Southern Food and Beverage Museum Fresh from the Garden Salsa Demonstration – Friday, June 17, 2011

6-17-11 The SOFAB Summer Camp young chefs

Hey Young Chefs!

On Friday, I demonstrated my Fresh from the Garden Salsa for a group of summer campers. Here I am talking to them about what will go into the salsa and what these ingredients are.

6-17-11 Kid Chef Eliana demonstrates Fresh from the Garden Salsa at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans

After I finished making my regular salsa, I made a pineapple salsa, inspired by my recent trip to Hawaii, that everyone raved about. It was so good.

6-17-11 Kid Chef Eliana demonstrates puts lime juice into her blender

When I finished, I signed autographs for the campers. They were so amazed that I had my own cookbook.

6-17-11 Kid Chef Eliana signs autographs at SOFAB

The campers said that they never would have thought to put pineapple in salsa. Did you know that tomato is a fruit? It grows like a fruit, but people treat it like a veggie. I had such a great time talking to the campers.

Here is a cool picture of me with some mardi gras bead art done by elementary school students at a local school. Wow!

6-17-11 Kid Chef Eliana with a giant king cake made out of mardi gras beads!

Cool Kids Cook and Make Salsa!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Leesville Parish Library, Leesville, Louisiana – June 1, 2011

6-1-11 Kid Chef Eliana performs her song, Cool Kids Cook!

Hey Young Chefs!

Less than a week ago, my mom, Author & Storyteller Dianne de Las Casas, and I did a summer reading program in Leesville, LA. After she told her stories, I sang my new song, “Cool Kids Cook!” with the kids’ help. When I finished with my song, the kids clapped and cheered for me.

I sold and signed cookbooks and took a picture with this little girl, named Victoria. Her mom bought my cookbook. Little Victoria was tired so that’s she looks sad.

6-1-11 Kid Chef Eliana takes a picture with little Victoria, who looks only slightly amused. LOL

This is me, my mom, and Ms. Flo, the Leesville librarian. We had a great time. It was a lot of fun!

6-1-11 Kid Chef Eliana and Dianne de Las Casas with Flo the chilrens libdrarian in Leesville

Cool Kids Cook and Get Creative in the Kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Book Signing: Kid Chef Eliana signs at Barnes & Noble in Baton Rouge-Saturday, December 4, 2010

12-4-10 Kid Chef Eliana signs cookbooks at Barnes & Noble Bluebonnet in Baton Rouge

Hey Young Chefs!

On Saturday, December 4, 2010, I had a book signing at Barnes & Noble on Bluebonnet in Baton Rouge. My mom performed The Gigantic Sweet Potato with Ms. Marita Gentry, her illustrator, and I got to sign my cookbook, Eliana Cooks!, next to my mom. It was fun and we had a nice crowd.

12-4-10 Kid Chef Eliana signs Eliana Cooks at Barnes & Noble

I look forward to more book signings! Join my Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/elianacooksfanpage for updates on upcoming events! You can also catch me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/KidChefEliana

Hope to see you soon!

Cool kids cook and get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Book Signing at A Tisket A Tasket in New Orleans – Saturday, November 13, 2010

11-13-10 Kid Chef Eliana poses with her sign at A Tisket A Tasket

Hey Young Chefs!

This past weekend, I had a book signing at A Tisket A Tasket gift store in the French Quarter in New Orleans. I signed books with my mom, Children’s Author & Storyteller Dianne de Las Casas.

11-13-10 Dianne de Las Casas and Kid Chef Eliana signing books at A Tisket A Tasket in the French Quarter

The night before, I baked mini Devil’s Food Monster Muffins from my cookbook, which I passed out as samples, with apple cider at my book signing. It was crowded and I sold tons of books. In fact, I sold out!

11-13-10 There is a big crowd for Kid Chef Eliana!

People were buying copies as Christmas presents for the young chefs in their lives. Very cool!

11-13-10 Dianne de Las Casas and Kid Chef Eliana signing books

It was a lot of fun and I loved working with Ms. Lisa Jones and Ms. Judy. They are so sweet. So next time you are in the French Quarter, stop by A Tisket A Tasket!

Cool kids cook and get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana

My Cookbook, Eliana Cooks!, debuts in October! – Friday, September 3, 2010

Eliana Cooks! Cookbook

Hey Young Chefs!

