, right?

Well, imagine feasting your tired morning eyes on these pretty prepped jars of Purple Sweet Potato Overnight Oats.

They’re just waiting for a spoon, some berry-licious toppings, and YOU.

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Superseed SunButter Stuffed Avocados

By Flora & Vino 4 Comments

Avocado snack boats packed with healthy fats and your favorite seeds! Filled with sunflower seed butter and a drizzle of date syrup for sweetness.

Once upon a time I stuffed an avocado with nut butter and Instagram went wild for it.

Do you remember?

It was a few years back when healthy fats were just becoming all the rage.

I shared them tentatively to my feed, unsure whether you guys would be obsessed or apprehensive.

The response was mostly in awe of this sultry savory combo.

So, what’s better than creamy peanut butter and avocado?

SunButter and avocado, that’s what, for a delicious nut-free variation that’s school-safe and allergen-friendly.

These Superseed SunButter Stuffed Avocados are the perfect compact snack packed with healthy fats, a little crunch, and a touch of sweetness.

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Raspberry Swirl Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

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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Chunky Monkey Superfood Banana Chip Bites

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Banana chips topped with melted chocolate, shredded coconut, crushed peanuts, goji berries, and chocolate chips. The perfect healthy alternative to candy!

Hello, friends!

Since we last chatted I graduated from yoga teacher training.

I know, how did that happen so quickly?

The last 6 months were a whirlwind of asana and anatomy and sequencing and while many times during training I felt like I was a hot mess I know now that I was exactly where I needed to be.

You can read more about my struggles and wins from training in this Instagram post.

I have no current plans to teach, but the stuff I learned in training has forever changed the way I see yoga, myself, and really everything around me.

When I was struggling to make the big decision– to YTT or not to YTT, I asked a few former students for advice.

“Just do it,” they said.

“It’ll change your life,” they said.

They weren’t wrong.

So now I’m going to say the same thing to you in a different content.

If you’re looking for a fun alternative to candy this Valentine’s Day, check out these Chunky Monkey Superfood Banana Chip Bites.

To quote my yoga instructor pals– Just do it. It’ll change your life.

They’re made with 5 ingredients for a gluten-free, grain-free, and refined sugar-free treat!

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3-Ingredient Chocolate Strawberry Truffles + Rosso

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

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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Cannellini Bean, Quinoa, & Kraut Bowl

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Satisfying macro bowl with greens, cooked quinoa, roasted sweet potato, avocado, and plenty of sauerkraut. Perfect for meal prep and workweek lunches!

Guys, I need to decorate.

My friend and photographer came over to take some photos of me in my home this week for the blog.

I had the idea to use my couch for the scene, my beige couch with an expansive blank white wall above it that stretches from the window to the wall.

A blank white wall that could *really* use a painting, a decorative shelf, a framed photo….SOMETHING.

But I didn’t have anything, so instead we worked hard to place plants and bright pillows and cheerful coffee mugs to give the scene some zest.

The white walls were acceptable when I moved in 5 months ago, but now they feel a bit harsh and unwelcoming.

I just don’t quite know where to start, you know?

One of my best friends told me, just put one thing up and go from there.

Well, OK, that sounds easy enough.

Maybe I should just put up some food photos and call it a day.

What do you think about blowing up this Cannellini Bean, Quinoa, & Kraut Bowl in all it’s colorful macrobiotic glory as the focal point for my living room?

This bowl is packed with plant-based protein, healthy fats, probiotics, and complex carbs to keep you healthy and satisfied!

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Coconut Flour Chai Cookies

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

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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Pomegranate Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

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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Black Sesame Butter Banana Bread

By Flora & Vino 5 Comments

Black sesame butter bread made with black sesame seed butter and bananas with a touch of cacao. Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweet!

Hi!

Long time no talk.

I’ve been feeling a little short on words lately, as if my communication is congruent with the darkening days.

The winter solstice is this Saturday– the darkest day of the year.

I know this because I googled it and I googled it because I still use natural lights for all of my photoshoots.

So the darker earlier days really rains on my food photography parade, you know?

I also know this because I have a 90-min Winter Solstice Yoga Flow class on Thursday night where we do 108 sun salutations to welcome winter with warmth.

Anyway, you haven’t missed a whole lot behind the scenes.

Yoga teacher training and photoshoots keeps me busy during the day and in the evenings I cozy up and watch Christmas movies on Netflix.

In fact, I think I’ve watched more Christmas movies this year than any other year on record.

They’ve got a lot going for them: they always have happy endings and the soundtrack is all Christmas music.

SOLD.

This Black Sesame Butter Banana Bread also has a lot going for it.

It’s made in 1-bowl with less than ten ingredients for a decadent dessert or breakfast bread that’s vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweet!

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Almond Flour Cashew Butter Snickerdoodles

By Flora & Vino 10 Comments

Almond flour cashew butter snickerdoodle cookies that are vegan, grain-free, oil-free, and rolled in plenty of cinnamon and unrefined coconut sugar.

Is it cookie season yet?!

I kind of can’t believe that my big December calendar shows only a little over two weeks to Christmas.

Don’t tell my family and friends, but I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping yet.

Aside from my mini blue spruce tree adorned with all of my childhood ornaments and the Christmas music on repeat, I feel pretty unprepared for the holiday.

This past weekend I had yoga teacher training every day with a 15K race early Sunday, so I have quite literally been on the run.

But I did make cookies.

These Almond Flour Cashew Butter Snickerdoodles are the perfect healthier holiday cookie, complete with just 7 ingredients.

Bake them in 10 minutes for a vegan, grain-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free twist on the classic cookie!

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