Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Have A Vegan Wine And Cheese Party!Stock Up On Miyokos Artisan Vegan Cheese Perfect For Holiday Entertaining

Finally, Vegan "cheese" that tastes like cheese. Thanks Miyoko!

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Really, it Tastes Like Cheese!
Ive always been very honest with you about vegan "cheese" because, lets face it, most of it is horrible. Some fake "cheese" products are passible buried in a lasagna or enchilada casserole but they simply do not taste good on a cracker and I certainly wouldnt ruin a good glass of wine eating them.

But Miyokos Kitchen has produced a wide variety of "Cultured Nut Products" (they legally cant call it cheese because it lacks dairy) that are out of this world. 

A few years back, Miyoko tried to inspire people to make their own in her book, Artisan Vegan Cheese but enough people encouraged her to just make the "cheese" products and sell them. Well, she finally did just that and many vegans and those allergic to dairy, like myself, are very grateful. And, they are all gluten free.


If you want to try and do this yourself, buy
Artisan Vegan Cheese by Miyoko Schinner

Lots of Products to Choose From
I havent yet tried them all but Ill list them for you.

Classic Double Cream Chive
This one is amazing. I grated some on a baked potato with a spoonful of Tofutti sour cream and I was in heaven. You can also use some to stir into your vegan mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner. You wont be disappointed. 
This has a 60 day shelf life.
Double Cream Chive pairs well with a tannic Chianti, Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc.


Double cream chive on top of a baked potato with Tofutti

Double Cream Sundried Tomato Garlic
I also loved this one and crumbled it on top of a homemade veggie pizza. It didnt really melt  but the flavors were wonderful. I think next time I will spread it on the crust first before putting the veggies on or grate it so its thinner. It think it would melt if it were stirred into hot pasta. It would go beautifully with a nice Chianti.
This product has a 60 day shelf life.


Double Cream Sundried Tomato Garlic on veggie pizza

High Sierra Rustic Alpine
I think this one is my favorite. Its semi hard so it cuts well if you want to put it on a cracker or a slice of apple. To me it has the flavor of an aged cheddar with hints of bacon. I wanted to try making a panini with this "cheese" but I loved it so much I just consumed it all before I had a chance. Time to buy more!
Although I cant imagine it lasting very long in the fridge, this product has a nice long 90 day shelf life.
High Sierra Rustic Alpine can stand up to a good Cabernet Sauvignon but is also delightful with a Sauvignon Blanc. 




Fresh Loire Valley in a Fig Leaf
This soft wheel is beautifully wrapped in a wine-cured fig leaf. I havent had a chance to try this one yet but Miyoko suggests serving with fruit and crackers and pairing with a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, a classic Bordeaux or a Semillon. 
It has a shelf live of 60 days.


Im borrowing this picture from Miyokos website so you can
see just how beautifully this one is presented.

I will get a chance to finally try this one on Friday!

French Style Winter Truffle
Marbled with truffle-scented mushrooms, this earthy delight was my daughters favorite. Perhaps thats because it paired so beautifully with our Turtle Vines vegan Russian River Pinot Noir!
This product has the shortest shelf life of 30 days but do you think it would last that long around your holiday guests? I think not.

Read more about why you should drink vegan wine.

Aged English Sharp and Aged English Smoked Farmhouse
I tried the sharp version which was wonderful just on a simple cracker. It tasted like an aged cheddar with very complex flavors and paired nicely with a Petite Syrah.
Both of these have a nice long shelf life of 90 days.

Country Style Herbes de Provence
This beautiful wheel is encrusted in herbs and since it pairs beautifully with champagne and Prosecco, what better "cheese" to serve on New Years Eve? But you obviously have to be a fan of Herbes de Provence.
This one also has a nice long shelf life of 90 days.


