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Pumpkin Seed Cranberry Vegan Cheese Log with Thyme

Vegan Pumplin Cranberry "Cheese" log @Rawmazing.com

I’m in a holiday mood. It feels so welcome and refreshing because I haven’t felt this way in a while. For the last two years, I have been in the process of getting ready to move or had recently moved and I was simply too exhausted to put my normal holiday effort forth. Everything felt last minute and I had an attitude of “just get through it” which is completely out of character for me.

Back in Minnesota, Thanksgiving was a huge feast that brought family and friends together. Shortly after Thanksgiving, I would start decorating for Christmas, my favorite time of year. Every room was touched with candles, lights, or ornaments. Each fireplace had elaborate pine swags that I arranged, little piece by piece. Berries, holly, pinecones, all created a magical picture.

Often, even though I swore I would get the outside lights up before the first snow, I would find myself on the steep roof, standing in a couple of feet of the white stuff, clipping the strings to the edge of the roof. I know it sounds strange, but I loved it. The wind might be blowing and the snow falling but how can you feel bad when your arms are full of little white twinkling lights and snowflakes are blowing all around?

My first Christmas season in California was a struggle. I missed the cold and the snow. I missed the grey November skies have a beauty all of their own. The winter light playing off of the dark bare trees can be breathtakingly beautiful. These are the skies I was used to. The skies I love and missed horribly.

I also missed the silence. When the earth freezes and is covered by a blanket of snow, it is quiet. Blissfully quiet. You may hear the occasional winter birds or the wind in the pines but the daily hum of summer completely disappears. There is silence and it is peaceful. And restful. And a wonderful time to settle in and slow down a bit.

Somehow, looking out the window at palm trees (transplanted since we are in Northern Ca but here none the less) just wasn’t doing it for me. November would hit and I would get grumpy. I was tired of the sun and hearing crickets and lawn mowers in November. It just didn’t feel right for this Minnesota girl.

But this year something is shifting. I feel a little ember of desire. I am looking forward to getting the holidays in full swing. It took me by surprise yet delighted me at the same time.

Where I notice it the most is in the kitchen. Everything I am inspired to make has a holiday or entertaining theme and I am loving it.

I am grateful to be once again inspired by the holidays. And with a daughter now only 3 hours away in the mountains, snow is back on my happy-happy-joy-joy list!

Today’s “raw vegan cheese log” recipe is a great recipe for entertaining. It is easy, beautiful and  full of flavor! Pumpkin seeds, cranberries and pecans marry beautifully and the sharpness of the cashew cheese sets the sweetness of the pecans and cranberries off in the most tasty way! You will need to start this in advance but it refrigerates and even freezes well which is great when entertaining.

You can refrigerate this for a few days in advance or freeze it for up to a month.

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84 Comments

  1. Kenda wrote on November 21, 2013

    This sounds like an awesome recipe! Do you put the whole capsule in the blender or just the contents that in it? I don’t normally use probiotic capsules but will get some for this recipe. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  2. Susan wrote on November 21, 2013

    Hi, Mark,

    I wouldn’t worry about it. Sometimes I get a teaspoon, sometimes I don’t get any. It is not just about the liquid it is also about letting flavor develop. Cheers!

    Reply
  3. Mark Sylvester wrote on November 21, 2013

    Susan, awesome. I have been doing nut cheeses for a while now and this is a fantastic path. I usually mold them, and dehydrate to get a nice skin on them – however, this rolling in nuts/seeds looks great. I’m going to do a combo of both – as I love the firmness the dehydration gives.
    One question for you. I have tried several recipes for nut cheese and they all have the ‘sit overnight on cheesecloth’ instruction, and I do that, and in 100% of the times, there’s maybe one or two drops of liquid. So, I stopped doing it altogether. Why do you think I don’t get any seepage? I’ve tried weights (one author suggested), to no avail. Thx. Love the work – and am in love with the photos.

    Reply
  4. Susan wrote on November 21, 2013

    No problem… yes, you can use rejuvelac but I would then completely substitute the water with rejuvelac. As for a different nut, you could try macadamia nuts. It won’t be the same but will still be good.

    Reply
  5. Mooinca wrote on November 21, 2013

    Hi, sorry to jump in on the substitution wagon but could you use Rejuvelac instead of the probiotic capsules?

    thanks so much for such wonderful creations, every recipe I have tried on my omnivore friends have been met with silence as they’re demolishing the dish!

    Reply
  6. Faith wrote on November 21, 2013

    Thanks Susan, glad to hear you enjoyed the late September-ish walk. reminds me of my trip to Zion National Park in Utah in late Nov. of 1995. I lived in MN then. The weather at Zion was like a beautiful fall time of year, the aspens all yellow leaved…actually got to 70’s at times during the day, we had shorts on. but at night , it chilled way down and we were camping out, along with other people who camp at Zion for Thanksgiving every year! If you haven’t been there, it is an amazing beautiful spiritual place. And probably not very crowded at this time of year. Lots of people came there from California. So my kitchen is around 62 now or less…..if I made the cashew cheese i would hope it would still work ….should I try something like warming the toaster oven and sticking it in there with the power off overnight?

    Reply
  7. Michele wrote on November 21, 2013

    I was wondering if you can use a different nut? I am allergic to cashews and hazelnuts. I am fine with all other nuts.

    Reply
  8. Susan wrote on November 21, 2013

    We walked the dogs this morning to a gray sky, blustery winds and temps in the 50’s. The leaves were falling all around. I looked at my sweetie and said…feels like late September. I LOVED it.

    Reply

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