Get to know me

Hi, I’m Talia! All my life I’ve loved eating cheese, from silky cream cheese to aged cheddar to funky blue cheese and beyond. I was vegetarian for many years thinking that I just couldn't give up cheese. When I finally took the plunge, I started searching for vegan versions everywhere. Some grocery cheese alternatives are ok, but for the most part I have been pretty disappointed in commercial vegan cheeses.

So I decided to start making my own cheese at home! I created this blog to share my experiments in the kitchen to fill the cheese niche in my soul. I know there are a lot of dietary needs out there, so I really wanted to share some alternatives that taste delicious but also allow for a lot of modification. Here you will find some of the more standard cashew-based cheeses, but I also love trying out recipes with other creative base ingredients like other nuts, seeds, flours, grains, tofu and even beans! Many of the recipes are oil free and can even be made virtually fat free if desired.

One of my favorite thickeners for cheeses is, perhaps surprisingly, cornstarch! It's incredibly fool-proof, inexpensive and widely available, so it's such a natural when it comes to a firm cheese with a cheesy, sliceable (or saucy!) texture. You will also find my experiments with a wide variety of other thickeners and stabilizers such as agar agar, tapioca starch (gorgeous for stretchy, melty cheeses and dips!), carageenan, and quite a few other starches and flours. One of my favorite quick cheese dips is thickened with only whole oats!

The best advice I can give anyone is not to be afraid to try out alternatives when reading these recipes. Not into a hard cheese or don't have the time to let one set? Leave out the thickener and try it as a silky cheese sauce. Cashews too expensive? Give the recipe a shot with sunflower seeds or white beans! Can't find agar agar? Go back to basics with cornstarch. Once you have the general idea, experimenting gets a whole lot easier.

The options really are limitless! Let me give you some exciting ideas here to ignite your own imagination in your kitchen. I hope you enjoy my recipes, and please let me know what you think!