Country Style Herbes de Provence

How to Buy
Since these are made in Fairfax, California, I assume the product will start popping up in some local grocery stores in Northern California soon. I believe it is being carried in a Whole Foods in Novato and in the Community Market at the Barlow in Sebastopol. But if you cant find it in your town, you can buy it online at Miyokos Kitchen Website. Right now you can only buy preselected collections of these "cheeses" and are not able to select individual products (I dont know if that will change in the future). For example:

The Harvest Collection contains: 
Fresh Loire Valley in a Fig Leaf
French Style Winter Truffle
High Sierra Rustic Alpine
Classic Double Cream Cheese
Double Cream Sundried Tomato Garlic

The Traditional Collection offers:
Aged English Sharp Farmhouse
Aged English Smoked Farmhouse
High Sierra Rustic Alpine

The Party Platter contains:
A Limited Edition Double Cream Garlic Herb
Fresh Loire Valley in a Fig Leaf
French Style Winter Truffle
High Sierra Rustic Alpine
Aged English Sharp Farmhouse
Double Cream Sundried Tomato Garlic

But if you are going to pay for shipping, you might as well load up on these wonderful products and get a chance to taste a wide variety of them. Miyoko suggests you order before Monday, November 24th at 12:00pm (PST) if you want delivery before Thanksgiving.

A big THANK YOU to Miyoko for making these wonderful products!



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Low Carb Diet Dr Oz’s Fast Metabolism Weight Loss Plan Alternates Low Carb Diet With Holiday Splurges

Dr. Oz creates Fast Metabolism Weight Loss Diet.
The newest weight loss research is providing insights into the best ways to shed pounds. Dr. Mehmet Oz offered some tips from those studies on how to boost your metabolism to burn calories faster on the Dr. Oz Show. His new diet even allows you to splurge on holiday treats by cycling among low-carb diet days, high protein days, high fat diet days, and “cheat” days. Can Dr. Oz’s new Fast Metabolism Weight Loss plan help you?
Dr. Oz explained that his new diet uses a concept known as carb-cycling. However, before you change your diet, check with your personal physician so that you can customize it to your own health needs.
Chris Powell, star of Extreme Weight Loss, helped Dr. Oz design the plan to provide two splurge days each week. They emphasize that by shifting diets throughout the week, from a high protein diet to a high fat diet to a high carb diet, you will burn fat faster and increase your metabolism. In addition, by following a low carb diet on most days, you will keep your body in prime condition.
One day each week, you’ll take a different approach with a Smart Carb diet. This day features foods that are high in fiber, such as oatmeal and berries for breakfast, whole grain bread and a bean salad at lunch, whole grain pasta with veggies for dinner, and fruit for snacks.
Fast Metabolism Diet includes high protein days, says Dr. Oz.
Dr. Oz’s fast metabolism diet includes high protein days.
Two days a week, your high protein diet day will include three low carb diet meals with lots of protein and two snacks that combine protein and veggies. For example, you might have cheese and cucumber for a snack, and eat steak with cauliflower for dinner.
Your high fat diet days will occur two days a week. You’ll eat two snacks that contain fat, such as an apple with peanut butter. Your meals will all include fat as well, such as avocado with your lunch.
Be sure to schedule in advance. For example, you could have Saturday and Sunday as your two days of splurging, Monday and Tuesday as your two high protein days, Wednesday as your Smart Carb day, and Thursday and Friday as your healthy fat days.
Seeking a way to jump-start your weight loss? As the Inquisitr reported, Dr. Oz recently created a new Fat Flush plan. It’s designed to help you lose up to five pounds in just three days by cutting carbohydrates and encouraging you to sip a special fat flush broth.
What if you try to stick to your diet but keep getting derailed? First, check with your doctor. And then consider trying psychological weight loss tricks to stay on track, suggests Psych Central.
“What drives our behavior is not logic but brain biochemistry … We are emotional beings with the ability to rationalize — not rational beings with emotions. The more primitive, emotional brain generally has precedence over the newer, more rational brain,” points out Dr. Howard Rankin.
Some tips for avoiding sabotaging your diet goals include coming up with new ways to motivate yourself and developing a strong support system. Emotional support can make a dramatic difference in achieving your goals. And that support might include professional help. For example, if you’re anxious about going to the gym, consider hiring a professional trainer to get you started.
[Images Via Dr. Oz Show]
Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/1599833/dr-ozs-fast-metabolism-weight-loss-plan-alternates-low-carb-diet-with-holiday-splurges/
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