Easy Baked Feta Nut Cheese

I want to start off by apologizing, it's been so long since I've shared a new recipe. We relocated across the country from Ohio to Colorado and I started a new job...so I do at least have a good excuse! It has been a busy last couple of months but things are finally falling into place. Most importantly, I hope to get back in the rhythm of sharing weekly recipe updates with all of you who are looking for healthy alternatives to everyday favorites. 

This week I want to share an easy recipe for anyone interested in trying their hand at making nut cheeses. This recipe is a really good one to start out with because it calls for ingredients that can be readily found in most pantries. I also found that it is possible to cut out a step and make this recipe even easier and quicker than the original. The original recipe uses cheese cloth to drain off excess liquid for 12 hours before baking. I found that step isn't necessary, and when I make something, I usually don't like to wait 12 hours between steps. So, all you have to do is put the ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth, pour in a ramekin and bake! This nut cheese comes out crumbly, yet smooth and you can play around with ingredients e.g., adding a teaspoon of dried herbs like thyme and/or sage or using fresh squeezed orange juice instead of lemon for a warmer flavor. You can spread this nut cheese on bread or crackers or crumble over pasta, it is really versatile and delicious!

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Baked Feta Nut Cheese Recipe
vegan, plant-based, refined-sugar free, gluten-free

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw almonds or cashews
• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice*
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour into a ramekin greased with evoo and bake 45 min until browned on top.
4. This recipe is great warm from the oven but can also be stored in the fridge and eaten chilled as well. 

*Note: you can substitute fresh orange juice either in full or half or in a pinch you can use apple cider vinegar.