There is something so charming, so inviting, so downright fun about Annabel Karmel’s books that it’s impossible to believe children don’t flock to their recipes in droves – or maybe they will now that the English author’s books are more readily available in this country.
“Favorite Family Meals” (Atria Books, $22.95) is yet another volume imbued with good sense and whimsy that youngsters and parents can appreciate together. Once you present mini English muffin pizzas, it’s just a matter of time before you get them scarfing egg- and tuna-salad bagel “snakes.”
Karmel combines a sense of humor with a strong concern for how kids eat. To make nutrition fun, she incorporates cookie cutters as utensils for easy-to-make meals and snacks: a hamburger is reduced to mini-burgers with cheese stars; a deep-fried combo of finely chopped white fish are “mermaid morsels,” not fish balls; mini-marshmallows anchored with peanut butter between two apple slices become “apple smiles.”
There is something for every preference – meat, fish, fowl, low-fat, vegetarian. This is a book that will bring apple smiles to the whole family.
– Ellen Sweets
Favorite Family Meals by Annabel Karmel
Mini Burgers with Cheese Stars
The apple in these burgers give them a delicately sweet taste and keeps them lovely and moist. Serve burgers without the bun if you prefer.
Makes 12 small burgers
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Mix together all the ingredients for the burgers except the vegetable oil and form into about 12 small burgers. Panfry in oil, broil, or barbecue the burgers. Cut the mini rolls in half and place the burgers on some lettuce and top with a cheese star. Leave out the cheese if you prefer and add some tomato relish or ketchup.
Yummy Fish in Orange Sauce
Makes 4 servings
This is a great way to cook up a fillet of fresh fish in just a few minutes. Since it is so easy, I make it for my own lunch sometimes. For more servings, simply increase the quantities.
INGREDIENTS
Season some flour with a little salt and freshly ground black pepper and coat the fish in the seasonal flour. Melt the butter in a frying pan and sauté the fish for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Mix together the soy sauce and orange juice, pour over the fish, turn up the heat, and cook for about 1 minute.
DIRECTIONS
Apple Smiles
This snack is easy to prepare and will certainly bring a smile to your child’s face! For a healthier variation, use small cubes of cheese instead of mini-marshmellows.
Spread peanut butter on one side of each apple (squeeze a little lemon juice over the apple if not serving immediately). Place four miniature marshmallows on one apple slice and then lay another apple slice, peanut butter side down, on top.
Makes 4 apple smiles
