Oahu, Hawaii – Hanauma Bay and Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room – Thursday, June 9, 2011

6-9-11 Soleil and I at Hanuama Bay

Hey Young Chefs!

On Thursday, we went to Hanauma Bay, which used to be a volcano crater. But, it eroded and formed Hanauma Bay. Hanauma Bay has so much coral and fish. It is such a great place to snorkel. It is about 10 miles east of Waikiki.

6-9-11 The beautiful clear water and plenty of coral.

Here I am, kissing a fish. ;<3 LOL

6-9-11 Me kissing a fish. LOL

This a is a wonderful picture of a rooster walking on the beach of Hanauma Bay.

6-9-11 A beautiful rooster at Hanuama Bay

After we go back to our hotel to take showers and change, we eat dinner at Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room for my birthday dinner. It is an upscale restaurant in Macy’s. The first food item I ate was bruschetta.

6-9-11 Eliana makes a perfect bruschetta with tomatoes, chevre, macadamia nut pesto, and olive tapenade

Next we ate a watermelon and tomato salad. It was compliments of the chef. Watermelon and tomatoes taste so good together.

6-9-11 A tomato and watermelon salad compliments of Executive Chef Lance Kosaka from Alan Wong's Pineapple Room

I ate off of everyone’s plate. I had so much food that I can’t remember what I ate. LOL

For dessert they brought me an ice cream cake. Also, we each ordered our own dessert. Plus, we had two palate-cleansing sherbets. We had seven desserts all together. NO JOKE!

6-9-11 Happy Birthday Chef Eliana from Alan Wong's Pineapple Room

This is me and Executive Chef Lance Kosaka. He was so nice. We all liked him a lot. He even gave me a birthday present: He gave me sacred sea salt from the island of Kauai. I was so happy! What a special gift. Thank you Chef Lance!

6-9-11 Me with Executive Chef Lance Kosaka from Alan Wong's Pineapple Room

I had an awesome time at Hanauma Bay and Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room!

Cool Kids Cook and Visit5 Hanauma Bay and Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Carnival Cruise Day 2-Sunday, November 21, 2010

11-21-10 What a beautiful couple! Mom hand beaded her dress with pearls and rhinestones.

Hey Young Chefs!

On November 21st my Nana and Paw Paw renewed their vows on the Carnival Cruise! It was a gorgeous vow renewal. Here is a picture of all the grandchildren, including me, waiting for our turn to walk down the aisle.

11-21-10 The grandchildren process down the aisle for the vow renewal ceremony

(Left to right) Jasmynn, me, Camrynn, Ashlynn, Jourdan, and finally Soleil. We walked down the aisle for Nana. Here is mommy walking Nana down the aisle. Isn’t that sweet?!

11-21-10 Mom had the privilege of walking my Nana down the aisle

After the vow renewal was over, we had the wedding reception. Nana and Paw Paw cut the cake together. There was a lot of food, but we still hadn’t eaten dinner yet, so we didn’t eat a lot. They had fruit, lamb empanadas, egg rolls, and chicken nuggets with a zesty honey mustard. The food was delicious!

11-21-10 I wish you could see how intricately the fruit was carved. Gorgeous!

After the vow renewal, we went to dinner. For the entree I ate my first lobster! It tasted awesome. It also came with shrimp.

11-21-10 Kid Chef Eliana eats her first lobster!

As for dessert, I had the Warm Melting Chocolate Cake. I’m so mad that I didn’t take a picture because it was the best dessert. After dinner we went to our cabins because we were exhausted. We were knocked out! That was a fun night.

Cool Kids Cook and Cruise!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Carnival Cruise Day 1 at Sea-Saturday, November 20, 2010

11-20-10 On board the Carnival Triumph with our Sign & Sail Cards

Hey Young Chefs!

During the Thanksgiving holiday week I went on a Carnival Cruise to Belize, Honduras, and Mexico! It was exciting. I ate a lot of tasty food, had some thrilling adventures, and had the time of my life. (Sing Fergie!) LOL

11-20-10 Taking a picture before we set sail, with New Orleans as our backdrop

We were on the Carnival Triumph. It was my first time on a cruise ship. Boy, was it BIG. On the Lido Deck (Floor 9), there was a humongous screen for an outdoor theater; 4 swimming pools and 5 Jacuzzi tubs; a basketball court; and a putt putt golf course.

11-20-10 Paw Paw enjoys putt putt golf with my cousins, Ashlynn & Camrynn on the top deck of the ship

The view from the top deck was amazing. Here is a picture of the city of New Orleans. Pretty!

11-20-10 A picture of the city of New Orleans from the aft of the top deck of the Carnival Triumph

After the ship set sail, we had dinner and then we went to a family dance party at the Hollywood Dance Club. We even learned a new dance called “The Wobble.” It’s so much fun!

11-20-10 My mom, my cousins and I dance at a family dance party in the Hollywood Dance Club. We learned a new dance called the Wobble!

It was a fun ending to a great first day on the Carnival Triumph. More to come!

Cool Kids Cook and Cruise!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Video Tutorial: Pesto Pizza Muffins – Saturday, July 18, 2009

Hey Young Chefs!

Today, I made Pesto Pizza Muffins. It’s a super simple recipe, perfect for an appetizer, small lunch or snack. It’s perfect for kid parties too! Hope you enjoy the tutorial! Here’s the recipe

Pesto Pizza Muffins

Ingredients:

1 English muffin, halved

1 tbsp. ready-made pesto

1 tbsp. marinara sauce or pizza sauce

1/4 c. mozzarrella cheese

4 slices pepperoni

Directions:

Spread pesto on top of English muffin. Spread marinara sauce on top of pesto. Sprinkle cheese. Top with pepperoni. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese melts and edges of muffin and pepperoni are crisp. Serves 1-2

Cool kids cook so get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana

Ladybug Pizzettas – Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Hey Young Chefs!

I took over dinner tonight and made my original recipe, “Ladybug Pizzettas.” Pizzettas are mini pizzas that are totally tasty. This is a vegetarian dish. Here’s my recipe:

Ladybug Pizzettas
Ingredients:
2 sheets of ready-made thin crust refrigerated pizza dough
1/2 c. pizza sauce
1/2 c. Italian blend (mozzarella, parmesan, asiago, fontina)
4 tbsp. chopped black olives
Fresh basil
Tomato slices

Directions:
Cut circles into pizza dough with large upside-down drinking glass. Place on pizza pan or cookie sheet. Spread sauce on pizza dough. Sprinkle cheese on pizza sauce. Place a large basil leaf on top of cheese. Cover with one tomato slice. Top with black olive ladybug dots. Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until crust is puffy and golden. Makes 16-24 pizzettas, depending on the size of your pizzettas. Serve hot with side salad. Yum! Yum!

Here I am spreading the pizza sauce.

Now I am topping the tomatoes with chopped black olives. See my Food Notes journal next to me? I am following my own recipe!

Look at the finished Ladybug Pizzettas! They are delish! The tomatoes were tender and the pizza dough was crispy. Mommy says that they would make perfect party tapas (appetizers). The basil is the “secret ingredient” that makes these pizzettas awesome. Grown-ups, you’ll love that kids get tons of veggies on this one. Kids, it doesn’t even taste veggie-ish! Make plenty because the grown-ups will be sneaking extra pizzettas behind the kids’ backs! (I saw you, Mommy…)

I hope you enjoy this recipe. Yum! Yum!

Cool kids cook so get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana