Karmel - 100 Family Meals

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ANNABEL KARMEL

www.mykitchentable.co.uk

This delicious granola is very versatile. You can have it for breakfast with milk. Its also very good on its own as a snack or layered with yoghurt, honey and fruit. If your child is anti-nuts or allergic then you could substitute pumpkin seeds instead, or double the quantity of raisins.

Serves 68

175g (6oz) rolled oats

70g (2oz) coarsely chopped pecans

20g (oz) shredded/desiccated coconut

tsp salt

60g (2oz) soft brown sugar

2 tbsp canola or sunflower oil

4 tbsp maple syrup

50g (2oz) raisins

Step one Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/gas 2.

Step two Put the oats, pecans, coconut, salt and sugar in a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon.

Step three Whisk the oil and maple syrup together in a jug or small bowl. Pour over the oats and mix well.

Step four Spread out on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake in the centre of the oven for 4045 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, stir in the raisins and leave to cool.

Wholegrain cereals are a good source of iron. However, it is difficult for our bodies to absorb iron from a non-meat source (red meat provides the most easily absorbed form of iron). To improve the absorption of iron from breakfast cereal you need to give your child vitamin C-rich fruit, such as kiwi or berry fruits, or vitamin C-rich juice, such as orange or cranberry juice.

Challah, a plaited Jewish yeast bread made with eggs and butter, is traditionally served on Friday night in Jewish households, and is good for making French toast. Use slightly stale challah; brioche is a good alternative if you cant find any.

Serves 2

Caramelised apples

20g (oz) unsalted butter

2 tbsp caster sugar

2 medium apples, peeled, cored and cut into 12 wedges

French toast

2 thick slices slightly stale white bread, crusts removed

2 eggs

2 tbsp milk

1 tbsp caster sugar

34 drops vanilla essence

knob of butter, for frying

pinch of ground cinnamon, for sprinkling

Step one To make the caramelised apples, melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Add the apple slices and, turning them occasionally, cook for 510 minutes or until soft and just turning golden.

Step two For the French toast, cut the bread into fun shapes like animals or hearts (using cookie cutters), fingers or triangles. Beat the eggs with the milk, half a tablespoon of the caster sugar and the vanilla essence and pour into a shallow dish. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add the knob of butter. Dip the bread into the beaten egg, making sure that it is thoroughly soaked, then fry each piece for 23 minutes or until golden on one side, then flip over and cook for another 23 minutes.

Step three Mix the remaining sugar and the cinnamon together and sprinkle over the hot French toast. Serve the caramelised apples on the side, or between layers of toast.

Instead of caramelised apples, try blueberry compote: put 100g blueberries in a pan, add 1 tablespoon of caster sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice. Heat gently until the blueberries pop open and release their juices, and then simmer for around 23 minutes.

This banana bread is wonderfully moist and is great for breakfast or lunchboxes. This keeps well but you can also wrap slices in plastic wrap and freeze in plastic freezer bags. Many children arent keen on nuts, so you can omit them from this recipe. Nut allergies are also a very real problem.

Cuts into 8 slices

100g (4oz) butter

100g (4oz) brown sugar

1 egg

450g (1lb) bananas, mashed

45ml (3 tbsp) natural yoghurt

5ml (1 tsp) vanilla essence

225g (8oz) plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

teaspoon salt

100g (4oz) raisins

40g (1oz) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Step one Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas 4. Grease and line a 22 x 11 x 7cm (8 x 4 x 2in) loaf tin.

Step two Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy then add the egg and continue to beat until smooth. Add the mashed bananas, yoghurt and vanilla essence.

Step three Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and salt and beat this gradually into the banana mixture. Finally, stir in the raisins and chopped nuts (if using).

Step four Bake for about 1 hour or until a cocktail stick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Welsh rarebit is a slightly enriched version of cheese on toast children will probably enjoy this version of rabbit. It is not suitable for freezing or reheating.

Serves 1

45g (1oz) Cheddar, grated

1 egg yolk

1 tsp cream or milk

23 drops Worcestershire sauce (or to taste)

pepper, to taste