Happy Holidays & an EXCLUSIVE recipe!

Happy Holidays & an EXCLUSIVE recipe! - A Virtual Vegan

Published: Fri, 12/24/21

Hi there,

I just wanted to pop in to your inbox to wish you a very happy holiday (if you celebrate).

I'm going to be taking some time off between now and the new year so this is me signing off and wishing you peace and love for the holiday season and the new year ahead.

I also want to thank you for your support this year. It brings me so much joy to share my recipes. You are the reason I am able to do what I love as my job every single day and I am so grateful for every single one of you. ❤️

I will be back and raring to go in the new year. In the meantime you will get an already scheduled email (or two?) but I am now signing off from my website, email and social media so any messages won't get seen or replied to until the new year.

Happy Christmas / Happy Holidays and I will see you in 2022!

BUT before I go have an exclusive recipe that is just for you as one of my email subscribers!

Maple Whipped Feta Dip with Sticky Nutty "Bacon" Topping!
If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen me eating this in my stories. I wanted to share it on my website but I'm trying to be much more intentional there and it's not worth sharing something that no-one is searching for. However, this recipe is AMAZING and too good not to share so you're going to get it right here and now!

It's not polished like it would be on my website and I don't have any pretty pictures. Just one I took with my phone while eating it 🤣, but trust me, if you enjoy dips and like feta you NEED this in your life! It's quite a show stopper and the perfect appetizer/snack for the holidays. I've made this 4 times since and I can guarantee it will be made again for Christmas and New Year.

Maple Whipped Feta Dip

For the feta part (this is the feta recipe from my website but halved):

175 grams / 6 oz extra firm tofu (don't press it)
¼ cup (60 ml melted refined coconut oil (measured after melting & MUST be refined)
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon dried dill
1 teaspoon fine sea salt (remember it's feta so supposed to be salty). I don't recommend using table salt.

Add all of that to a food processor and process completely to a thick paste.

Then add this too:

113 grams / 4 oz (usually half a tub depending on the brand) vegan cream cheese (not homemade - it needs to be store bought for the right texture. I used Tofutti )
3 tablespoons maple syrup (real maple syrup not pancake syrup)
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Process again until absolutely silky smooth then transfer to a serving bowl.

The topping (optional but recommended)

Now that's great just as it is, but it's even better with this warm nutty, bacon-y, date topping so buckle up and get your skillet ready:

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 rashers of vegan bacon chopped into small pieces (omit if you can't get vegan bacon and double the nuts instead)
10 Medjool dates, stoned and chopped into little pieces
¼ cup chopped unsalted pecans or walnuts
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika or chipotle powder, or a pinch of chili flakes
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

Warm the olive oil in a small skillet/pan and fry the bacon pieces until they are getting a little crispy. Add everything else, turn to low and let it cook for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently until it's sticky and delicious.

Pick out the rosemary then pile the topping onto the whipped feta. Serve with tortilla chips, crusty baguette, crackers and a big glass of red wine 🤗

Good warm or cold and keeps for about a week covered in the fridge. I'd say this feeds about 4 to 5 (or 2 if you're greedy like us and eat it for dinner 🤣).

Enjoy!!! 😘

Mel x

If you have already purchased a copy of my cookbook, it would mean the world to me if you could leave it a review on Amazon!

----> Want more? See all of my recipes here.

THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING AND HAPPY COOKING!

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