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Fun and healthy foods for kids

Engage those pint-sized eaters with these nutritious and creative meals

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  Fun food for kids
July 7: Cookbook author Annabel Karmel offers recipes that add some extra fun along with nutrition to your children's meals.

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TODAY
updated 12:04 p.m. ET July 7, 2008

Picky eaters can make even the most patient parent give up in the kitchen, but one British mom says she's found the secret to engage those pint-sized critics. Annabel Karmel, the author of 16 children's cookbooks, including "Favorite Family Meals," offers delicious dishes that are not only fun but healthy for your kids. On the menu: "Hidden vegetable tomato sauce" and "pita pizza faces." Start trying them at home!

"Hidden vegetable tomato sauce"
Annabel Karmel

A hearty tomato sauce is a great way to sneak vegetables into your child's diet. This sauce works well for mini pizzas, as well as for spaghetti with turkey meatballs. It can easily be made and then frozen for future use.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
1/2 leek, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 red pepper, chopped
1/2 carrot, peeled and chopped
1/2 zucchini, chopped
14-oz. can chopped tomatoes
2/3 cup vegetable stock
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon torn basil leaf

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the onion and leek for approximately three minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the garlic and sauté for one minute. Add the red pepper, carrot and zucchini for a further three minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the tomato paste, tomato puree and caster sugar and stir for approximately one minute.

Add the tinned chopped tomato puree and sugar and stir for approximately one minute.

Add the chopped tomatoes and stock and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Let cool and then puree in blender.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


"Pita pizza faces"
Annabel Karmel

Makes 8 pita pizza faces

Everyone loves pizza so why not have a party where the guests design their own pizza faces? The more toppings, the more veggies they eat!

INGREDIENTS

4 mini-pitas
Tomato Sauce
Cherry tomatoes
Canned corn
Sweet peppers
Olives
Diced ham
Pepperoni
Basil
Mushrooms

DIRECTIONS

Prepare the tomato sauce as in the hidden vegetable tomato sauce. Split the pitas in half and toast lightly until crisp.

Spread each pita base with about one and a half tablespoons of tomato sauce — make sure the sauce is spread right to the edge.

Scatter over some grated cheese.

Choose your favorite toppings and place on top of the cheese.

Try making faces using the toppings.

Broil for about 2 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES



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