One week to go ladies!

Christmas!
The season is not only celebrated by Christians all over the world but a season that is now also synonymous with Santa, Christmas trees, gifts, and a feast of stuffed turkey, Christmas pudding, and fruit cake.

Christmas meal!
A meal of togetherness and for the woman to spoil their family, showcase their skills, and carry on with family traditions.

Have you planned your Christmas meal?

If you have not yet started planning your Christmas meal you better start soon. By planning, you will not only avoid the stress of a rush to the shops when they are at their busiest but it will also give you time to relax and enjoy the time with your loved ones.

I have learned two things over the years;

1. I make sure that I prepare a dish nominated by each person who will be attending. By doing this there is at least one dish that will be to their liking. You will be surprised how many choose the same dish.
2. I take the easy way out by making the easiest recipes but I take time in making them tasteful and a feast for the eye.

One of the family’s favorite dishes is “Peppermint Crisp Tart”, a traditional South African fridge tart dated as far back as the 1960’s and a winner by far!
I can remember my grandma and later my mom making it for us.
As it was my turn to make it I experimented and ended with such an easy recipe that hardly cost any money and that saves me a lot of time.

Today I will be sharing this recipe with you in case you have not yet planned your desserts and you are looking for that “showstopper” that not only looks amazing but also taste divine.

Peppermint Crisp Tart

Ingredients:

• 2 packets Tennis biscuits or any coconut biscuits
• 1 can caramel condensed milk
• 500 ml cream
• 1 large peppermint crisp bar

Caramel condensed milk

If you don’t have caramel condensed milk there are three ways in which you can turn ordinary condensed milk into yummy thick caramel condensed milk or “dulce de leche”.

1. You can boil the tin in a pot on the stove
2. You can cook the condensed milk in the oven
3. The quickest way is to microwave it

I am not going to share with you how to do the above as there are ample methods online that tell you exactly how to do it.

What is nice is that in South Africa we will get “limited editions” of mint-flavored caramel condensed milk which is normally available over the Christmas season.

Peppermint Crisp chocolate bars

Peppermint Crisp is a milk chocolate bar filled with a multitude of thin cylinders of mint-flavoured 'cracknel'. Invented in South Africa by Wilson-Rowntree in the 1960s, it was eventually bought out and manufactured by Nestlé South Africa - Wikipedia

You can use any chocolate bar as long as it has peppermint in it, it is crunchy and you can see the bright green. I used a chocolate from Cadbury.

How to make the tart in 5 easy steps

1. Whisk the cream in a bowl. Once stiff add the caramel condensed milk and mix well
2. Crush or grate the peppermint crisp bar
3. Layer Tennis biscuits at the bottom of a pie dish or tray
4. Top the biscuits with some of the cream mixture and sprinkle some of the peppermint crisp chocolate pieces over the topping. Make sure that you leave enough of the cream mixture and peppermint chocolate for a second layer
5. Chill in the fridge for a few hours, slice, and serve. You can also decorate the tart with mint leaves, cherries, etc. to give it the Christmas feeling

And there you have it, a South African hero that you can now take to your Christmas table.

Enjoy!