Thanks to their smooth, spongy texture, cashews can form the basis of cheeses, milks or cream. A blank canvas with a delicate flavor, cashew cheeses can be enhanced with savory herbs, spices, or extracts. Or, consider sweeter cream cheese or ricotta-style preparations, where chopped dried fruits or a drizzle of maple syrup will make cashew cheese a perfect addition to breakfast or brunch.
The vegan cheese market as a whole has grown considerably in the last few years, with many delicious commercial cashew cheese products available. I recently sampled several items from Treeline, a nut cheese company based in upstate New York that makes products like a cracked pepper hard cheese, and an herb-garlic french style soft cheese. They were delicious (pretty packaging, too) and are pleasing dairy and non-dairy lovers alike.
, by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, an inspired guide to compassionate eating and living. While it contains recipes, the book also weaves meditations, cultural references, stories and tips into a thoughtful daily guide. In fact, every time I pick up Vegan’s Daily Companion, I experience a sense of serenity and stillness, no small feat in our busy lives. I attribute it to the enlightening photographs and design, as well as Patrick-Goudreau’s heartfelt writing.
