Karmel - Annabel Karmels Busy Mums Cookbook

TO MY CHILDREN, NICHOLAS, LARA AND SCARLETT

I love nothing more than seeing dog-eared, tomato-stained copies of my cookbooks. Its incredibly satisfying to know that my recipes are relied upon time and time again, by families all over the world.

Im also taken aback when new mothers bring me dishevelled first editions of my Complete Baby & Toddler Meal Planner to sign, telling me this was the bible their mum used when they were a baby... and a toddler... and even in their teenage years. In fact, countless mums fondly relay their stories of rustling up my Chicken and Apple Balls for their grown-up dinner parties, or cooking my First Beef Bolognese for their husbands dinner because thats what he likes. One mum recently told me that her daughter will only eat my Mini Cottage Pies from the Complete Baby & Toddler Meal Planner ; her daughter is 20 and studying law at Exeter Iniversity, so she freezes and hand-delivers batches once a month.

If Id known 25 years ago, when I was experimenting with different foods to get my baby son to eat, that Id be inspiring generations of families with my recipes, Id never have believed it.

Demystifying cooking for babies is one thing, but to then find that my recipes are being dished up for dinner parties, grown-up lunchboxes and student survival is a whole different ball game, and one that I wanted to address: delicious, simple recipes that will wow every family member, whatever their age.

Many of us stick with what we know and trust when it comes to cooking, especially as our lives are busier than ever. Yet the result is often a collection of six or seven failsafe recipes that families rely upon week in, week out.

I often wonder how many cookbooks are bought and displayed, but wind up collecting dust on the shelf. Im sure I could set up a whole bookshop of beautifully pristine cookbooks I never use. I think many of us like the idea of taking on the Hestons and Ramsays of this world but, in reality, we feel safer and happier when we know what were doing. Yet cooking something new doesnt have to be scary or time consuming. And to prove it, Ive created a cookbook which uses a wide range of ingredients some familiar and some you wouldnt necessarily think of using to encourage variety and bags of flavour without the faff.

You might have thought that duck, clams and quinoa were best left in the hands of the professionals, but I beg to differ. They are actually simple ingredients to find and cook with, without the need for flamboyant recipes or baffling cooking methods.

Simplicity is the common theme that runs through this book. Just like my cookbooks for babies and toddlers, every recipe is broken down into simple, manageable steps. And Ive split them into categories that every busy family needs 20-minute recipes, meals using no more than six ingredients, dishes you can prepare ahead, lunchboxes and snacks, storecupboard meals and ideas for entertaining.

In my book, youll find simple classics which have stood the test of time, such as Dover Sole with Herb Butter (see ), which were first served to me by a friend in Australia who invited me to her home for dinner.

Many of my recipes are inspired by the people around me. Take the Power Seed Bars (see ).

And then there are my home-grown recipes such as the Sweet Potato Curls (see ), which were the by-product of one shiny new spiraliser and one very bored daughter one Sundayafternoon. Im not usually one for faddy gadgets, but I definitely believe the spiralizer should be a kitchen staple. You feed in raw veggies to produce perfectly formed curls and twirls which can be cooked in next to no time and it makes food prep a lot more fun.

My children have always played a big part in my cooking, and what busy family life has taught me is that prepping ahead is the key to stress-free mealtimes. You never know what each day might throw at you, so having whole dishes or parts of one prepared in advance is a godsend. In fact, my 25-year-old son has recently benefitted from a few deliveries of my Mediterranean Oven-baked Chicken Drumsticks (see ). Hes just moved into a new flat with a friend, so Ive been stocking him up on frozen batches of his favourites. Nick is not a bad cook, but you never stop worrying that theyre eating properly (especially Nick, as his fussiness got me into the business of food in the first place). Although apparently Ive been catering for most of his friends too, as the requests are coming in thick and fast!

Honestly, my kitchen is like a caf, with kids, friends and family (that includes my three dogs) buzzing in and out. But I wouldnt have it any other way.

Whilst my two girls havent yet flown the nest, they both lead incredibly busy lives, dashing around like whirlwinds, so have been my inspiration for creating a range of 20-minute meals, such as the Beef with Oyster Sauce, Peppers and Broccoli (see ). Now shes a cauli-convert and we cant cook enough of the stuff.

For me, no family cookbook would be complete without simple ideas for lunchboxes and snacks. Packed lunches have always been a big deal in our household; the girls still leave the house for work armed with a stash of healthy snacks, and healthy lunchboxes to keep them going. Laras favourite is my Italian Rice Salad (see ), a mix of chicken, rice, tomatoes, spring onion and toasted pine nuts with a dressing flavoured with freshly grated Parmesan. But its not always easy to get into the habit of preparing lunches for school or work. And lets be honest, it can be all too easy to ditch the soggy ham sandwich in favour of the delights that the local deli or caf has to offer, but nothing tastes as good as your own home-prepared food. Knowing what to make is the biggest challenge, so Ive done all the hard work for you, with a series of really simple recipes that will have you and your family looking forward to lunch.

Finally, I believe in enjoying a little of what you fancy, and given my love of baking, Ive rounded up some of my favourite cookies, cakes and desserts. If I do say so myself, the Plum and Almond Cake (see ) is definitely one for that grown-up dinner party.

I hope my straight-talking recipes inspire you to change up your mealtimes and have a go at cooking with new ingredients. I want this book to become worn and well thumbed, with pages bookmarked, starred and folded. I want you to discover new dishes together as a family, and share the recipes with your friends. And dont forget to pass it down to your children and their children.

NOTE

All my recipes have been tested in a fan oven. If your oven is a conventional one, simply increase the temperature by 20C.

People are always fascinated to know what ingredients I keep to hand, so I thought Id share with you those I regularly rely on to bring mealtimes to life in a hurry.