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PARTY LIKE A PRINCE

In the week of Prince George’s 9th birthday, who better than leading children’s cookery author Annabel Karmel – joined by her daughter Lara – to create a spread of fun food for the perfect party?

BEAR BURGERS

Makes 4 burgers Takes 25-30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 500g/1lb 2oz lean minced beef

• 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped

• 1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped

• 25g/1oz Parmesan cheese, grated

• 100g/4oz fresh breadcrumbs

• 1 tbsp tomato ketchup

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• I clove garlic, crushed

• Oil, for cooking

To serve

• 4 burger buns, halved

• 4 slices of cheese (e.g. Edam)

• 1 beef tomato, sliced

• Iceberg lettuce leaves

• Tomato ketchup (optional)

To decorate

• Pitted green and black olives

• Ahandful of button mushrooms, sliced

• Cheese slices

1. Measure the burger ingredients into a large bowl. Mix well and using damp hands shape into 4 equal sized burgers.

2. Heat a little oil in a large frying pan. Add the burgers and fry for 5 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through.

3. If liked, toast the buns. If you prefer, serve untoasted. Add a lettuce leaf or two, cheese slice and tomato slice to each of the bun bases and top with a cooked burger. Add a squirt of tomato ketchup, if liked.

4. To make a bear’s face on the top half of the burger bun, slice a black olive into rounds and add 2 rounds to each bun top to make the bear’s eyes. Add 2 mushroom slices to each bun for the ears. Cut a small circle from the stem of a mushroom for the nose and top with thin slices of black olives.