When I first began my mission to live more healthily last year after my melanoma cancer drama's, I think that I initially went a little over the top with all of it. In hindsight, being pedantic about what I ate was the only thing that I felt I had control over whilst awaiting further investigations.
I think we all know that being too extreme about anything is usually not sustainable!
This Blueberry and Cheesecake recipe would 100% fall in the other 20% of that time, but wow oh wow was it absolutely delicious!
You quite simply have to make this.
Ingredients
300g blueberries
100g golden caster sugar
200g digestive biscuits
100g butter, melted
2tsp vanilla extract
600g soft cheese
100g icing sugar
300ml pot double cream
Method
To make the blueberries, put the sugar and 3 tbsp water
in a pan. Cook until dissolved then boil until syrupy. Add the blueberries,
cook for a minute or two. You want them to soften but not burst. Tip the
blueberries into a sieve over a bowl and cool.
Butter the base and sides of a 22cm spring form cake tin
then line with baking parchment. To make the base, whizz the biscuits in a
processor to crumbs. Mix with the butter then tip them into the prepared tin
and press firmly into the base to create an even layer. Chill in the fridge for
30 minutes.
Mix the soft cheese, icing sugar and vanilla in a bowl
until smooth then tip in the cream and mix until combined (it's better to use a
wooden spoon for this as electric beaters will overwhip the cream). Stir
through half the blueberries then spoon onto the base. Smooth the top of the
cheesecake. Leave to set in the fridge overnight. Stir the remaining
blueberries back into the syrup and chill.
Take the cheesecake from the fridge about 30 minutes before
serving. Release the tin and remove the paper from the sides. Slide the cake
onto a plate leaving the base paper behind. Spoon over the blueberries and
syrup before serving.
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So it definitely isn't going to win the low sugar or low fat dish of the year, but at least it's not laden with preservatives and other funky chemicals like a store bought one may be!
What is your favourite type of cheesecake?
Enjoy,
