a strange meadow

vegan queso

-1 cup cashews
-1 cup boiling water
-3 cloves garlic
-1/4 cup pickled jalapeño
-2 tbps nutritional yeast
-2 tsp el yucateco hot sauce
-1 tsp vegemite
-1 tsp onion powder
-1 tsp cumin
-1 tsp chili powder
-1 tsp smoked paprika
-1 can rotel tomatoes

blend all ingredients but the tomatoes in a high speed blender (if you don't have a high speed blender you may want to soak the cashews for at least 4 hours). drain the excess liquid from the tomatoes and stir in. feel free to make substitutions, but i think the vegemite is the secret ingredient that makes this recipe pop. it gives it a certain cheddary sharpness.