Miyoko's Kitchen Offers Vegan CHeeses That ACTUALLY Taste Like Cheese Plus Giveaway #Sponsored 10/15

***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

Before I get into the details about Miyoko's Kitchen, I have to admit....I expected to hate these cheeses. I really, truly did. You see, I am not Vegan. I'm not even Vegetarian. And cheese? Well, cheese is my favorite thing ever. You know how some women love chocolate? That's me. You can keep your chocolate, but please throw cheese at me and back away slowly.....In my opinion, cheese is one of the greatest pleasures that life has to offer. I even have a cat named Havarti. 

So, since I am such a fan of cheese in general, the idea of Vegan, non-dairy cheese has always seemed a bit scary and unappetizing to me. I mean, how can anyone replicate the creamy deliciousness that is cheese without using any dairy products? To me, it has always sounded like a weird conspiracy, and I have always secretly mourned for my Vegan friends and their lives that are devoid of ooey-gooey, cheesy goodness. 

Then I was introduced to Miyoko's Kitchen. This, my friends, was a game-changer. 

As you kn​ow, more and more people are seeking out vegan or vegetarian cuisine based on their dietary restrictions, moral concerns or both. Unfortunately, for many people considering a switch to a vegan (or occasionally vegan or vegetarian) lifestyle, one of the biggest challenges has been finding an authentically delicious cheese alternative. 
Until now from acclaimed vegan author, chef and TV host Miyoko Schinner​!

ABOUT MIYOKO'S KITCHEN :

“I’d go vegan, but I just can’t give up cheese.”

Indeed – the lure of cheese is strong, and many of us have fallen to its siren call. We hope to be able to answer that call with the most delectable whole-foods, plant-based cheeses in the world! Our products were created by Miyoko Schinner, who embarked on a mission to recreate the range of flavors and textures she had once enjoyed from dairy cheeses before becoming vegan. Several years of experimentation culminated in the publication of her groundbreaking book, Artisan Vegan Cheese (Book Publishing Co., 2012), which she hoped would inspire others to make their own.

Despite the success of the book, people frequently requested that she simply make and sell them. To satisfy this demand, she assembled an amazing team of passionate vegans with expertise in different areas, and Miyoko’s Kitchen was born! Today, Miyoko’s Kitchen ships to all 50 States, is available inselect  retailers, and has a distributor in Australia. Isn’t it time you came into The Kitchen?

OUR REVIEW :
We received a nice assortment of Miyoko's Kitchen Cultured Nut products to try for ourselves. I say Cultured Nut Products, because technically, this cannot legally be called cheese in the state of California since it doesn't contain dairy. Really, just think of that as a fancy, sophisticated way of saying Vegan Cheese. They are one and the same. 

We received several delectable varieties, such as Fresh Loire Valley In A Fig Leaf, Country Style Herbes de Provence, High Sierra Rustic Alpine, Classic Double Cream Chive, and Double Cream Sundried Tomato Garlic. Don't these flavors sound amazing?! 

Each cultured nut product is lovingly handmade in California, and comes beautifully packaged. Most of these products come wrapped in paper, but the Fresh Loire Valley comes wrapped in a wine cured fig leaf! This makes it visually very appealing, and would be a great addition to any Holiday parties! 

The Fresh Loire Valley is a softer cheese, and has a very unique flavor that gets sharper as it ages. This is really wonderful paired with fruit, on toast points, or even just spread on crackers. 

The consistency is pretty amazing, too. It really does resemble cheese! This product is made from cashews, chickpeas, California wine, and a secret blend of spices. Oh, I should mention, all of Miyoko's Kitchen products are made from only the finest, organic ingredients. 

The Country Style Herbes de Provence is another great choice for any upcoming gatherings or celebrations. This is coated in culinary herbs for a savory treat. Included is Lavender, which adds a bit of sweetness for a perfectly balanced flavor. 

This cheese is mild and a little tangy. It's slightly hard when you slice it, but turns creamy as you eat it. This cheese is also wonderful with bread or crackers, but is surprisingly delicious crumbled onto a salad full of veggies and mixed greens. 

My absolute favorite of the bunch would have to be the High Sierra Rustic Alpine. This cultured nut product truly tastes like cheese. It's sharp, creamy, and has a slightly smoky flavor that's simply phenomenal. It reminds me of all of the smoky cheeses that are so popular during the Holiday season. 

This cheese is harder, and can be enjoyed on a sandwich, with breads or crackers, with fruit, or it can even be melted to make some sinfully delicious sauces. (Just melt it with some non-dairy milk....Or dairy, if you're not vegan. Although that may kind of defeat the purpose.) 

I really, really, REALLY like this flavor. A lot. I may or may not be guilty of hiding it in the back of the fridge so no one else touches it. Okay, I am totally guilty of this. I'm pretty amazed that as a hardcore cheese lover, I like this as much as I do. If someone served this to me and didn't tell me it wasn't "real cheese", I would never, ever know it. Yep. This stuff is pretty mind-blowing! 

Overall, I am beyond impressed with the cultured nut products from Miyoko's Kitchen. I truly didn't expect to enjoy them. I thought they would taste like cardboard, have a gross or odd consistency, and just be unappealing in general. Well, I was wrong. These "Vegan Cheeses" actually DO taste like higher-end, gourmet cheeses. 

Whether you're Vegan, Vegetarian, or are just trying to cut dairy from your diet, I would absolutely recommend giving Miyoko's Kitchen a try. These products are Organic and Non-GMO, and they're creamy, delicious, and very convincing alternatives to actual cheese. I will be picking up a few of these cheeses to serve during Holiday parties. After all, my Vegan friends and family shouldn't be condemned to a life without cheesy goodness. Thanks to Miyoko's Kitchen, they don't have to. 

How to connect :

You can check out the awesomeness that is Miyoko's Kitchen on their website.

You can also follow Miyoko's Kitchen on Facebook, on twitter, and on Pinterest to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!

Enter to WIN :

I am thrilled to announce that TWO lucky readers will receive THREE Cheeses of their choice from Miyoko's Kitchen! 

How cool is that?!

Simply enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below!

This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ until 11:59PM EST October 15, 2015. No PO Boxes. Winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way.

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