Natchitoches, Louisiana – June 1, 2011

6-1-11 Lasyones Restaurant

Hey Young Chefs!

I went to Lasyones Meat Pie Restaurant in Natchitoches, LA. They make the best meat pies ever!!! if you’re wondering what a meat pie is, a meat pie is made of beef, pork, and other spices stuffed inside of a pie-like crust. My meat pie came with a side of dirty rice and a dipping sauce.

6-1-11 Lasyones famous Nachitoches meat pie

This is me, Travis Newton (left), and Dwayne Cross (right). These are the cooks behind the Natchitoches meat pie at Lasyones.

6-1-11 The two cooks behind the secret meat pie recipe

After Lasyones, we went to an ice cream shop/surrey renting shop. I got Banana Pudding in a cone! It was delicious!!!

6-1-11 Banana Pudding in a cone

This is me and my mom about to ride a surrey. A surrey is like a four wheeled bike. It was really fun riding the surrey with my mom. Half way through the ride, I noticed I wasn’t even steering. LOL.

6-1-11 Me and mom get ready to ride a two person surrey in Natchitoches

I had a fun time in Natchitoches. I love going to Natchitoches every year. This will be our last time for summer reading. I will still go to Natchitoches just for the meat pies!!!

Cool Kids Cook and Go to Natchitoches!

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

Kid Chef Eliana Demonstrates Salsa at the Westbank Regional Library – Saturday, May 21, 2011

5-21-11 Kid Chef Eliana gets ready for a Mexican Fiesta, demonstrating her Fresh from the Garden Salsa at the West Bank Regional Library in Harvey, Louisiana

Hey Young Chefs!

Yesterday, I was at the West Bank Regional Library in Harvey, Louisiana doing a program sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of West Jefferson. There was a great article in The Times-Picayune newspaper written about me! The cool thing is that the library is down the street from where I live! The Kiwanis Club is doing a program called “Reading Around the World.” I was presenting Mexico. First I started with a song I wrote when I was 5 years old called “Hola, Hola.” Then I did a Powerpoint presentation on my travels to Mexico.

5-21-11 Kid Chef Eliana presents a Powerpoint on Mexico and shows the kids artifacts from Mexico. She's holding a mask made from abalone shell.

I showed them pictures from Cancun and Cozumel.

5-21-11 Kid Chef Eliana shows the audience Mexican hand-painted clay pottery

After my Powerpoint slide show, it was Fiesta time! I demonstrated “Fresh from the Garden Salsa” from my cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids.

5-21-11 Kid Chef Eliana puts ingredients into her Ninja blender for her Fresh from the Garden salsa

After demonstrating how to make the salsa, everyone got to taste it with tortilla chips. Sabroso! Delicious! Then I signed cookbooks and postcards for the kids.

5-21-11 Kid Chef Eliana autographs cookbooks and postcards

We passed out business cards, postcards, and coloring sheets.

5-21-11 Angel does a great job on her Eliana Cooks coloring sheet!

This little girl, Mya, was my biggest fan! Her dad said that she had never tasted tomatoes in her life. Because of my demonstration, she ate salsa (and tomatoes) for the very first time! Yay, Mya!

5-21-11 Kid Chef Eliana with big fan, Mya

We played salsa music and everyone danced. It was tons of fun!

5-21-11 The audience danced around the sombrero

A special thank you to Ms. Bridgette Becnel of The Kiwanis Club of West Jefferson for organizing this event and inviting me to the West Bank Regional Library. Ole’!

5-21-21 Kid Chef Eliana with Angel and Bridgette Becnel of the Kiwanis Club of West Jefferson

Cool kids cook and get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Kid Chef Eliana’s Cooking Class at Barnes & Noble – Saturday, April 30, 2011

4-30-11 Kid Chef Eliana gets ready to teaching a Mother's Day Breakfast cooking class at Barnes & Noble in Harvey, LA

Hey Young Chefs!

On Saturday, April 30, 2011, I taught a cooking class at Barnes and Noble in Harvey, Louisiana. I taught kids how to make a Mother’s Day Breakfast. On the menu was Cup O’Breakfast and Sparkling Pomegranate Punch from my cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids. Cup O’Breakfast is layers of potatoes, sausage and scrambled eggs in a clear glass. It is garnished with cheddar cheese. First I sauteed the potatoes, making my Garlic Cumin Potatoes from my cookbook.

5-2-11 Kid Chef Eliana sautees her garlic cumin potatoes

At the same time, I was cooking pork sausage. Mmmmm! After cooking scrambled eggs, it was time to plate the creation.

4-30-11 Kid Chef Eliana plates her Cup O-Breakfast

After making the Cup O’Breakfast, I showed everyone a quick, easy and pretty drink – Sparkling Pomegranate Punch.

4-30-11 Kid Chef Eliana makes sparkling pomegranate punch

Then my mom, Author and Storyteller Dianne de Las Casas, taught the kids how to fold two different napkins. She also showed them a cool, creative way to make a breakfast tray… with a pizza pan and a cookie sheet!

