Matriculant Madeline Kriel believes she has a flop-proof plan as she juggles Hamlet, textbooks and a calculator, a rolling pin, measuring spoons and flour to tackle The Great South African Bake Off.
Kriel, 18, is the youngest contestant in the third season of the reality show, which starts on October 17 at 8pm on BBC Lifestyle.
The country's 12 best amateur bakers must impress judges through nine weeks of whisking, sifting, piping and, of course, baking, to win.
Kriel, from Bredasdorp in the Western Cape, believes nothing beats her classic chocolate cake. She prepared one for the audition, but it flopped.
"The cake didn't want to come out the pan and my cream turned to butter. I had to sell it with words. I did not think I would make it. When I got the second call I was so surprised. I thought I made the worst cake ever, but I think my personality and flair for trying to fix a situation won them over," she said.Kriel said this showed her the possibilities if you put your mind to it. "Just trying your best is the best in the end to succeed in life."
Her family moved to a farm when she was eight and she took over baking from her mother, making birthday cakes and desserts for family and friends.
She said her younger sister, Helena, urged her to enter the competition.
She said it was all about balance, juggling academics, cultural activities, sport and a social life."My matric exam is very important. Even when I bake I study while waiting for the cake to bake. Entering the bake-off was a good thing to do now. I realised I have the potential to do something like this. I will be able to say I was on The Great South African Bake Off. It can open doors for me. And being able to say I did it in my matric year shows I can handle almost any situation."
On the other end of the age scale is 56-year-old Johannesburg labour and HR consultant Desmond Solomon. His love for baking comes from his Lebanese ancestry.
As a boy Solomon spent Sundays at his grandmother's home in Krugersdorp where he made traditional bakes and desserts.
"I have a love for good food and bakes. If my mom didn't want to bake, I would go into the kitchen and do it myself. I am the king of chiffon cakes and enjoy making baklavas and Lebanese pastries."
When first asked to bake a chiffon cake, he didn't know how.
"I used about 200 eggs trying to perfect the recipe. I baked and it flopped, and fell, and flopped, and fell. Eventually I got the perfect chiffon cake and for years I have been baking chiffon cakes," said Solomon...