Tag: Whole Foods
Wordless Wednesday: Meat of the Matter
Jumbo Calzones
Hot Sausage Pasta Salad
Cauliflower Fettuccine Alfredo
Baba Ghanoush Pasta
Summer Squash Ceviche with Warm Tortillas
Stovetop Spinach Artichoke Dip
Sloppy Joe Sweet Potatoes
Tater Tot Shepherd’s Pie
Sesame Snow Pea Stir Fry
Tofuballs
Meaty Lentil Chorizo Tacos
Recipe testing for The 29-Minute Vegan: Real Food, Real Vibes, Anytime by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
(As it goes with recipe testing, not all of these made the final cut. You’ll have to check out the cookbook for yourself to see the winners!)
Wordless Wednesday: Spring-Loaded
Homemade Purple Rice Paper Spring Rolls
Sip Saam Thai – Fresh Spring Rolls
SalaD.I.Y and More – Market Salad Rolls
Saigon Quan – Spring Rolls
Greens Garden Round Rock – Avocado Roll
Bamboo Bistro – Vegetable Spring Rolls
Eat Like a King
It’s not a descendant of royalty and there’s no ranch dressing involved, so what on earth is a King Ranch Casserole? After making it, eating it, and researching it, I’m still coming up short on conclusive answers.
Introduced to me through an upcoming article for Vegan Journal, Lauren Bernick‘s plant-based, oil-free, whole-foods version is likely a far cry from the original, but I’d venture to say that’s a good thing. Composed primarily of condensed cream soups, tortilla chips, and chicken, it was borne of an era before nutritional awareness. It’s true origins remain murky, but we can say with conviction that it came from post war 1950’s home cooks, when canned goods were all the rage. As for the name, less is certain. King Ranch was and still is one of the largest ranches in the United States, but no one there claims this creation as their own. There’s zero connection to be found between the ranch and the hot dish.
Not particularly regal and downright messy, in the best kind of way, the only royal decree here seems to be “thou shalt cover all things in cheese and cream.” Tossing out the dairy-laden canned soups and poultry scraps in favor of fresh, plant-based ingredients, what remains is a vibrant, deeply satisfying savory entree that hits all the right notes of cozy, comforting, and hearty, while staying firmly on the side of health-conscious. It’s the kind of meal you can prep ahead for a busy week, serve to unsuspecting omnivores, or curl up with on a blustery night.
My version is just a small variation from Lauren’s, but one I’ve come to make and serve repeatedly, with resounding success. Don’t expect a crown jewel, but do expect requests for second helpings.
Mi Casa Es Tu Casa De Luz
Peace and tranquility are not commodities that can be bought or sold. You won’t find them for sale at Casa de Luz, and yet they’re keystones to this legacy business. Food is central to the conversation, of course, but just beginning of the story.
In a city that pulses with live music, art, and activism, it can be hard to find a moment of stillness. However, just off the well-worn trails of Zilker Park, tucked among trees filtering dappled sunshine across the courtyard, Casa de Luz offers exactly that. It’s not just a place to eat, it’s a place to recharge.
With two welcoming locations in Austin, the long-loved original on Toomey Road and the newer East Austin outpost, Casa de Luz isn’t trying to keep up with trends. It moves to its own rhythm, which is intentionally slow and filled with purpose.
Food with Purpose
Meals at Casa de Luz are entirely plant-based, gluten-free, and organic, with many raw options for those who desire. The menu is different everyday, but I use the term “menu” loosely as the only choice is whether you want a full plate or just dessert. No buzzwords, no mock meats, just a single daily meal, rooted in the principals of macrobiotics, and served without pretension.
One plate might bring you tender black beans beside nutty brown rice, a bright tangle of sautéed greens, and a seasonal vegetable medley with a subtle miso-tahini sauce. If you’re lucky, you might get vegetable sushi, gorditas, or tamales. A fresh salad and warming soup accompanies each entree, along with endless glasses of hot kukicha or chilled hibiscus iced tea.
Everything is balanced, both in flavor and intention. No one ingredient overpowers another. Each part of the meal supports the whole. There is a quiet brilliance to that kind of cooking, lost in flashy Instagrammable spots seeking likes and clicks. It doesn’t beg for attention; it doesn’t ask for anything. It simply nourishes and allows you to be fully present.
A Space That Holds You
Casa de Luz cares about more than food. It’s a space designed to support wellness in every sense. The outdoor courtyard is shaded by tall trees, with winding paths and quiet corners perfect for reflection. Inside, the dining rooms are filled with natural light, wooden tables, and the gentle sounds of calm conversation or silence.
The East Austin location continues the legacy with the same attention to community and care. It’s not a carbon copy. It’s a reflection, adjusted gently for a different part of town, while staying true to its roots. Both spaces host yoga, healing arts, holistic practices, and a sense of openness that invites you to slow down and reconnect.
A Lasting Impression
What stays with you after visiting Casa de Luz isn’t just the food. It’s the way it made you feel, being grounded, cared for, and re-centered. It’s where I go when I’m feeling run down and need to be fed. No decisions to make, no ingredients to avoid. I always leave feeling better than when I arrived, even when in good spirits to begin with.
Austin is forever evolving but Casa de Luz remains steady. Not static, but grounded, like a tree with deep roots, offering shade, nourishment, and a quiet place to rest.
Casa de Luz Village
1701 Toomey Rd
Austin, TX 78704
Casa de Luz East
1915 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Austin, TX 78702
Marvelously Mundane
I can’t tell you a single thing I learned in my classes about Art History, but I can tell you in detail about where I went to lunch after. My forgetfulness is unsurprising, but the fact that I’ve dedicated so much brain space to a completely forgettable meal is genuinely infuriating. I’ll be the first to say that neither the eatery nor my order are or were special. Lemonade LA is like an expensive cafeteria for tech bros and hipsters that want to make healthier choices, short of bringing their own food to work. Assemble a tray of cold or hot options and be on your way.
School Lunch in SF
When it first opened in downtown San Francisco, I was one of the first people in line. Anything to shake up the routine of schoolwork and endless commutes. Given the slim vegan options, I immediately lit upon the avocado and tomato salad. It’s every bit as boring as it sounds: avocado, tomato, pine nuts, and lime vinaigrette. Perhaps it was comforting at least in part because it was so unremarkable. Fresh, rich, and satisfying, every single time.
All-Purpose Avocados
It’s the kind of thing you absolutely do not need a recipe for, yet it can be a helpful reminder in times of need. Need something for an impromptu happy hour, pot luck, or unannounced dinner guest? It’s a salad, yes, but also a side dish, salsa, topping, and plant-based ceviche, if you’re feeling fancy.
Serving Suggestions
That’s to say, you can serve it with chips like a dip, or heaped on top of toast. Toss in chickpeas or diced tofu for protein, or add more veggies like sliced hearts of palm, steamed asparagus, or roasted broccoli. Toss with chilled pasta or leafy green to make it a bigger, complete meal. Double it for a crowd or halve it to eat two servings at once, because for all it can do, it can’t do everything, and doesn’t keep well.
The Basic Blueprint
Here’s your cheat sheet. I’ve improvised and simplified the original approach considerably over the years, so trust me when I say that you can’t mess it up. Juicy tomatoes tossed with buttery cubes of ripe avocado, doused in bright citrus will never do you wrong.