Mr Chameleon has left the premises

For those of you who haven't visit www.booksmatic.com yet, go and have a look. the site has been updated and once a again there are bargains for Africa. Do yourself a favour and click on the side banners on my webpage at www.booksmatic.com. There are more items. These ranges from more bookstores to music, furniture and even art. Don't miss out on new publications.

And it rained this morning here in Cape Town. Not that we are complaining. In South Africa we are always grateful for every drop that falls. Cape Town has been on water restrictions for so long that it has become a way of life. Gardens may not be watered between  10 am and 4 pm. You may not wash off pavements and when you water your garden, you have to use a nozzle that switches off on release. There are enough dams, but the population is growing to fast. At least the garden had a free water shower. 

A week has gone by since I have written about my dog who had to go in for an operation. Well, all went well and three spots of benign cancer has been removed successfully. He was very drowsy, and I had to help him into the car. He slept close to me that evening as I know his every move just as he knows mine. My shadow personified. If I move, he moves. If I garden, he will help me by digging up the plants. What can I do? Nothing, he most likely thinks that he is helping me. I just moan and replant the plant.

Well, Mr Chameleon obviously haven't learned his lesson regarding busy roads. He most likely was thinking that he is a dragon of some sorts and that everybody can see him. He has disappeared. The changes are very good that he has camouflaged himself in the bushes. After all, that is why they are called chameleons. He could be watching me through the window this very minute and I would not even know it.

The recipe I am posting today is a very traditional Afrikaans South African recipe. It is called a "melktert" or milk tart in English. Remember to visit the cooking section at www.booksmatic.com.

Crust-less Milk tart  

Separate the yolk and egg white of four eggs

200 g (250 ml) sugar (7 ounces)

60 g (75 ml) butter or margarine melted (3 ounces)

140 g (250 ml) unsifted cake flour (7 ounces)

5 ml baking powder (1/2 teaspoon)

Pinch of salt

1 l milk 

5 ml Vanilla Extract 

40 g (50 ml) Cinnamon sugar (Mix cinnamon and sugar) (2 ounces)

Preheat oven to 180 C or 350 F

use two bowels of about 1 liter each and rub with butter

Mix egg yolk, sugar and margarine/butter until creamy

Sieve flour and baking powder and salt together and mix well with egg yolk mixture.

Add milk and vanilla extract

Beat egg whites until firm and fold into milk mixture with metal spoon. The mixture will be thin at this stage.

Pour into tart bowels and throw cinnamon sugar over

Bake 40 to 50 minutes in the middle of the oven. 

Serve warm or cold with tea or enjoy as is.  

Have a great week and visit www.booksmatic.com