Annabel Karmel

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. In honor of Easter, Annabel shares step-by-step instructions for an egg-themed treat the whole family can make together.

Few things shout Easter more than pastels and eggs. Using kids' favorite breakfast cereal and melted chocolate, they can create perfect nests for candy-coated Easter eggs. With just a few simple steps, and some added cooling time, it won't be long before children and their parents are crunching into these Chocolate Egg Nests. Happy cooking!

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. This week Annabel shares her favorite recipes for kids to make and eat throughout the holiday season.


The traditional foods that are served on Christmas day can sometimes be too much for your little ones with all the rich meat and stuffing. To avoid tears or upset tummies, here are a few Christmas alternatives that are sure to be popular with the wee crowd. Most of these can be made in advance so you can avoid adding another meal to your long list of dishes!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and that there are no disasters in the kitchen!

Happy Cooking!

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. This week Annabel shares her favorite recipes for kids to make and eat throughout the holiday season.

The holiday season is upon us and there is no better time of the year to enjoy being with friends and family, cooking and eating together. Here are some of my favorite holiday-inspired recipes for you to enjoy.

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. Here, Annabel shares step-by-step instructions for apple pie that tots can make for Thanksgiving dinner.


This traditional dessert is a big favorite in North America — and at my house! I've used sharp green Granny Smith apples here, but sweet eating apples work well, too — just add a little less sugar. Following my recipe and step-by-step instructions, kids can take the lead in creating dessert for their holiday meal! Enjoy!

Finger foods are the gateway to self-feeding and the first step toward independence at the dinner table. Kiddie chef extraordinaire Annabel Karmel cooks up all kinds of yummy, family-friendly meals, but the first step is easing your child's transition to solid foods. Here, Karmel provides us with tips and tricks for introducing finger foods to hungry (and grabby) tots.

Dinner is the time of day when families are supposed to come together, eat, and talk about their days. But the dinner hour more often resembles a three-ring circus than a Norman Rockwell painting, as busy family members try to grab a healthy bite between work schedules, sports practices, tutors, and more. Just in time for back-to-school, we're kicking off a Dinnertime Crunch series, rounding up a panel of top-notch chefs to share their favorite 30-minute weeknight dinners that help Mom spend more time with her kids each night. First up is British kiddie chef extraordinaire Annabel Karmel.

Dinner doesn't have to take a full day to prepare. Using leftovers and ethnic sauces, the meal can be pulled together in less than a half-hour. Don't believe us? Check out four of Annabel Karmel's dinner selections. By adding beef, chicken, and fish to kid-favorites like noodles and rice, a meal can be whipped up in a matter of minutes! Best of all, these recipes — which can all be found on Annabel's Essential Guide to Feeding Your Baby & Toddler app are designed for the entire family, so there's no need to play the role of short-order cook for each member of the family!

Patty cake, patty cake! We're going ga ga over chef's different takes on the tot-favorite hamburger. The juicy patties may be considered junk food by some, but when made with fresh, natural ingredients, they can actually be a healthy part of a lil one's meal plan. I asked Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author, for some kid-friendly versions of healthier burgers, and she came back with some drool-worthy creations. Fire up the grill pan and check them out!

Going green this St. Patrick's Day has more to do with your lil one's taste buds than their environmental awareness. Knowing that kids will do virtually anything to avoid putting a green vegetable in their mouths, we've asked some well-known chefs for green veggie recipes that won't have kids turning up their noses. Annabel Karmel is cooking recipes for all of the tots in the family, including a first puree for infants and yummy lasagna for older ones. Check them out!