4-30-11 After teaching kids how to fold a napkin, the food is arranged on a pizza pan and presented. Gorgeous!!

Both of my grandmothers were there and we gave the two breakfast trays to them. My Nana and Abuela both enjoy their Cup O’Breakfast!

4-30-11 Kid Chef Eliana's grandmothers enjoy their early Mother's Day Cup O'Breakfast

Then it was time for for the kids to make their own Cup O’Breakfast with their moms!

4-30-11 Moms and their kids make Cup O'Breakfast at the Kid Chef Eliana food station

After we all ate, my cousins, Camrynn and Jasmynn, and I performed a dance we made up to the song, “Pretty Girl Rock,” Keri Hilson. It was so much fun!

4-30-11 Kid Chef Eliana and her cousins, Jasmynn and Camrynn, put on a Pretty Girl Rock dance show

I had a blast at Barnes & Noble in Harvey. A special thank you to Stacey Hensley, CRM, for organizing the event!

Cool kids cook and get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Cooking Demonstration at Strehle Elementary – Thursday, April 21, 2011

4-21-11 Kid Chef Eliana gets ready to do a cooking demonstration of her Fresh from the Garden Salsa at Strehle Elementary in Avondale, LA for 5th grade students

Hey Young Chefs!

This past Thursday, I had a cooking demonstration at Strehle Elementary in Avondale, Louisiana. I demonstrated “Fresh from the Garden Salsa” from my cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids, for all of the 5th grade.

4-21-11 Kid Chef Eliana pours salt for her salsa

I did separate demonstrations for each of the 5th grade classes. There were three classes in all. After the demonstration, the students tasted samples of my salsa with tortilla chips. Many of them said, “This is the best salsa I’ve ever had!”

4-21-11 5th graders watch as Kid Chef Eliana demonstrates her Fresh from the Garden Salsa

The kids laughed a lot and I had a great time demonstrating the salsa with the Strehle students. I really enjoyed my visit to Strehle Elementary. Thanks, 5th graders!

Cool kids cook and get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana

Book Signing & Cooking Demo: Barnes & Noble, Harvey, LA-Saturday, December 18, 2010

12-18-10 Kid Chef Eliana gets ready to demonstrate 2X2 Chicken Fajita Soup

Hey Young Chefs:

It’s been a very busy holiday season and I haven’t had the chance to blog! I’ve had lots of events, family functions, and parties! On Saturday, December 18, I did a holiday cooking demonstration and book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Harvey, Louisiana. I demonstrated my 2X2 Chicken Fajita Soup. It’s called 2X2 because it has two helpings of each ingredient.

12-18-10 Kid Chef Eliana serves her 2X2 Chicken Fajita Soup

The soup was delicioso and everyone loved it! I served it with flour tortillas. The recipe for 2X2 Chicken Fajita soup can be found in my cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids. After my cooking demonstration, I signed books. It was a ton of fun. Thank you Ms. Jane French and Ms. Stacey Hensley of Barnes & Noble. Thank you also to my family, friends, and fans who came and supported me!

12-18-10 Kid Chef Eliana signs books for fans at Barnes & Noble in Harvey, LA

I am ending the year with a New Year’s Eve Book Signing at A Tisket A Tasket on Decatur Street in New Orleans on Friday, December 31, 2010 from 12pm-2pm. I hope to see you there!

12-18-10 Kid Chef Eliana with Mom and Dad

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

Carnival Cruise Day 6-Cozumel, Mexico and Thanksgiving-November 25, 2010

11-25-10 Eliana and Abuela on a pedicab in Cozumel

Hey Young Chefs!

On our last excursion day, we docked in Cozumel, Mexico. Cozumel is an island and the water there is so pretty.

11-25-10 Entering the last port - Cozumel, Mexico!

You would never catch me on a gator like this in Louisiana! LOL

11-25-10 Eliana tames a giant gator in Cozumel, Mexico

We went to San Francisco Beach Resort to have fun sunning and swimming in the clear Caribbean water.

11-25-10 Welcome to San Francisco Beach Resort!

The beach was so pretty – white sands and turquoise water!

11-25-10 Playa bella at the San Francisco Beach Resort in Cozumel, Mexico

On the beach, we saw a man with a squirrel monkey. He told my mom that it was from Panama and it was rescued and rehabilitated. It ate monkey food off the top of my mom’s head! hahaha

11-25-10 A squirrel monkey, rescued and rehabilitated

For lunch, I had tasty chicken quesadillas. Delicioso!

11-25-10 Kid Chef Eliana eats chicken quesadillas. Que delicioso!

After sunning and swimming all day, we went back to the ship. It was Thanksgiving and there was a Saints game on!

11-25-10 Headed back to the ship after a full day of sun, sand, surf and shopping in Cozumel

The Saints won against Dallas…

11-25-10 The Saints won the Saints v. Dallas game on Thanksgiving and Saints fans rocked the boat!

… and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner on the ship!

11-25-10 Elegant Eliana at Thanksgiving dinner

It was sad to leave our last port but I am so inspired by the food, the culture, and the memories!

