Healthy Snacking

Gingerbread Bliss Balls

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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Golden Sesame Squash Fries

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Butternut squash “fries” seasoned with turmeric and cumin with a sesame seed twist! Bake a pan for a healthy snack or side paired with your favorite dip.

Let’s commiserate on cold weather for a minute, because it’s cold here in Virginia and I’m cold right along with it.

My townhouse isn’t well insulated and when I open the cabinets and dishwasher a rush of cold air hit me and the dishes I remove are icy cold and uninviting to the touch.

So I blast the temperature on my Nest thermostat up up up in hopes that the bottom two floors defrost while the top floor rests at a balmy eighty degrees.

Are you chilly too?

I love the changing seasons, but colder weather has never really been my cup of tea.

It requires so much work, you know?

All of the layers, heavy socks, and moisturizer — bonus points if you get a little Vitamin D for the day.

Anyway, I’ve got a recipe today that will warm your house and your heart and your insides.

These Golden Sesame Squash Fries are oven-baked with warm turmeric and a crunchy seeded exterior!

Open, sesame.

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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 a shake of 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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Apple Cranberry Pecan Granola (Oil-Free!)

By Flora & Vino 6 Comments

Apple cranberry pecan granola with oats and pecans lightly sweetened with maple syrup and applesauce. Toss in baked apple chips for extra crunch!

Did you know that some clothing stores allow dogs inside?

Like, actually allow them to stroll in the mannequin flanked double doors on all four paws?

Well, I didn’t.

I’m watching Harper this week and on Wednesday we had an epic shopping spree.

It started out walking around the town center and ended up inside the dressing room at J-Crew, Harper smiling through her panting as I tried on flannel for a fall photoshoot.

I paid for two plaid shirts at the register while one of the sales associates crooned over Harper, now sprawled across the the floor in complete retail therapy bliss.

Guys, I’m pretty sure I never want to go shopping without my best girlfriend again.

Despite the retail therapy, this week has been pretty rough.

Lots of recipe fails, yoga homework, and quick meals to sustain late nights.

I do, however, have an excellent fall-inspired granola recipe to share with you.

This Apple Cranberry Pecan Granola is gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweetened, with big chunks of cranberry, oats, pecans, and apple chips.

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Grain-Free Almond Flour Crackers

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Crispy grain-free crackers made with almond flour, ground flaxseed meal, and simple seasonings. Perfect for a nutritious snack solo or with dip!

Lately, I’ve been on a really big cracker kick.

I think it started when I was in process of moving.

Yes, there were a couple of nights when dinner was a box of Simple Mills crackers dunked in hummus.

All of the empty store-bought cracker boxes got me thinking– maybe I could (should!) make some of my own?

These Grain-Free Almond Flour Crackers are made with almond flour, flaxseed, and simple seasonings!

Let’s get crack(er)in’.

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Maple Pear Butter & Apple Chips

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

4-ingredient pear butter made with fresh pears, lemon, and cinnamon lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup. The best way to use up lots of fall pears!

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’m a bit obsessed with fruit spreads and butters.

It all started with my classic Pumpkin Apple Butter, but I’ve since branched into all sorts of fruity flavors.

You might remember that over the summer we did a Blueberry Butter and Peach Butter that squealed “summer!” every time I spooned them onto seeded bread.

With the temperatures quickly cooling, I couldn’t stop thinking about more autumn-inspired spreads.

Sure, summer is great for bright fruity jams, but fall is the season to stand over the stovetop with warming fruits and spice.

I couldn’t get the concept of pear butter out of my head after seeing thick golden jars of the stuff at a local farmer’s market.

So I made this Maple Pear Butter that’s fruit forward, smooth and cinnamon-y, and perfectly sweet but refined sugar-free.

It’s all of your fall feels in a 12 oz. Ball Jar.

You just need four simple ingredients and a seasonal chip for dipping!

