Recipe: Milk Tart

Nothing screams South African like the delicious melktert (Milk Tart). A definite favourite in the South African cuisine.

A very easy recipe and the end product will be mouth-watering - promise.

Milk Tart

Ingredients

• 45 g butter, melted
• 200 g white sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 145 g cake flour
• 5 g baking powder
• 2 g salt
• 5 ml vanilla extract
• 950 ml milk
• 3 egg white
• 10 g cinnamon sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Coat a 9 inch deep dish pie plate with vegetable oil cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the egg yolks and beat until light and fluffy. Sift in the cake flour, baking powder and salt, and stir until well blended. Mix in the vanilla and milk. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks using an electric mixer. Fold into the batter. Pour into the prepared pie plate, and sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the top.
3. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Continue to bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the center is set when you gently jiggle the pie. Serve hot or cold. 

 

Recipe source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/south-african-melktert-milk-tart/detail.aspx 

Image source: http://browniegirlblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/milk-tart-41.jpg  

Image source: http://www.100cafestreet.com/milk-tart-recipe/

Namaqualand Flowers

Purple Flowers from Namaqualand

 

The hills are covered with vibrant colours of oranges, reds, yellows and purples. The Namaqualand Flower season is beautiful, thousands of little flowers bloom in such rich colours. Over 4,000 different types of

The show of colours depend on the rainfall received early that year but the best time to see the flowers is end August and early September when South Africa enters Spring.

If you would like to experience the flowers differently, try the hiking or cycling tours through the fields.

Tip: Stop at the nearest tourism information office to find the best display as each year varies.

Namaqualand Flowers, Northern Cape

Namaqualand Flowers

 

Image source:

• http://www.saphototours.com/uploads/5/4/8/4/5484837/6978071.jpg?239
• http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/rachelandmike/2/1250074210/wildflowers-of-namaqualand.jpg/tpod.html
• http://www.panoramio.com/photo/62348809

Cape Town Book Fair 2012

One of my favourite things to do is to read. Nothing like escaping into a realm of fantasy with characters that you start to love and hate.I think this event is definitely on my to-do list.

The Cape Town Book Fair 2012 starts on the 15 - 17th June at the CTICC (Cape Town International Convention Centre). Exhibitions, workshops, displays and fun activities for the whole family. Book lovers get to meet publishers, writers and editors for some of the most loved novels.

The programme is spread over 3 days and includes activities such as:

• Book signings
• Publishing workshops
• Poetry recitals
• Lots lots more

Click on the link for the programme: http://www.capetownbookfair.com/pdf/ctbf-book-lovers-programme-version-33.pdf.

 Described as a "literary feast", one of the highlights in this month's event Calendar.

Visit the Cape Town Book Fair's website: www.capetownbookfair.com.

Cape Town Book Fair, CTICC

Floor view, Cape TOwn Book Fair

Recipe: Malva Pudding

Malva Pudding Ingredients (serves 6)

2 large eggs room temperature
1 cup castor sugar
1 tbsp smooth apricot jam [do NOT use whole fruit]
6½ oz [185g] cake flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp vinegar
½ cup [125ml] milk
A little butter for greasing

Or even vanilla ice-cream.

For the Sauce

1 cup cream
½ cup butter
½ cup soft brown sugar
½ cup water
2 tsp treacle
½ tsp Vanilla essence

To Make the Malva Pudding

Preheat oven to 350^oF [180^oC]

First make the batter

Beat the eggs and castor sugar, in a large mixing bowl, until light and fluffy. Add the apricot jam and beat well. In another bowl, sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and the salt. Melt the butter, over low heat, in a saucepan. Add the vinegar and milk. Alternating the flour and milk mixtures, fold into the egg mixture. Grease a baking tray and pour the pudding batter into it. Bake, on the middle shelf, for 45-50 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean

Meanwhile make the sauce

Heat the cream, butter, brown sugar, water and treacle in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the butter melted. Do NOT let the sauce mixture boil. Remove from the heat and add the Vanilla essence. When you remove the pudding from the oven, pierce a number of times with a skewer, or the tines of a fork. Pour the hot sauce over it. The holes, previously made, enable the sauce to better permeate the Malva Pudding.

Serve the dessert hot with Custard or Whipped cream... Malva pudding is also delicious eaten cold, with cold custard, whipped cream or even vanilla ice-cream.

Picture source: http://www.hulettssugar.co.za/files/images/malva-pudding.jpg

Recipe source: http://africhef.com/South-African-Malva-Pudding-Recipe.html

Gold Reef City : Thrill Rides

Probably one of my favourite places to go. I absolutely love going the rides.... Am I scared? Definitely! Do I regret it once they harness me in? oh hell yes! Will I do it again? Everyday.

The rides are insane. You get the "slower" children friendly rides then you get the ones who make grown men scream. 

I would say the scariest ride is the Tower of Terror..... Travel to the top where the cart stops for awhile and then you get the 90° drop.... Its scary - trust me. If you haven't done it before then wait you waiting for??? Rated on the Gold Reef City website with a Fear factor of 10.

Tower of Terror

 You also get the Anaconda, which is very similiar to the Cobra at Ratanga Junction. The Anaconda is also quite extreme but not as bad as the Tower of Terror. Rated on the Gold Reef City website with a Fear factor of 9....

Anaconda to the right

The two mentioned above are Thrill Rides, you need to buy an armband to ride on them. 

If you arent into the EXTREME rides then go for the exciting but calmer ones. 

Gold Reef City is perfect for families and small children.