Plants & Wine Pairing

Vegan Margherita Pizza with Cashew Tahini Mozzarella + Barbera

Vegan Margherita Pizza with Cashew Tahini Mozzarella and a homemade chickpea crust with tomato and basil. Perfect for a date night dinner in!

Will you go to the store for *just one* ingredient?

A few weeks back M and I had a plant-based pizza party planned when I looked in the fridge I realized we were out of our usual vegan mozzarella.

Dang it.

M suggested that we enjoy our pizza cheese-less, but I was set on something cheesy and satisfying.

I’m so glad that I didn’t go to the store for one ingredient, because the lack of cheese inspired this recipe!

I immediately did some research on making a vegan cheese at home and decided to wing it with a homemade vegan cashew tahini mozzarella.

We liked the homemade cashew cheese *so* much, it became a staple pizza night option.

This Vegan Margherita Pizza with Cashew Tahini Mozzarella is perfect for an elevated plant-based pizza night at home.

I highly recommend pairing it with a glass of Barbera!

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Sweet Potato Mash with Sautéed Mushrooms + Pinot Noir

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Simple sweet potato mash with crispy mixed mushrooms and thyme. Perfect for a plant-based entrée or fall side served with a glass of Pinot Noir!

Have you ever heard people say that what you put on the Internet will be there forever?

Well, I never did, until this week.

M showed me a website the other day that acts as an Internet archive for past website content.

I’ve deleted my fair share of Internet content over the years, including but not limited to: a Xanga from high school, several Twitter accounts, and my first blog that I deleted.

I always assumed that when I hit the “delete all site content” button on those sites, that those words and pictures were gone forever.

Nope.

I sat incredulous as this Internet site that I’d never heard of pulled up an index of my past blog posts from 2014 and 2015.

The internet was bit laggy, as though it struggled to reach back in time to resuscitate the content I’d discarded.

When the page finally loaded, it was like staring at a friendly ghost.

I had to smile, because 20-something Lauren was a budding food blogger even then, writing about vegan muffins and fluffy feelings accented by crude cropped iPhone photos.

It definitely put into perspective how far I’ve come, even when I feel stuck behind the camera, in the kitchen, and in life.

And in that moment I was filled with immense gratitude that I can call my kitchen my office and create every day.

So I can bring you meals like this Sweet Potato Mash with Sautéed Mushrooms + Pinot Noir.

This cozy autumn dish combines sweet potatoes and mushrooms in a creative pairing with Pinot Noir!

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1-Pot Spring Quinoa Primavera & Rosé

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Colorful quinoa dish packed with herb infused quinoa and seasonal spring veggies. Serve with sparkling rosé for a refreshing plant-based pairing!

Happy Friday, friends!

We did it again.

I know all of the days are prone to run together in quarantine unless you carefully segregate them with consistent routine, so if you weren’t sure what day it was, allow me to remind you with a virtual toast.

Tonight I did a virtual happy hour with a friend and we confessed that even virtual dates can be tiring.

Anyone else Zoom-ed out?

I figured I could schedule back to back to back Zoom calls just because I wasn’t leaving the comfort of my home, but, as it turns out, my introvert tendencies still apply to the virtual world.

I.e. I need time to retreat and rest and recharge.

Anyway, I thought we could make something special to end the week with a toast.

This 1-Pot Spring Quinoa Primavera & Rosé is a fresh 1-pot dish for warmer weather.

You need dry quinoa, dried herbs, frozen vegetables, and lots of lemon!

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Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pasta + Juliénas

By Flora & Vino 6 Comments

Creamy vegan pumpkin pasta sauce with pumpkin puree, almond milk, and herbs served over chickpea pasta. Pair with a glass of red for pasta night!

Hey! How’s your week going?

It’s been SO windy all day here in Virginia, the kind of wind that makes me feel a bit like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

(Side note: Do you consider The Wizard of Oz to be a Halloween movie???)

The waving trees and leaves outside feels like a real-life manifestation of the whirlwind in my head.

Between YTT and work and adjusting to my new home, it’s still a category from synapse to synapse.

But there truly is no place like home because I’m lucky to be warm and cozy inside enjoying Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pasta this week.

It’s creamy and orange to tickle your fall fancy while being vegan and gluten-free.

Pour a glass of Juliénas and let’s make pasta with pumpkins.

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Jamaican Jerk Cauliflower Steaks & Rosé

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Vegan cauliflower steaks with a homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning and fresh squeezed orange. Serve with greens, grains, or protein of choice.

I’ve been craving a big fancy meal lately.

