Since arriving here in Australia a few weeks ago, one thing has been a regular feature of my evenings – the TV cooking competition Masterchef. It’s on six days a week and sees contestants chopping and stirring and icing and grilling and sweating and shaking and crying their way through custards and soufflés and fillets of fish and ribs and everything in between.
Now maybe you’ve seen the show. But if not, let me tell you, these contestants are beyond talented, night after night creating what can only be described as culinary masterpieces. There have been chocolate chili lava cakes, fish tostaditas served in the shape of a swan and an amazing sculpture-like ‘croquembouche’ dessert. It isn’t all so pretty, though. One girl literally started crying and shaking when she was presented with an ugly long black eel in a box for a mystery ingredient challenge. It looked just like a snake, which the poor girl happens to have a phobia of. She is also a vegetarian, and yet she still managed to create an amazing smoked eel salad while choking back her tears.
I’m always blown away by what incredible cooks all of the contestants are, but I also find myself thinking how on earth they can put themselves through something like this. Apparently, the experience is so intense that there’s a psychologist to help the contestants cope with it all. It makes me feel nervous just thinking about being on such a show.
So, sorry to disappoint you, readers, but I am not going to be appearing on Masterchef Australia or Masterchef UK or Masterchef any other country any time soon. Or ever. Not that I would have the talent to. Nope. I much prefer being a humble food blogger hiding anonymously in my kitchen and behind my computer screen. I can also experiment to my heart’s content and then post a recipe in my own time when I feel it’s ready to be presented to the world (or as ready as it’s ever going to be).
Another reason that I wouldn’t like to be on Masterchef is all that fancy food. I love to eat it, but as you know by now if you’re a regular reader here, I don’t do ‘difficult’. The kind of recipes I enjoy creating the most are the ones that end up looking and tasting pretty posh even though they have a tiny ingredients and cooking steps list. Such as … you know what’s coming next … these cute little blueberry & white chocolate cheesecakes. As you probably already gathered from the post title, they are a little lighter than a regular cheesecake thanks to using Greek yoghurt instead of cream and light cream cheese. Oh, and they are served in a glass.
I decided not to call these ‘deconstructed cheesecakes’ for fear of coming across all Masterchef when I just told you how much that really isn’t ‘me’. But that’s exactly what they are, really. They are just tablespoons of crumbled ginger cookies, a simple cheesecake of cream cheese, Greek yoghurt and white chocolate and blueberries roughly layered up in a glass. With a little extra grated white chocolate for good measure. I also added a little sprinkle of ground ginger here and there.
This was just as tasty as a regular cheesecake but with far less fuss. There was no base to construct and no baking. This is also the ideal kind of dessert to make ahead and store in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
I’m sure this dessert would never be Masterchef worthy, but I can’t deny that it still tasted great.
Soooo … do you have Masterchef in your country, and if so do you like watching it? Would you like to be a contestant on this show or would you run a mile at the mere suggestion like I would?
A lighter blueberry & white chocolate cheesecake in a glass
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
- 4 1/2 ounces ginger cookies I used ‘ginger nuts’ which are perfect, but use any other type of cookie if you can’t find these
- 7 ounces light cream cheese
- 2/3 cup Greek yoghurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 7 ounces good quality white chocolate plus a little extra for grating
- 9 ounces blueberries
- ground ginger optional
Instructions
- Crush the cookies either in a food processor (or by putting them in a plastic bag and hitting them with a rolling pin like I did!)
- Using a handheld mixer
(or in a food processor), whisk the cream cheese, yoghurt and vanilla together. - Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water or in a microwave in 30-second bursts. Let it cool slightly then whisk it into the cream cheese & yoghurt mixture until smooth.
- Put about a tablespoon of cookie crumbs in the bottom of a glass or sundae bowl, then top with a tablespoon of cheesecake, a tablespoon of blueberries and a light sprinkle of ginger and grated white chocolate. Add a second layer of each component, finishing with blueberries, more ginger and more grated white chocolate.
- Chill until ready to serve.
(or in a food processor), whisk the cream cheese, yoghurt and vanilla together.Nutrition
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Jessica @ Sweet Menu says
Perfect recipe to serve up to dinner guests! Love it!
Helen says
Thanks, Jessica! Yes, it would be great as a simple dessert when you’ve invited guests and you’re busy with the main course too. 🙂
Isadora @ She Likes Food says
I LOVE Masterchef! It is one of the few shows my husband and I enjoy watching together. He doesn’t like most of the food shows I watch, but thankfully he loves the food competitions! The only thing I hate is how mean the judges are to the contestants, at least in the US one. I also feel like a horrible cook when I watch that show, because they come up with such amazing dishes that I don’t think I would be able to cook.
Cheesecake is one of my favorite things ever! I could eat it all the time and I also love blueberries! I want this now!!!