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted but I have been working very hard! Lots of stuff has been going on…

First, my big announcement… My first cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids comes out next month. I am debuting it at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

That’s the other BIG news! I was selected to be one of 13 Latinos photographed for an exhibit called “New Orleans Con Sabor Latino,” which means “New Orleans with Latin Flavor.” As part of the exhibit, I am doing one of 6 cooking demonstrations this fall. I will be demonstrating Cajun Cuban Sandwiches, which the audience gets to eat! Delicioso!

And guess what else? My sister, Soleil, who is a graphic designer, redesigned my logo. I LOVE it. It’s sooooo adorable!

New Eliana Cooks Logo

My website will be freshened up too. I am also in the process of trying to bottle my new spice called “Sabor,” which means “Flavor” in Spanish. It’s an all-purpose seasoning salt, great on everything! I plan to have a whole line of Eliana’s Sabor Spices!

I hope to post a new video soon! Remember, cool kids cook and get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana

Eliana Meets Iron Chef Cat Cora – Saturday, October 25, 2008

Hey Young Chefs!

Today, I met awesome Iron Chef Cat Cora!! Macy’s department store had a grand opening at the Esplanade Mall in Kenner, Louisiana. To celebrate, Chef Cat Cora cooked some delicious dishes. She is a chef on Macy’s Culinary Council. Here is Cat Cora cooking crab cakes. Yum! Yum!

Don’t worry. The balls above her head didn’t fall down and crush her. LOL Here is Chef Cat Cora’s recipe for Crabcake Sandwiches with Avocado Salsa and Mango Coulis. This recipe appears in her book, Cat Cora’s Kitchen: Favorite Meals for Family and Friends.

Crabcake Sandwiches
Ingredients:
2 c. canola oil
1/2 lb. crab meat
3 tbsp. red onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp. scallions, thinly sliced
1 1/2 tbsp. red bell pepper, finely diced
1/4 c. mayonnaise or aioli
1 tbsp. Tabasco
1 1/4 c. bread crumbs
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 c. flour
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions:
In a 10 inch saute’ pan, heat 1 cup canola oil on high heat. Test readiness with a piece of bread. Turn heat to medium. Check temperature with thermometer. It should read 375 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl, combine crab, onion, scallions, bell pepper, mayonnaise, Tabasco, bread crumbs, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Mix until fully incorporated. Make 3 oz. cakes and dredge in the flour, then egg and the remaining bread crumbs. Lay the cakes in the oil and pan fry for 5-6 minutes. Remove and place on a paper towel and season with salt in a mixing bowl.

To serve crab cakes, spoon puree’ onto the plate in a small pool. Slice the cake in half and lay the bottom portion in the puree’. Spoon avocado on top and place the top of the cake on the avocado like a sandwich. Top with a small amount of avocado and garnish with a cilantro leaf. Serves 4-6.

Avocado Salsa
Ingredients:
2 avocados
2 tbsp. lime juice
1 tbsp. cilantro
2 tbsp. red onion, finely diced
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:
In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.

Mango Coulis
Ingredients:
2 mangoes
2 c. water
1 tsp. confectioner’s sugar

Directions:
In a blender, combine all ingredients and mix until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Here is Cat Cora with the plated food. She also made Basque Rubbed Shrimp Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce. My favorite dish was definitely the crabcake sandwiches. Delish!

Cat Cora talked during her cooking demonstration. She told us that she was from Mississippi. She’s a Southern girl, like me. She has two children, both boys, 18 months and 5 years old. They are lucky to have a chef for a mom! I bet they grow up with the best meals!

After Cat Cora cooked, Mommy and I met her. She gave me a high five and a hug. We told her about my blog and we hope she comes and visits! I can’t wait to try some of the recipes in her cookbook that she autographed for me! I especially want to make Spanokopita and Milk Pie! Iron Chef Cat Cora says, “Keep Cooking!”

It was so exciting to meet Cat Cora. I can’t wait to watch Food Network’s show, Iron Chef, and see Cat Cora win!

Remember, cool kids cook so get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana

Cookbook Review: Cooking with Herb the Vegetarian Dragon

Hey Young Chefs! I got this book on a recent trip to the library. Here is my review…

Cooking with Herb the Vegetarian Dragon, A Cookbook for Kids
By Jules Bass
Illustrated by Debbie Harter
Herb is a vegetarian dragon. He doesn’t eat meat. This funny dragon shares, yummy and wacky recipes such as Gran-Ma-Ma-Flora’s Spaghetti Sandwich (it’s really an Italian fritata – prounounced free-TA-ta) and Herb’s Radical Dragon Salsa. I love the bright illustrations with crazy dragons on every page.

Get fired up! Get smokin’! Get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana