Healthy Snacking

Homemade Christmas Chocolates

Homemade vegan dark chocolate Christmas candies made with fun holiday silicone molds for an easy 1-ingredient refined sugar-free Christmas treat!

Does it snow where you are, friends?

Today we got our first snow of the season in Virginia.

The white stuff started coming down around 10 AM and by 11 AM the grass, asphalt, and neighboring rooftops all had a fluffy frosting.

I don’t care what anyone says…I *love* snow.

Snow days always make me feel giddy with childlike anticipation and energy.

I plowed through a holiday shoot in the studio today, powered by holiday hits and the gorgeous light reflecting off my snow-saturated deck.

Afterwards, I dawned my Sorel snow boots, fuzzy hat, and heavy duty gloves to explore the winter wonderland.

If you’re home for the holidays, maybe you’re in the mood for a sweet homemade present.

These Homemade Christmas Chocolates are the perfect DIY Christmas treat that you can make from home!

All you need is some seriously delicious dark chocolate and your favorite holiday silicone molds….

Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies

By Flora & Vino 3 Comments

Your favorite banana bread turned into breakfast cookies! Gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweetened with banana and maple syrup. Perfect for meal prep!

I just received the cutest Christmas ornament from a friend and colleague that I hung on the tree last night.

It’s a ceramic circle with 2-0-2-0 in big bubble letters.

Surrounding the bubble letters are cute drawings and text illustrating all of the activities that exemplify the year.

Some of my favorite examples are: “what day is it?”, “survived the toilet paper shortage”, and “wash your hands”!

I’ve created a new tradition of adding an ornament to my collection each year, but this time I don’t need to search.

I was glad to receive one that so succinctly and sweetly summed up the insanity of the past 12 months.

The one thing the ornament is missing is all of the loaves of banana bread that we collectively baked.

We can’t forget the year of banana bread, folks!

It’s okay, because I baked some into cookies so we can commemorate 2020 and take our banana bread with us no matter where 2021 takes us.

These Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies are made in just one bowl with hearty oats, ripe bananas, and plenty of dark chocolate and walnuts.

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Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

By Flora & Vino 3 Comments

This post is brought to you by Bare Snacks, but all words and eats are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that keep me hungry!

Vegan apple cider donuts made with oats, almond butter, and apple cider finished with a refined-sugar-free cinnamon and apple chip dusting!

Did you learn any languages during quarantine this year?

For the past few weeks I’ve been learning German.

Well, for me, it’s actually a lot of re-learning because I took three solid year of German in high school.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

I’ve always struggled with languages, honestly.

I flunked out of Italian in college, and, to fulfill the language requirement, managed to pass two semesters of French that I have no memory of.

No, really, I must have tucked my knowledge of French in short term memory because it’s *all* gone now, down to the very last amour.

German must have stuck somehow, because words and phrases are starting to come back to me.

And, it’s fun having an app to motivate me with epic winning streaks.

Every night around 9 PM my DuoLingo app notifies me with a banner text message that it’s time to practice German.

I play until I have no “hearts” left, addicted to the “briiiiiing” signifying a correct answer and the wiggly dance the owl mascot makes when I hit a new goal.

I also retaught how to make donuts– because it’s been a second (and by a second, I mean years) since my last donuts recipe on the blog.

These Vegan Apple Cider Donuts are made vegan and gluten-free with oat flour, almond flour, almond butter, and apple cider.

Finish them off with a sweet refined-sugar-free dusting of coconut sugar and an apple chip crumble!

Sehr gut!

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Everything Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Safeway. All opinions are 100% my own.

The best roasted pumpkin seeds with sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Use this recipe for any winter squash seeds!

Hey you, how was your Halloween?

Mine didn’t involve any costumes or tricks or treats, but it was a fantastic day all the same.

My book club met in person for the first time since March.

I sat around the bonfire six feet apart from ladies I love and gushed about our October book, Rebecca.

It was a good read; a deeply psychological thriller with just the right amount of spookiness for the changing seasons.

Later that evening I virtually played Among Us with my cousin, sister, and friends.

M and I sipped on Pinot Noir across the table from each other, shielding our phone screens from view as we playfully accused each other of being “the Imposter”.

When it got dark, we adopted a no-contact trick or treating model by placing a platter with a smattering of health foods (not candy, hahah!) on the doorstep.

At midnight half of the nut butter packets and energy bars were gone!

I surmised that either kids are more health conscious than they used to be, or, said kids *thought* the goodies were candy under the glowing street lamps.

And that’s how we influence the younger generation, eh?

I hope I can influence you to try these Everything Roasted Pumpkin Seeds.

This is my favorite way to roast pumpkin seeds with plenty of seasonings, spices, and sea salt.

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Easy Maple Spiced Nuts

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Safeway. All opinions are 100% my own.

Simple spiced nuts baked with cinnamon and nutmeg sweetened with coconut sugar and maple syrup. Bake for a holiday appetizer or gift!

Wait, how is it October?

On my neighborhood walk yesterday, M and I meandered through the neighborhood to check out the Halloween decorations.

There were plenty of pumpkins and on doorsteps and cob webs in windows.

One of the houses near the edge of my complex is *really* into decorating.

Multiple scarecrows, pumpkins, ghosts, and ghouls demanded attention from the lawn and sidewalk, making it impossible to walk by without taking notice.

As hyped decorations as they are, they seem to be equally as disinterested in the clean up.

To the right of the playful Halloween scene lie a heap of Christmas nutcrackers, lights on strings, and fake fir trees.

And it’s been there since last December.

Laugh out loud.

Whether you have your Halloween or Christmas decor on standby or not, the holidays are coming!

