Smoky and creamy with herbs and dried fruit, this celebration cheese was inspired by the fancy cheeses often enjoyed at holiday parties. I thought it would be fun to share it with you now that school and work are starting again, so that your families have a little something festive even as we all return to a more normal routine. 

Prep Time: 20 min     Makes: 1 six-inch diameter round cheese

Ingredients:

1½ cups raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours

1¼ teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1 tablespoon kappa carrageenan

¼ teaspoon liquid smoke

1 tablespoon lemon juice

⅛ teaspoon nutmeg

⅛ teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon dried thyme

¼ cup dried apricots, sliced

1. Combine the cashews, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, carrageenan, liquid smoke, lemon juice, nutmeg, and white pepper in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Transfer the mixture to a pot and stir over medium heat for about 6 minutes. Add the rosemary, thyme, and apricots, and continue to cook for another 2 minutes, before transferring to a springform cake pan.
3. Let set for at least one hour before removing from the pan and refrigerating.