Comments on: Cashew Cheese with Rind

By: amie-sue

amie-sue — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:44:51 +0000

Yes Igloo, a nut milk bag would be just fine. :)

By: Igloo

Igloo — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 22:34:40 +0000

Hi,

Can a nut milk bag be used instead of a cheese cloth? I have both but I was wondering if the result would be the same.

Thanks!

By: amie-sue

amie-sue — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:50:49 +0000

Awesome Janie… thank you for sharing. :) I love it when kids love these raw recipes. That is a testimony within itself. Happy Holidays!

By: Janie

Janie — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:48:35 +0000

I just finished letting it sit for 1.5 days and pulled this recipe up to get the next stage going. It smelled so wonderfully cream cheesy that me and my 4 year old had some as soon as we added the nutritional yeast and salt. We decided it was perfect for spreading on my last batch of raw bread and decided to skip the dehydrating step.

This stuff is amazing, thanks for the recipe. I ended up scooping half into a glass jar for the fridge, and putting the other half in the freezer.

By: amie-sue

amie-sue — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:32:40 +0000

Anastasia, that is what you use. Pop them open and pour into a measuring spoon! Let me know how it turns out. Have a great day, amie sue

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:17:58 +0000

Hi Amie-Sue,

I want to make this so that I can then make the maple cheesecake! I just need some clarification on the probiotic powder. If I have Acidophilus & Bifidus capsules, is that what I’d use? Just pop ‘em open and measure out the powder inside?
Thanks!

By: amie-sue

amie-sue — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:25:38 +0000

Wonderful Dee! Her is a recipe where I did that very thing of adding in “cheese” into the cheesecake mix. LOVED it! Do keep me posted on the bread, new things to learn! Have a blessed day, amie sue

By: Dee

Dee — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:38:12 +0000

I am making this now..it has been “fermenting” on my table for 36 hours..I can’t wait to get that “cream cheese” taste that I have been craving..I made a raw cheesecake with cashews, lemons etc..but it was still missing that “cheesy” taste and this may help..thanks for all your cool and TASTY recipes..I am about to make your cinnamon rasin bread but use coconut flour instead of almond flour due to allergies..I’ll let you know how it comes out..

By: amie-sue

amie-sue — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:45:09 +0000

Hi Jennifer,
So the cheese was only at 140 degrees for 1 hour? Due to the moisture content level it might still be raw but I really can’t speak for the probiotics. I have a write up on dehydrating at 145 degrees for one hour, if you haven’t read it before, please do so. http://nouveauraw.com/?p=10398. I wish I knew about the probiotics to better help you. (sends you a cheezy smile :)

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:11:47 +0000

OMG, I have one of those circular, unpredictable dehydrators that I attached a variable light switch to so I could control the temp ;) My Jerry-rigged lovely piece shot up to 140 degrees while I went out for an hour and when I returned the cheese was very warm and a rind had already ssemd to take hold.

I was gone for about an hour and a half…do you think my probiotics are now ineffective and that the cheese is now cooked?

Thank you!

I-want-an-Excalibur-Now-Jennifer

By: amie-sue

amie-sue — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:56:56 +0000

Zoe,
These are great questions but I am totally sure. My feeling is that the organisms wouldn’t be effective, which may effect the culturing process. I don’t think it would cause any “discomfort”, it is more about the fact that you may lose the potency of the probiotic over time. I have read that you can take vitamins beyond the expiration date as long as they have been stored properly, etc. But as is, with the probiotic, we are already dealing with a supplement that is volatile to many factors. Unfortunately, most Probiotics are delicate, and are sensitive to various conditions. The following things can kill your expensive probiotics:

Heat: the best probiotics are prepared using a low heat process to avoid damaging the organisms
Moisture: probiotics must be kept dry until they enter your system; a rainy or humid day can be all that is needed to kill a probiotic preparation
Oxygen: all probiotics naturally live in an anaerobic environment – without oxygen; oxygen will kill probiotics
Stomach acid: our stomach acid is designed specifically to kill bacteria that we ingest; stomach acid will rapidly kill most probiotic strains

That being said, I wouldn’t trust a probiotic that is past it’s expiration date. Not only may it not work in giving that cultured flavor it won’t have any health benefits in it.

I hope this helps Zoe. I know it’s a drag to have such expensive items expire before they get used, but I tend to error on the cautious side of things. You have to decide if it is best to toss the bottle and get a free one (losing the cost of the unused portion) OR taking the risk / gamble of having to toss all the ingredients used in the cheese recipe AND the expired bottle of probiotics. Even if the expired probiotics works in giving the cultured flavor, you most likely won’t be getting the help benefit from it and isn’t that why we are eating raw foods in the first place?.

Let me know what you think Zoe. amie sue

By: Zoe

Zoe — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:23:18 +0000

Thank you for your prompt reply! Is it that the organisms are not effective anymore? or is it that it may cause “discomfort” if ingested? I’m wondering if it may still work flavour-wise but not make anyone sick…

By: amie-sue

amie-sue — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:19:06 +0000

Hi Zoe,
I did a little research myself and this is what I found from various sites:
“Watch the expiration date. Because probiotics are living organisms, the amount placed in the container or capsule when it was manufactured may not be the same as when you consume the product. You must use these products before the expiration date to be sure the probiotic is still effective.”

“One final note: Remember to store your probiotic according to package instructions and make sure the product has a sell-by or expiration date. Probiotics are living organisms. Even if they are dried and dormant, like in a powder or capsule, they must be stored properly or they will die. Some require refrigeration whereas others do not. They also have a shelf-life, so make sure you use them before the expiration date on the package.”

From a few others that I have scanned through, it is best to use the probiotic before it expires. That is my personal recommendation.

By: Zoe

Zoe — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:10:14 +0000

I am wondering if the expiry date on the probiotic is crucial to follow. I bought some but it expired quite a while ago. I can’t bring myself to throw it out because it was expensive and I can’t find anything online that says not to eat it past that date.