Milk tart – they say that time changes everything, and everything changes with time…but does it? I think time is like a merry-go-round … it is only your view of things that changes, not the merry-go-round … … the “melk tert” never changed.
I grew up with “melk tert” with almond essence, puff pastry and cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top. It brings back many fond and happy memories. A kaleidoscope of “Kerk bazaars” (chruch fete’s) and of course the “koek en tee na kerk op Sondae” at our home (cake and tea after church on Sunday).
Watch me make this by clicking here.
The most lingering memory of the milk tart for me was custard inside the tart shell. This recipe is one of those versatile recipes that gives you the freedom to decide how you want to use it…either in a traditional puff pastry shell, or one where you create your own biscuit base or what I did … I thought I would update this age old classic without trying to change its history or heritage so I served it in my Mom’s tea cup and I added a few a Ameretti biscuits allowing the memories of the past to dwell in the sweetness of the present. I have
My mom and I made it just the way that we remembered….I went to visit her the other day and we milled about in the kitchen, talking and laughing about those times when we were much younger … the many different stories of how to make milk tart and how to bring the best tart to the bazaar, we talked about family, we giggled like young girls as the milk boiled over and the maizina mix splattered all over the kitchen counter, we counted how many “melk terte” we had made together over the years and then we counted the blessing we have been able to share – then and now. For just a few hours I was again on that merry-go-round … me, my mom, the milk tart and a heap of happy memories….
Dankie Ma. Lief vir jou.
- 4 Cups of full cream milk
- 150 g Sugar
- ½ t Salt
- 4 Large eggs separated
- 90g Maizina powder mixed with some of the milk (mix through until it has that thick cream consistency)
- ¾ t Almond essence
- 3T Butter (not margarine)
- Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- 50ml Sugar
- 5ml Ground cinnamon
- Amaretti biscuits
- Mix the milk, sugar and salt in pot and bring to boil.
- In the meanwhile beat the egg yolks slowly adding the Maizina.
- Pour this mixture very slowly in the milk mix - I use a hand egg-beater to mix it in - to avoid lumps
- Cook for 5 minutes till cooked.
- Add the almond essence and the butter. Stir well.
- Beat the egg whites until soft peaks start to form then slowly fold this in the custard.
- Please always taste again for seasoning.
- Pour in cups, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and serve with amaretti biscuits.
Hi Gail, will do it over the weekend and put it on.
A
Looks amazing, have never tried melk tert before ever, will try this though,can you do measurements in cups and spoons for 150 grms Sugar and 90 grms mizen and 50 grms sugar and 5 mls cinnamon, have no clue how to do grms. Thanks so much!
Yes
fabulous blog that i just discovered. is maizena cornflour?
thanks Tash! hope youblove it!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe and childhood memories with us. It brings such joy to my heart and makes me want to run home and bake/cook for my family. More importantly, I look forward to trying this out and eating straight out the teacup 🙂
thanks vir die pragtige woorde xxx jy ok? epos my x
Anel, het so baie amper ‘n traan weg gepink. You cherish your mom so much, and its so beautiful how you realise what a precious gift you have. Loved the milktart and the sprinklings of sentiment…! Plucked the heartstrings…. oh and YES, I love the simplicity of this and your unique take on a classic.
Thanks Cath x
Hi Helen Darling! Good to hear from Honkers! For sure – but i would suggest puff pastry but you can use shortcrust as well – or you can take something like tennis biscuits – crush fine- add sugar and cinnamon and melted butter and make a crust. Let me know how it went. x
oh my gosh, my mouth is already watering. gotta try this one!!! 🙂
flipping lekker! I need a recipe to make for my friends here in Hong Kong….think I can use this nyummy mixture in a shortcrust base???? Or a biscuit base but with amaretti as a bit of the biscuit?? ps ek dink ek het ook lief vir jou ma xx