The kind of meal you get dressed up for and spend hours devouring the courses.

Most of the time I’m the type of person who would choose a home-cooked meal over going out any day of the week.

Something about the helter-skelter of moving, though, has made me crave the simplicity and charm of eating out.

Partially for the food and also heavily because of the fact that I don’t have to do the dishes afterwards.

But instead of immediately jumping on Happy Cow seeking your next fix of plants, let’s make a fun cruciferous steak of our own.

These Jamaican Jerk Cauliflower Steaks & Rosé are an easy plant-based pairing to elevate your summer dinner plans!

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Sweet & Savory Avocado Boats with Strawberry Salsa + Bourgogne Aligoté

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Easy savory and sweet avocado boats. Fill with savory spiced chickpeas and a sweet and chunky strawberry salsa. Serve with a glass of Bourgogne Aligote!

Hi guys!

How was your weekend?

A lot has happened behind the scenes here at F&V since we last chatted.

The biggest thing being that I got a new camera after my Canon LCD screen died last week.

I’ve known for a while that I need to have an additional camera for backup (just in case!) so this seemed like a good a time as any to take the hint from the universe and make it happen.

So I’ve been busy playing around with new features and settings.

Another big thing was the creation of these Sweet & Savory Avocado Boats with Strawberry Salsa and Bourgogne Aligoté.

They’re packed with fresh flavors perfect for a sweet Mother’s day brunch or appetizer!

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Pizza Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms & Pinot Noir

By Flora & Vino 6 Comments

Portobello mushrooms with veggie lovers toppings, herbed nut cheese, and pine nuts. Perfect as a plant-based appetizer or entree with a glass of red!

I’m always *that* person that orders wine wherever we go, no matter the occasion.

Saint Patrick’s Day and everyone’s drinking green beer? Cool, I’d like a glass of red please.

Night out on the town and everyone’s got those cute cocktail umbrellas? Nah, I’ll have wine.

A little bubbly in fluted glasses to celebrate? Cheers! With wine!

So you bet I’ll be that person dinking wine on Super Bowl Sunday.

If you didn’t have plans, I made you some and they only involve football if you want it to.

This Pizza Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms & Pinot Noir is my new favorite plant & wine pairing for game day, date night, or any day.

Pour a glass of Pinot and let the portobello pizza party begin!

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Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Risotto & Pinot Noir

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Easy creamy gluten-free and vegan risotto made with quinoa and roasted butternut squash! Perfect for a plant-based fall meal or side dish.

Yesterday Dan and I washed up a new set of silverware and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying eating off of them.

I ordered them last week after giving up the search for all of our tablespoons, which seemed to have sprouted legs Beauty & The Beast style and ran off to perform in the broadway musical.

Anyway, new silverware is good.

It’s similar to the feeling of getting new socks, or new bedsheets; the simple life upgrades that feel fresh and luxurious.

Basically, it feels like we’re fine dining somewhere out every time I pick up a fork.

By far my favorite thing to eat off them so far is this Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Risotto, which also extends that new new restaurant feel.

It’s equal parts easy weeknight meal or fancy dinner in but either way it’ll elevate your plate.

Grab a glass of Pinot and let’s warm up the oven!

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Quinoa Stuffed Eggplant & Cabernet Sauvignon

By Flora & Vino 8 Comments

Hearty veggie-centric dish featuring eggplant stuffed with Italian flavors, veggies, and quinoa. Enjoy for a special occasion or easy weeknight dinner.

On my recent trip to upstate New York I enjoyed a dinner dish packed with pillowy soft Japanese eggplant.

It was all I could do to eat the rest of my meal, because I was busy cherry-picking for eggplant.

I decided right then and there that I need more eggplant in my life!

This Quinoa Stuffed Eggplant is the perfect cozy dish to start thinking about cozy colder weather dining.

Pour a little cab sauv and let’s get stuffing!

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Peaches ‘N’ Quinoa Salad & Pinot Grigio

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Celebrate summer with this easy and light peach salad. Juicy peaches, crunchy pecans, hearty quinoa, and fresh spinach with maple tahini dressing.

I don’t get to the farmer’s market enough, guys.

I went there this weekend with Dan and Harper on Saturday morning, and it was such a treat!

Everything was ridiculously fresh and appealing, and I really wanted to just buy the whole stand and take it to go.

Instead, I picked out some juicy yellow peaches and a few bags of freshly picked spinach for a fresh summer salad.

This Peaches ‘N’ Quinoa Salad is simple and sweet with only a handful of ingredients to keep things light and easy for summer.

All you need is some juicy stone-fruit and an optional glass of white!

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