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TX Vegan Dining @ Casa De Luz
Casa De Luz is a hidden vegan treasure of Austin, TX. It’s a very simple place, but very relaxing. Don’t walk in anticipating a list of items to select from for dinner. No sir! There’s ONE dinner menu and that’s what you eat for $12. Walking through the garden area was quite peaceful (though I’m not one for the institutional practices). I did find it nice to be around so much greenery after being in conference rooms all day.
It’s very simple: pay your $12, help yourself to soup & salad & then someone will bring you the entree for the evening. They had desserts, but I guess it was an additional cost or process – I honestly didn’t inquire. This process couldn’t be any easier – they only bring the entree to you – you do everything else. The food was tasty and I know my body was happy that I didn’t totally blow my new lifestyle while away from home (now if only I can get a handle on this craving fr sweets…..that’s another blog for another day 
BTW: if you read my last blog you know who suggested this place…..let’s say it together – Daisy How cool is that??
Here’s some more pics of Casa De Luz:
Baked Vegan Mac & Cheez w/ Southern Collard Greens – woohoo!!
Today I made my first vegan soulfood meal and I must say that it is delicious!! I am so excited because I made one of my favorite dishes mac & cheez. In fact, I have a 13 year old daughter who I don’t force to join this lifestyle. However, I encourage her to try the dishes that I make. Surprisingly, she is asking for my dishes more and more. This way, I am not forcing her to make changes – it is a gradual decision that she is making on her own. Well, she loves mac & cheese! She asked for a serving after trying mine. I haven’t told her that it was vegan just yet. LOL.
We are also making some dining changes by eating on salad plates instead of dinner plates. We add fresh veggies to each dinner (well, me more than her). If we eat from a dinner plate the goal is for half of the plate to be fresh veggies or salad. Ok, here are some pics of my first VEGAL SOUL FOOD DINNER – YEAH!! I’m not the best at measuring ingredients for recipes (I’m kinda the R. Ray type – eye ball it, hand full, drizzle, etc) so I’ll give you the ingredients I think you should cook and season dishes to your personal taste. With that being stated, I shared the ingredients & cooking process best I could below.
MAC & CHEEZ
(makes about 5 servings)
- 2 cups brown rice penne pasta
- approx. 6 oz light coconut milk
- approx. 3-4 tbsp of soy margarine
- approx. 1/2 pack of daiya cheddar (save some to sprinkle on top)
- approx. 2-3 tbsp of nutritional yeast
- hawaiin sea salt (HSS), fresh cracked pepper & paprika (too taste)
COOKING TIP: melt the butter, than add coconut milk and once it thickens add daiya & seasoning, Slowly add in pasta & put in caserole pan. Add the cheeze you site aside to the top. I add additional paprika & pepper on top.
COLLARD GREENS
(makes abotu 4 servings)
- approx. 1lb of greens
- diced oninon & green peppers
- pack of vegetable soup
- HSS, freshed cracked pepper & paprkia
COOKING TIP: Sautee diced onions & peppers, add hot water, then fill pan with greens. Cook greens slowly and when they start to get tender add in the vegetable soup and more seasonsing of your choosing. Cook a few more minutes and then mix all together. (Cook according to the tenderness that you prefer, but do not overcook them).
This was absolutely delicious. There is hope for me!! I am so thankful to everyone that post recipes – I can mix and match various ingredients and then make it my own like I did today.