So here’s a quick recipe that’s bound to make you feel cozy this fall and winter.

These Easy Maple Spiced Nuts are easy enough to make in 30 minutes for a sweet crunchy snack, dessert, or appetizer.

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SunButter Date Bliss Balls

By Flora & Vino 7 Comments

4-ingredient no bake energy balls made with sunflower seed butter and dates! Naturally sweetened and perfect for meal prep snacking!

Tomorrow is the day.

I’m going outdoor climbing for the first time!

Last night I practiced how to tie myself into the harness and belay over and over and over again.

My figure eight knot is looking a lot more recognizable as an 8 instead of a mess of twisted rope and my stopper knot actually stops.

Also, we had a pretty solid makeshift anchor situation going, guys.

The rope looped around the stairway banister and cascaded down the steps to the basement.

As I ascended steps, I practiced the motion of belaying.

We’re packing the car tonight with the supplies and gear and FOOD.

Wait, you *knew* I would come to the crag prepared with snacks.

These SunButter Date Bliss Balls are so easy to roll out for your adventuring with just 4-ingredients.

Whether you’re adventuring tomorrow or not, make these for a quick snack packed with plant-based energy!

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Fig Newton Breakfast Bars

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

6-ingredient breakfast bars with hearty oats, plant-based protein and fresh figs! Gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweetened with dates and maple syrup.

Ever since I moved into my townhome as a renter, things have been, well, falling apart.

The first offender was the dishwasher, that, to be honest, never really cleaned dishes very well from the beginning.

Then there was the great dryer debacle of 2020 where, for the span of three months, I hung all of my clothing to dry on a flimsy hang dry rack.

Crunchy towels and jeans are not fun, friends.

The doorbell stopped working after about a month so I’ve grown accustomed to listen intently for persistent knocks.

I’ve also cohabited with a mouse, a swarm of ants, and a lot of web-making spiders.

I joked to my parents on the phone a few weeks back that the only thing that hasn’t gone wrong yet was the AC.

I spoke too soon.

This past Saturday morning I woke up to a stuffy hot home with temperatures on a steady upward incline.

My Nest thermostat didn’t respond to all of my prodding and pushing on the dial so I diagnosed the AC– *gasp*– BROKEN.

Luckily, we’ve had several days in the low 80’s and mid-70’s here in Virginia, making it possible for me to have the windows down and the ceiling fans on.

So the past few days I’ve been limiting my oven use to stay cool.

Luckily, I made Fig Newton Breakfast Bars when the AC was still kicking.

These 6-ingredient breakfast bars are dense, chewy, and naturally sweet with fresh figs and dried fruit!

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Vegan 7-Layer Mexican Dip

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Vegan 7-layer dip with refried beans, guacamole, salsa, cauliflower cashew queso, tomatoes, black olives, and green onion. Serve with grain-free crackers!

Serious question– do you wash your avocados?

Usually I rinse mine (*so* important so bacteria from outside of the avo isn’t transferred inside when slicing), then cut them open with a blade.

Until recently.

The other day my friend taught me an epic way to open avocados.

He grabbed an avocado, and, applying pressure with both hands, split it open like two halves of a coconut.

The creamy green flesh protruded out between two crudely but efficiently torn halves he presented in his hands like an offering.

I stared, dumbfounded.

If you could open avocados without using a knife, what other shortcuts have I missed in the kitchen?

This Vegan 7-Layer Mexican Dip might leave your mouth hanging open, too.

It’s easily assembled for a quick appetizer with seven plant-based layers that are prime for dipping and snacking!

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Hummus Stuffed Zucchini Boats

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Zucchini boats baked with all of the Greek fixings like hummus, tomato, olives, red onion, and pine nuts. Try them for a light snack, meal, or appetizer.

Friends!

It’s true that the hardest part of doing something is starting.

I ran this morning for the first time in over a month.

After lacing up my Brooks running shoes I did three invigorating laps around the paths just beyond my neighborhood.

The pavement felt like it was propelling me forward each time it connect with the sole of my cushioned shoe and my iPhone felt weightless in my hand despite the fact that I left my running belt at home.

Kind of like this post, that for whatever reason, I felt like procrastinating.

Writing about food isn’t always as much fun as eating it, you know?

Unless it’s a stuffed vegetable, which, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know is my forte.

These Hummus Stuffed Zucchini Boats are the best way to use that summer zucchini hiding in the bottom drawers of your refrigerator.

Grab a zucchini and let’s make a zucchini boats!

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Mango Sticky Rice Dessert Sushi

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Dessert sushi twist on mango sticky rice! Nori sushi wraps stuffed with sweet coconut rice and fresh sliced mango. Serve with optional date syrup!

Are you accident prone?

The statement “I am” is an understatement when it comes to me.

A few weeks ago a pasta jar fell from my pantry and hit me squarely on the lip.

I was trying to grab a bag of shredded coconut from the top shelf and the pasta sauce was, well, in the way.

Luckily, after a quick icing the swelling went down and I was left with little more than a mark.

Then, yesterday, after months of haphazardly hanging my pots and pans on the hooks in my kitchen, a pan fell on my head.

Yeah, OK, it’s a little funny.

But let me tell you, it wasn’t funny yesterday when one of my Green Pans collided with my temple at an alarming speed.

I’m taking it upon myself to child-proof my kitchen this weekend and remove some of these work place hazards.

So until then, let’s try to avoid the kitchen catastrophes and make some dessert sushi, OK?

These Mango Sticky Rice Dessert Sushi are stuffed with sweet coconut rice and fresh sliced mango serves with fresh mint and date syrup!

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Healthy Snacking

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