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A Jewish custard tart (‘Jodentert’) consists of seven layers of giant cookies with a vanilla custard fi lling in-between.
The BUZZard chatted to resident ‘cake artist’ Nicolene Engelbrecht, starting the conversation with the question:
‘How did your family end up in George?’ ‘
My husband, Nick, is a PSG advisor and, apart from the Pretoria branch, he is also co-owner of PSG in George and Mossel Bay. Like so many others, he commutes between here and Pretoria, where both of us were born and raised. ‘We were school sweethearts who grew up in the western part of Pretoria; we moved to the eastern side of town and eventually found our home in Montana Park, where we also raised our children.
‘Pretoria remains close to my heart because our family and friends are still there, as well as our eldest son, daughter-in-law, and two little grandsons aged one and three.’
On boys and clever
Buddy Eduan, the youngest of the Engelbrecht brood, matriculated last year and is studying from home through Akademia in the Management field. While studying, he is also pursuing his passion for golf. Extremely enthusiastic about the sport, Eduan practises as often as possible. ‘He has great perseverance and is an incredibly positive person. His Jack Russell, Buddy, is our four-legged child with an enormous personality: smart and well-trained, albeit he barks a lot. I suppose that’s just his protective instinct …
‘Our son Nico is a registered civil engineer and designed the recently constructed Eden Meander circle, as well as changes currently taking place in the parking area. It makes me feel close to them whenever I drive there – a very special feeling.’
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Camera and cake recipes are always handy
Nicolene says her primary passions include the beauty of nature in all its intricate detail. ‘I adore mountains, trees, and clouds. My camera is always on the ready to capture the beauty that God allows us to see daily. I also enjoy painting and creating meaningful prophetic art, practising weekly to learn new techniques and develop my own unique style.
‘Then there is my great love for baking and decorating cakes. This is where I find true joy; I’m at my happiest when doing it. My love for baking comes from childhood, when my sister and I baked with my mother every second weekend. We took turns cracking the eggs – and deciding who got to lick the empty mixing bowl!
‘Our grandmother on my father’s side was also an exceptional baker. You could always find her in the kitchen with the radio on, a good cup of boerekoffie, and something baking in the oven. ‘She supplied church bazaars with various baked goods, and was well known for her delicious koeksisters, Jodentert*, and ginger and pineapple flan tarts – something one rarely sees these days, because very few people know about them any more.
‘I have Ouma’s files with all her handwritten recipes – very sentimental and precious to me. My father, who lives in Hartbeespoort, and I regularly try to perfect her Jodentert just the way she made it; we’ve already mastered her Jewish custard tarts. ‘My mother is also still alive and lives with my sister in Secunda. My sis and I completed a comprehensive baking and decorating course, where a wonderful vanilla and chocolate cake recipe was shared with us.
‘My red velvet cake is based on a recipe from a well-known South African chef. I got my carrot cake recipe from a friend’s mother, who baked for home industries in her day. I tasted the carrot cake at her wedding and was speechless. ‘Most of my cake tins are new, but my cupcake, bread, flan, and Jewish custard tart pans all belonged to my grandmother. Sometimes old, well-used pans are more beautiful – as if they could tell many stories. They have character, just like a well-used personal recipe book with dashes of dough and a coffee ring here and there.’
Baking: yesteryear and now
Today’s products and technology help to perfect a beautifully decorated cake. Machines can now cut edible prints with great precision, creating a much neater finish, while personalised cake toppers can be laser-cut to perfection, Nicolene explains. ‘Of course, a good mixer is essential to make baking a pleasure. Mine was a gift from my husband when I turned 40 – probably the best present he’s ever given me, apart from my children.’
Kingswood = ‘Community’
‘The Kingswood community is made up of a wonderful group of people who support one another in their small businesses. People look out for each other – when you need a good supplier or simply some information, everyone is willing to help.’ Kingswood is also where Nicolene first introduced her cakes, soon after having moved to George.
‘Starting with fellow residents, I managed to build up a new client base, and so my small business grew through sheer passion. But if someone asks for a “plain cake” … well, I simply can’t do it. It must be decorated and fit for a high tea table. I just love the theme cakes (click on www.instagram.com/e.nicolene/ and scroll down).
I advertise on the Kingswood group and work mainly from home.’ She says the most beautiful nature pics are shared among fellow Kingswood photographers, ‘with exceptional support and enthusiasm for our resident herd of springbok. I must just mention that our new clubhouse is a real luxury, perfectly positioned with the mountains right in front of you. How blessed we are to have this on our doorstep! ‘One is encouraged and motivated to play golf on our beautiful course, and the safety of the estate creates opportunities for our children to enjoy themselves and experience a healthy outdoor lifestyle.’
Contact Nicolene on 082 561 7837 for further information. * A Jewish custard tart consists of seven layers of giant cookies with a vanilla custard filling in between.