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Paleo Sweet Potato Snack Bowl

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Easy snack bowl with sweet potato mash, cinnamon, and loaded with chopped nuts, dried fruit, and pecan butter. Perfect for a fall snack or breakfast!

I’m *really* trying to get back into the habit of preparing my own food after my move.

It’s been a lot of Whole Foods hot bar and Cava trips and Chinese takeout and I for one am over it and ready to get back to regularly scheduled F&V programming with a fridge full of chopped veggies and a kitchen I can walk through without fear of tripping over a half-unpacked box and stumbling to my death.

I keep telling myself that it’ll happen “when the counters are clear” or “once I clean the dishwasher” (it smells bad…LOL)…but I’m pretty sure that those are all just excuses for being uninspired.

Change is hard, and all I want to do these days is curl up with something to eat that’s safe, known, normal.

So I’m taking it back to the ultimate comfort food base for occasion– sweet potatoes.

These Paleo Sweet Potato Snack Bowl are a delicious fall snack or breakfast idea that you can make in advance and serve warm or cold!

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Apple Chip Nachos with Date Caramel

By Flora & Vino 4 Comments

Easy and healthy snack nachos with apple chips, date caramel, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and chopped nuts. Perfect for an elevated snack or dessert.

When you move do you move with perfectly labeled brown boxes or with trash bags stuffed with random odds and ends?

I started out as the former but on the last day, yesterday, I was tossing pots and pans and appliances and silverware into anything I could carry with two hands.

So now I’m in the new townhome and everything is literally everywhere.

I even hired movers to help with the big ticket furniture items, but it’s really the little things that get you, you know?

Anyway, with moving, I have been the hungriest of hungry hungry hippos.

I lunge at snacks the minute the last box is unpacked, ripping apart energy bars and overnight oats and yogurts and all of my pre-packaged favorites.

Not quite ready to jump into learning how to use my new gas-stove and kitchen, I decided to make something easy but upgraded, with all the fall feels.

I’m loving these Apple Chip Nachos with Date Caramel for an easy fall snack plate that you can throw together in under ten minutes!

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Sunny SunButter Hummus

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Easy savory hummus made super creamy with the addition of sunflower seed butter in place of tahini. Serve with fresh cut veggies, crackers, or fruit.

How was your Fourth of July?

I had high hopes of seeing fireworks overlooking Virginia vineyards, but as luck would have it, it was a rainy and overcast here.

That’s OK, because I still rocked my favorite “starry” tee and watched the Macy’s fireworks show with a glass of Rosé.

Thunderstorms have been a daily occurrence here, a sure sign that summer is in full swing.

This Sunny SunButter Hummus is sure to brighten your summer snacking, rain or shine!

You’re going to love this variation on savory hummus made super creamy with a secret ingredient…sunflower seed butter.

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Frozen Fruit Kabobs

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Your favorite red, white, and blue fruit frozen on skewers and drizzled with melted dark chocolate. Perfect for a healthy fourth of July treat!

Where’s the coolest place you’ve watched fireworks?

My favorite is a local vineyard here in Virginia– it’s really high up on a peak and sitting outdoors on its grounds you can see all the way to DC on the skyline.

The winery doesn’t put off their own fireworks, but then they don’t need to.

After sunset, big bursts of color appear along the horizon, in every direction.

I love to sit, perched on a blanket on the lawn, Ooohing and Aaaahing and pointing every which way.

Why watch one fireworks show when you could watch 20?

This year, I’m bringing dessert.

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Gingerbread Bliss Balls

Golden Sesame Squash Fries

My Go-To Trail Mix

Apple Cranberry Pecan Granola (Oil-Free!)

Grain-Free Almond Flour Crackers

Maple Pear Butter & Apple Chips

Paleo Sweet Potato Snack Bowl

Apple Chip Nachos with Date Caramel

Sunny SunButter Hummus

Frozen Fruit Kabobs

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