Oil-Free

Mint Dark Chocolate Coconut Layer Bars

Vegan and grain-free mint dark chocolate coconut layer bars made with a cacao date-nut base, sweet coconut butter center, and mint dark chocolate top.

The expiration date on my almond milk this morning read “12 04” in blue typeface and I thought to myself, oh, good, I’ve got time to enjoy it.

Except I didn’t because looking down at my iPhone calendar I realized that it’s already December, actually, and today is December 4th.

So I poured a big glass of almond milk and chugged it while it lasts.

Kind of like my almost expired almond milk, I feel like the end of this year is going to be here before we know it.

Today there are exactly three weeks until Christmas and four weeks until we ring in 2020- WHAT.

The end of this year just feels heavy, you know?

I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately, honestly, with awkward energy flowing between efforting through December tasks and making big plans for the next.

So, maybe we could use a refresher?

These Mint Dark Chocolate Coconut Layer Bars are a great refreshing distraction to this busy season.

They’re delicious in three easy layers that are vegan, grain-free, and naturally sweetened with no bake time required!

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Gingerbread Bliss Balls

By Flora & Vino 7 Comments

Gingerbread inspired energy balls made with oat flour, Medjool dates, molasses, and a festive spice blend. Perfect for a holiday season pick me up.

Hey, how was your Thanksgiving?

If you’re like me, the morning after the big meal you hastily turned on the Christmas music.

Something about blasting Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey instantly transports me into the holiday spirit.

Do you have your tree and decorations up yet?

I’m 50% of the way there.

I have the miniature red and white tree-skirt I couldn’t resist buying from Target, before, you know, finding a mini tree to go with it.

The ornaments are out too; a heart-warming hodgepodge of handmade childhood ornaments, classic glass balls, hanging figurines dated by birthdays and ages, glistening cupcakes and my favorite, a sparkling avocado toast (no explanation needed).

So when I finally get my tree, I’ll be decorating it with all of this plus Gingerbread Bliss Balls.

Because everyone needs a little festive fuel to deck the halls!

These gingerbread inspired energy bites are ready in under 10 minutes to fuel you through your busy holiday season.

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Black Bean & Quinoa Chili Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Black Bean & Quinoa Chili Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with your favorite chili toppings. Perfect for football Sunday and easy weeknight meals.

In yoga teacher training recently we talked about our cold-weather food cravings.

Which makes sense because the room we congregate in for teacher training is FAH-REEZING.

BRRR.

It also makes sense because doing all the yoga makes you crave all the food.

Anyway, we (the collective YTT group) agreed that all we want to eat lately are carbs, and by carbs, we mean sweet potatoes.

And what better

You might have had sweet potato in your chili before, so this is a similar concept…except better.

Sweet potatoes and chili are two of my favorite plant-based comfort foods, so together, they create unparalleled edible bliss.

These Black Bean & Quinoa Chili Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are ready in under and hour to add to your weekly winter meal rotation.

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Vegan Lentil Oat Loaf

By Flora & Vino 16 Comments

Vegan lentil oat loaf with cooked lentils, gluten-free oats, diced vegetables, spice, and plenty of ketchup. Serve with sides for plant-based dinner!

Back when Dan and I first started dating we thought it was a good idea to have his parents over for dinner at his apartment.

Instead of ordering pizza or takeout, I offered to cook, hoping the perfect meal would make me an instant hit with his parents.

Dan’s dad requested meatloaf, so, naturally, I made the fanciest version I could find on the web.

The dinner was a blur of wine and laughter and dirty dishes in good company.

Despite its success, that meatloaf was the first and last of its kind that came out of my kitchen.

The whole plant-based thing coupled with my limiting belief that ‘meatloaf is hard to make’ held me back.

Until now.

This Vegan Lentil Oat Loaf is packed with protein, fiber, and veggies to keep you satisfied.

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Vegan Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie

By Flora & Vino 8 Comments

Vegan dark chocolate pecan pie with a grain-free crust, a Medjool date-sweetened filling, and plenty of dark chocolate chunks. A decadent holiday pie!

Today on Instagram I stumbled across a quiz with deep questions, like…

Coffee or tea? (Matcha, obviously.)

Breakfast or Brunch? (Breakfast is the best meal of the day!)

Cake or Pie? (Hmmm…)

Now this is a tough one, guys, but, when pressed by the bold letters of the quiz screenshot, I had to say pie.

There’s just something about warm filling inside a crispy triangle crust that just GETS ME.

Particularly if it’s this Vegan Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie.

This decadent pie needs to make an appearance on your holiday dessert table this year!

It’s made with just seven ingredients while being oil-free, gluten and grain-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free.
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My Go-To Trail Mix

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

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

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

By Flora & Vino 8 Comments

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

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

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

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

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

By Flora & Vino 6 Comments

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

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

By Flora & Vino 14 Comments

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!

The inspiration for this 1-Bowl Apple Oat Cake comes from an old family recipe!

My mom used to make apple cake that we enjoyed after brisk fall walks around the neighborhood with the sun low in the sky.

The original recipe called for two cups of sugar, oil, and eggs, so I made some F&V swap outs to make the recipe vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free.

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