Helen says
I think the shows are very different in different countries because they aren’t so mean in either the UK or Australia. I think the Australian show is definitely the most fun version. I know what you mean about feeling like a terrible cook when watching, as well. I couldn’t even come up with one acceptable idea under so much pressure (or at all!)
sherry from sherryspickings says
i met one of the brisbane contestants this year at my local cooking school. she said when she came back from masterchef she just lay in her bed for 3 weeks crying the entire time as it is so intense. i do not think i could handle the pressure!
Helen says
Oh, my goodness, really?! Someone cries at least once an episode, don’t they? But crying for 3 weeks … that’s so horrible! The thing is, whoever gets onto the show has already done really, really well so really they should be patting themselves on the back for 3 weeks!
Julie @ This Gal Cooks says
I’m with you. I’d rather cook in my kitchen than on one of these shows. However, if I had my very own show, that may be a different story! 😉
This recipe would be great for an afternoon snack, here in this Florida heat. Anything that doesn’t require an oven to be turned on is a WIN in my book. Pinned. Hope you have a great weekend, Helen!
Helen says
Now there’s an idea. I think a show starring you would be great, Julie. I for one would tune in!
Thanks for the win and hope youhave a fabulous weekend, too.:-)
Lilli @ Sugar and Cinnamon says
How intense is Masterchef! Sometimes I fantasize about how fun it would be to try out and be a contestant but then I remember it looks like the most stressful, draining experience of their lives! These cheesecakes look so good. Especially that grated white chocolate…yuum!!
Helen says
yup! I am full of admiration for those people. So happy that you like the cheesecakes, Lilli. I really enjoyed making (and eating!) them.
Mary Frances says
I don’t think I would be able to handle the stress and pressure. It would take away the joy of cooking for me! I always love seeing what they come up with though; they are truly gifted. And, hey, a free psychologist! 😉
Mmm white chocolate was made for fruit. It balances out the sweetness and is gorgeous. Glass desserts are so fun for presentation and they are a lot easier to make!
Helen says
A free psychologist for bloggers would come in handy sometimes as well, wouldn’t it? Now there’s an idea … 😉
Glad you approve of the dessert, Mary Frances. I agree that the desserts in glasses idea is a keeper!
Alessandra // the foodie teen says
I think I may be addicted to Masterchef! These look delicious – I swear things taste better in cute little jars!
Helen says
There’s no ‘think’ with me … I definitely am addicted!
Totally agree that things look more impressive in glassware. It’s a cheap trick but hey, if it works … 😉
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
I am going to tr these like you would not believe. You have all my favourite ingredients in this.
Helen says
Happy to hear it, Bintu! 🙂
Melanie @ Bon Appét'Eat says
Alright, I finally got the chance to answer your comment on my blog and come and see why I would love yours! Ahaha Helen, this is hilarious! I actually don’t follow ANY cooking show lol!
The show I applied for is Pressure Cooker with Jamie Oliver, from what I gathered it would be home cook teamed up with a celebrity chef! Stay tune 🙂
On another note, I love those individual cheesecake! I might do it when my mum will visit from France with some strawberries! I ll let you know if I do!
Helen says
That sounds so exciting, Melanie! Please do let us all know how your application goes. I love Jamie Oliver and actually he is one chef that I don’t think I’d be nervous around. I haven’t heard of that new show – sounds interesting!
So happy you like the cheesecake – I think it would work just as well with strawberries!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Those shows stress me out! And I seriously can’t stand Gordon Ramsey, he’s just mean. But I am a huuuuge top chef fan. Gorgeous looking cheesecakes, love that they’re lightened up!
Helen says
Ahhh, is Gordon Ramsey a judge on the US Masterchef? I actually don’t mind him. His bark is definitely worse than his bite. He’s a big softy at heart … haha! Thanks for ‘liking’ my cheesecakes. I love cheesecakes, and would feel OK about having these a bit more often. 😉
Pam says
It looks pretty and so delicious.
Helen says
Thank you so much, Pam! 🙂
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
I am so loving the ground ginger in this easy peasy cheesecake!
I think this dessert is most definitely master chef worthy! I haven’t watched it yet, but I have heard about it – and I would rather run a mile, heck I would rather run five miles than be on that show!
Helen says
I would rather run a hundred miles, Shashi! Hahaha! Thanks for the compliment on these cheesecakes, though. I think the Masterchef judges would slate them for being too easy, but that’s OK. 😉
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
Oh I would be entirely too stressed out to be on a show like that too, Helen! I’ll take wearing sweatpants in the comfort of my own kitchen any day haha. I’d also take a glass or two of these lighter cheesecakes. I love the addition of ginger cookie crumbs (one of my favorite cookies!) and blueberries. I just happen to have picked up a big carton at the store yesterday with no recipe in mind. I think I’ve found it! 🙂
Helen says
Oh, how exciting! I hope you do get around to making these, Alyssa. I look such a mess when I’m running around cooking and photographing, anyway … I would scare all the viewers if I was on Masterchef! 😉
Jessica @ Sweet Menu says
How gorgeous are these! My family would love them. Nothing like fresh berries and cheesecake!
Helen says
Aw, thanks, Jessica! Yup, I guess you can’t really go wrong with cheesecake and berries! So glad you like them! 🙂