The first Annabel Karmel book I purchased was her Top 100 Baby Purees. Although I initially decorated the kitchen ceiling and nearby walls with blueberry, the purees were delicious. POD absolutely adored them. We bought Annabel Karmel’s Top 100 Finger Foods and Baby & Toddler Meal Planner after that. Both were excellent.
In a move to make mealtimes more manageable for busy parents, Annabel Karmel MBE has launched Quick and Easy Toddler Recipes. A 144-page full-colour recipe book designed to help hard-working families feed their children a healthy, balanced diet.
There are over 100 recipes included which combine every day kitchen ingredients and simple-to-follow instructions. An added bonus is that the recipes can be whipped up for the entire family. This is great news for the Doves as cooking a single meal is not something we’re very good at.
Mum-of-three Annabel Karmel MBE says: “With parents working harder than ever to keep the family happy and healthy, I wanted to create a new series of recipe books that use fresh, quick and simple ingredients without compromising on taste and nutritional value. What’s more, tired mums and dads can enjoy these recipes too, so there’s clean plates all round!”.
The look and feel of this book is just superb, it’s beautifully designed. It also has chapters focused on key food groups such as fish, pasta, poultry, meat, vegetables and fruit.
The book includes everything from Simple Scrambled Eggs with a serving of Tomato Salsa, Chinese Chicken and Rice, Annabel’s Burgers, Lemon Sole Goujons, Courgette and Carrot Risotto, Apple and Sultana Muffins and Grilled Peach and Raspberry Pancakes.
There are toast topping suggestions and ideas for quick snacks and sandwiches. Mealtime and ingredient shortcuts have also been included.
So many amazing recipes jump out at me – Fresh Haddock Kedgeree, Hot Plum Chicken Wraps, Nasi Goreng with Chicken and Prawns or Mango and Apricot Chicken to name just a few.
The desserts look divine and whilst I’d quite happily make all of them, we settled on a Peach and Raspberry Crumble. POD wanted to help but I had to banish our toddler when she attempted to eat the butter and use a peach as a ball.
Peach and Raspberry Crumble (serves 4)
Ingredients: A knob of butter, for frying 2 large ripe peaches, chopped into cubes 50g (2oz) light brown sugar 150g (5oz) raspberries Crumble topping: 150g (5oz) plain flour 75g (3oz) butter, cubed 50g (2oz) brown sugar Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/350°F/Gas 4. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the peaches, then sprinkle over the sugar. Cook, stirring gently, over the heat for 2 minutes. Add the raspberries, then tip the fruit into 4 individuals ramekins.
Put the flour and butter into a bowl and rub together until it looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, then sprinkle the crumble on top of the fruit.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until lightly golden and bubbling around the edges.
This dessert was super to easy to make even with a toddler helping mix the topping. I ate one of the crumbles as soon as it came out of the oven – it was wonderful. I can’t wait to cook other recipes in this book, I’m sure they’ll taste just as good.
Annabel Karmel’s Quick and Easy Toddler Recipes (RRP £9.99) will be published by Ebury Press on 20th June 2013. For more information, please visit http://www.eburypublishing.co.uk/
We received a copy of Annabel Karmel’s Quick & Easy Toddler Recipes for the purpose of this review. All opinions and photographs are my own.
Stuff toddlers – gimme that crumble it looks great!
It was absolutely delicious – might have to make some more tomorrow 🙂
It all sounds delicious! I love the idea of simple and nutritious plus a whole lot of yummy! I think the kids would have to be quick before Mummy and Daddy get their hands on the goods! Great review x
Thank you Xandi – there are so many amazing recipes in this book, I love it. The crumble was divine 🙂
I do have adored her recipes too so good for fussy eaters.
Thanks Claire – this new book is great. Really good food for adults too 🙂
Right, that’s our afternoon activity sorted! I’ll get this book when it’s out – her weaning books were my bible.
You definitely should Nell – it’s fantastic. The meals are good for everyone too which is an added bonus 🙂
Your photos are lovely. I have always rated Annabel Karmel’s books. When J was little I used to blend purees and freeze them in ice trays to be defrosted later. It was actually easier than it sounded. Her recipes score with me because, as you say, they are nutritious and (relatively) simple to make. Beats the processed stuff hands down and worth the (little bit of) extra effort!
Thanks Sarah – I too used to blend purees and freeze them in ice trays. After the blueberry on the ceiling incident, it went pretty well! This book really is excellent – I’ll be trying out some more recipes very soon 🙂
This looks lovely. perfect for dinner parties never mind toddlers!
Thanks Alison – there are some wonderful recipes in this book. No doubt we’ll be trying more very soon 🙂
Ooh raspberries and peaches – what’s not to like. Sounds delish.
It so was Angela absolutely divine – I ate one as soon as it came out of the oven 🙂
We’ve got that very book. It’s brilliant – those pics look extremely appetising even to me! Thanks for linking up with #recipeoftheweek 🙂 There’s a new one live now (look for the quiche on the home page!), if you want to join in x
It’s great isn’t it, we love it. Would be great to do more recipes 🙂