11-26-10 Smile for the family Christmas picture!

Cool kids cook and cruise!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Carnival Cruise Day 5-Roatan, Honduras-Wednesday, November 24, 2010

11-24-10 Antonio, Dianne, Soleil & Eliana in Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Honduras

Hey Young Chefs!

On Day 5 of our Carnival Cruise, we stopped in Roatan, Honduras. I was so excited about this port because I am part Honduran. We decided to take an excursion to Maya Key, a small island off Roatan with a wildlife conservatory and a replica of the Copan Mayan Ruins.

11-24-10 Auntie Erly, Trina, Jasmynn, Josie, Eliana & Camrynn on the boat to Maya Key, Roatan, Honduras

When I got to the pier, I caught this cool picture of a plane soaring overhead.

11-24-10 A sillhouette of an airplane flying over head

Mom, Dad, my cousin, Camrynn, and I visited the the ruins first, before swimming. Along the way, we saw beautiful macaws, colorful like rainbows. Wow!

11-24-10 Two macaw birds fighting

Next, my cousin, Camrynn, and I took a picture by a Mayan statue.

11-24-10 Camrynn and Eliana pose next to a Mayan figure on Maya Key, Roatan, Honduras

It was cool to see the ruins even though they weren’t in ruins. LOL

11-24-10 Soleil, Antonio, Dianne & Eliana in front of the replica of the Copan Ruins, Maya Key in Roatan, Honduras

Here I am in front of another Mayan structure.

11-24-10 Eliana in front of a replica of a Mayan structure

After visiting the museum and the ruins, it was time to go swimming! I snorkeled too, in crystal clear water where I could really see the beautiful coral and colorful fish.

11-24-10 Jasmynn, Soleil, Ashlynn, Camrynn & Eliana swim in the Maya Key waters, Roatan, Honduras

I also had fun collecting sea shells and coral for my mom.

11-24-10 Eliana collects a handful of shells and coral from Maya Key in Roatan, Honduras

For lunch, I ate some delicious island food, just like my Abuela makes!

11-24-10 Kid Chef Eliana eats coconut rice and beans, Honduran barbecue and fried plaintains

After having fun on Maya Key, it was time to go back to Roatan. We hopped on the same boat and zipped back, arriving with enough time for shopping. Abuela is from Honduras so my dad was so excited to find handicrafts to bring home to represent his heritage.

11-24-10 Honduran shopkeepers with carved wooden masks

After a full day in Honduras, it was time to head back to the ship for dinner. Look at this gorgeous island sunset!

11-24-10 The sun sets in pretty Honduras...

I loved dining in the London Dining room for dinner. For dinner, I had a delicious spiced chicken with roasted cauliflower and cheesy peas.

11-24-10 Spiced chicken with roasted cauliflower and fresh peas

And even though I had a very full day, I still danced when the dinner dance number came on! The fun never stops on a cruise ship!

11-24-10 Even after a full day of sunning, swimming and snorkeling, Eliana joins the dinner dance number!

I loved all that fun in the sun! Cool kids cook and cruise!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Carnival Cruise Day 4-Tuesday 23, 2010

Hey Young Chefs!

Day three was a relaxation day for me, so nothing special happened that day, but day four was an exciting and tiresome day. We went to Belize City, Belize.

11-23-10 - A house in Belize

On that day we stopped at a local market and bought Belizean spices. The spices look so yummy!

11-23-10 Kid Chef Eliana heads straight for the Belizean spices!

First, we went cave tubing. We had to wear head lamps on our foreheads because some parts of the cave were so dark. Here is my cousin Ashlynn with her head lamp on.

11-23-10 My cousin, Ashlynn dons her headlamp for the caves. Look at the size of the inner tubes behind her!

The river water was freezing! The kids went across the river first and held on to a rope. Then, they gave us our inner tubes. We all had to walk on a trail through the rain forest. Look at the beautiful rain forest.

11-23-10 Amazing rock formations in the Belizean rain forest

Here we are cave tubing down the river. The water was cold but we had to get used to it! Brrr.

11-23-10 Dion guides us with ease... backwards!

It was fun cave tubing. After cave tubing, we went ziplining! I had to wear a helmet, belt harness, hooks, and gloves. It was very heavy. We had a little lesson and then off we went, ziplining through the rain forest! Here is me ziplining like a pro. LOL!

11-23-10 Eliana zips across on the practice line

Look at my dad ziplining. On the longest zipline my dad was trying to be like Tarzan. It was funny.

11-23-10 Antonio breezes in on the zipline

When we finished ziplining we had lunch. I ate Belizean barbecue chicken, platanos (sweet fried ripe plaintains), congri (rice and beans), and a tortilla. Delicioso!

11-23-10 Kid Chef Eliana eats rice and beans, Belizean barbecued chicken, and a homemade tortilla

When lunch was over we went back on the ship to our cabins and took a nap. Then, we had to wake up and get ready for dinner. Didn’t get to pictures of dinner, sorry. I forgot my camera in my cabin. I’m so mad at myself! It tasted wonderful.

Cool Kids Cook and Cruise!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana