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Do you ever have one of those days where everything is a little fechatted? I sort of had one of those days in the kitchen, but in the end, it was to my benefit. My mind was clear on the cheese recipe that I wanted to create. I was thinking about all my nut-free friends (though I think they’re all a little nuts) and found that I had a fresh homemade jar of Raw Sweet & Spicy Mustard in the fridge.
I got the sunflower seeds soaking, and as the time neared to begin, I put my mise n place together. Usually, I just set out all the spices that I intend to use along with the rest of the ingredients. But today, I veered from the norm and decided to grab a small glass bowl and combine all my measured out spices and nutritional yeast.
So when the time was right to add them into the blender, it was just going to be one quick “swoosh.” Everything was ready… I grabbed my bowl of soaking sunflower seeds and hit the edge on the counter and sprayed the counter with water and sunflower seeds. Oy-vey! After declaring it a national disaster, I cleaned up the mess. Thank goodness they only showered the counter and not the floor, so I scooped them up and rinsed them off thoroughly.
So in the blender went the sunflower seeds, water, lemon juice, mustard, vinegar, and agave. (note, I didn’t mention spices or nutritional yeast) I spent about a minute, blending it to a thick creamy sauce. I taste-tested. Hmmm, I couldn’t taste the seasoning (duh)… so I added more. I taste-tested it, and it was pretty good. I then tipped over the apple cider vinegar bottle.
In haste to prevent it from spilling all over, I darted for it, which made the issue worse because I now sprayed the cabinets. Pew! I had used all my “national disaster” tokens, so I was left alone to clean up this mess. Once finished, I turned around, smoothed my hair back, straightened my shirt, shook my head, and acted as though nothing had happened out of the ordinary. I looked down and saw my little glass bowl holding all of my spices and nutritional yeast. Without a second thought, I smiled at the fact that I had forgotten to add them to my sauce, so what did I do… I dumped them in the blender. THEN it hit me. Because I broke my routine, I managed to double all my spices and nutritional yeast!
With all the events that had already taken place, I figured there was nothing left to do but blend it up and test it. Sigh. I hate losing ingredients. Sigh. Blend. Sigh. Grabs spoon. Sigh. Takes a taste test…SIGH… what… wait….its perfect! Lol, Welcome to the little world of Amie Sue.
Ingredients:Cheese base:
Agar gel:
Cheese base:
Agar gel:
Hi Amie-Sue, we can’t have nutritional yeast, any suggestions for substitutions? I love your website!!!
Have a great day!
Hello Michele-Ann… there really isn’t a replacement because it gives it that “cheese” flavor. You can try taking the sunflower seeds, after soaking them (rinse and discard the soak water), then blend them in the blender with the water and then add 1 tsp of probiotic powder. Let it ferment for 24+ hours (you be the judge of the tang that you want) This will give it added nutrients and that “cheesy” hit. After fermenting, continue with the recipe as instructed.
I hope this helped. have a happy day! amie sue
I’m making this today. the sunflower seeds are soaking. I’d like to make the crackers in the photograph also. what are they ?
BTW The photo is fantastic !
Awesome Kathleen. Please keep me posted! Oh those crackers… they are my Onion Crackers ( I just formed them in circles instead of squares ) https://nouveauraw.com/raw-recipies/crackers/onion-bread/
Bleesings! amie sue
Do you think it will be okay to use honey or maple syrup? I know that will change the flavor a bit but with all the
controversy about agave I have been avoiding it.
Hi Gayle, I haven’t tried it with either but I would pick maple syrup over the honey due to the viscosity of the honey. I hope you are having a happy day my friend. amie sue
Oy vey indeed! Oh I feel for you! I’ve been there and done that! :-) But it worked out in the end!
So my question is….which recipe is shared above… the original or the modified and improved? (Just in case I set a bowl of spices aside and decide to add later in the process!) ;-)
Love your site, the recipes I use weekly, the beautiful photographs, and the great commentaries you take the time to write!
L
Hello Linda… the recipe reflects my “goof-up”… it tasted great that way so I am sharing it just the way I created it. :) Thank you for your beautiful words. I appreciate them. Have a glorious weekend, amie sue
Amie Sue, I love you! I have so many days like the one you describe above and yes sometimes it all works out for the best. But it can certainly be trying at times. So great to hear I am not alone bumping, banging, spilling and doubling ingredients or even not adding enough. I will try your cheese, although I am pretty stuck on your Smokey Gouda Cheese. I make it every couple of weeks and I live alone!! that along with your rosemary crackers are a lunchtime and snack time staple! Keep up the good work!
lol Tricia… I am glad that I am not alone. :) It days like that were you just have to learn to laugh. I do love the smoked gouda cheese too! I do hope you can break away just long enough to try this one… you find another recipe to keep in your weekly menu. hehe Have a blessed weekend! amie sue
We all have days that don’t go right. But you didn’t give up…..and ended up with a wonderful completed dish. Well done.
Thank you Alison… nothing can defeat me in the kitchen… I don’t cry over spilt apple cider vinegar. hehe
Made the cheese and it’s in the fridge setting up.
I have questions.
a. placing mixture in fridge with no cover. is it ok to let it rest and cool on the counter before putting it in the fridge so the mixture won’t absorb other flavors. And can I then put a cover on my container/mold.
b. I assembled all the ingredients and put them into the vitamix..I added 1 1/2 cups of water. later I noticed that the information in the Preparation section only called of 1/2 of water. which is the correct amount ? BTW I noticed that the motor started smelling funny as the mixture was very thick.
c, the agave nectar calls for 3 tsp, that the same as 1 Tbsp so I didn’t know if maybe it was a typo . Please clarify how much agave
Thanks,
Kathleen.
Hello Kathleen…. OMG… this recipe just got the best of me all around didn’t it?! lol Last night at 9:00pm, I made two more batches to double check my measurements. I made one with 1/2 cup of water in the cheese base and the other with 1 1/2 cups water in the cheese base. They both turned out great. I didn’t have a problem mixing the batter with 1/2 cup of water and I use a Vitamix as my main blender. Where your sunflower seeds soaked and wet when you used them? Anyway, take a peek at the bottom of the recipe post. I added some photos of the end results of the two cheeses. Sorry for the confusion in the beginning but it was a good experiment regardless. :)
I used 3 tsp of agave which = 1 Tbsp of agave. Sometimes when I am designing a recipe I start off with less sweetener and spices and build as I taste test. I started with 1 tsp and kept adding after tasting till I reached 3 tsp. I just never converted it to a tbsp.
Have a great weekend! amie sue
This surely has to be one of the most interesting, adventurous and exciting vegan/raw food blog recipe and prep sites on the net. I LOVE your recipes and I will be making the one on the right ;)
Why thank you Narf7 :) You brought a smile to my face this morning. Have a wonderful day and keep me posted if you try this recipe. I always love hearing from those who visit and try recipes out. amie sue
Is this recipe still considered raw with the hot agar being added to the cheese mixture.
Hello Bridgette,
The agar isn’t raw and it depends on how hot it is between the time that it is done dissolving to the time that you add it to the rest of the mix. Even by that point, the rest of the ingredients will have cooled it down fairly quick so I don’t feel nutrients is lost. If you were to add all the ingredients to the agar pan while it is bubbling, then it wouldn’t be raw. Have a great day, amie sue
Love it, love it, love it !!!!!! I can´t say anything else. Is my new vice.
Love it.
But I always want more so…. wich bread would you recomend to pair this one with???? :)
Did I mention that I love this cheese???? LOL
Thanks
S :)
I am more than thrilled that you are enjoying the cheese Silvia. :) You might enjoy pairing the cheese with the:
Onion Cheese Bread… https://nouveauraw.com/raw-recipies/artisan-breads/caramelized-onion-bread/
Honey Oat Bread… https://nouveauraw.com/raw-recipies/artisan-breads/raw-honey-oat-bread/
Caramelized Onion Bread… https://nouveauraw.com/raw-recipies/artisan-breads/caramelized-onion-bread/
In the end, just think about the over-all flavors. You don’t want them to be strong to over-power each other . I think my first choice would be the Honey Oat Bread. I hope this helps. Have a great day, amie sue
A general question on cutting the agar-agar vegan cheese recipes in half. Do you use only half of the water/agar jello?
Yes, you will want to decrease all ingredients equally. :)
2 cups of sunflower seeds = 4 cups of soaked sunflower seeds
I trust that it is correct to use 2 cups of unsoaked seeds for this recipe. Am I right?
Hello Ariana. You are correct. When a recipe reads: 2 cups raw sunflower seeds, soaked. It means that the dry measurement is 2 cups. Otherwise it would read; 2 cups soaked sunflower seeds. I don’t write my recipes that way because a person wouldn’t know how much to soak since they swell up. I hope this helps. Have a great day, amie sue
I’m very new to this style of cooking. I love cooking with natural whole foods, but am now making further changes due to my sons’ food allergies and intolerances. I’m so excited to have discovered your website and have been frantically bookmarking and screen shot-ing your recipes!
Could you please tell me, how long should I soak the seeds for? Is this to activate them? I’ve been trying to learn about activating seeds and nuts, but every other website says something different.
Hello Sara,
I am thrilled that you landed on my site. I hope it helps to support you throughout your journey of healthy eating. :) Regarding the sunflower seeds questions on soaking and activating… please click on the link that I provided within the ingredient list. It will take you to a post to that explains all of this and should answer your questions. If you have more after reading through that, please let me know. :) Have a blessed weekend, amie sue