12-10-11 Kid Chef Eliana demonstrates 2X2 Chicken Fajita Soup from her cookbook

Hey Young Chefs!

This past Saturday, I had a cooking demonstration and book signing at Barnes & Noble in Metairie, Louisiana. I demonstrated by 2X2 Chicken Fajita Soup from my cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids.

12-10-11 Kid Chef Eliana pours cumin into her soup

When I served my soup, everyone said it tasted “delicioso!” Some people even lined up for seconds and thirds! Even kids who are normally picky, loved it! I met a sweet 15 year old girl named Savannah. She bought my cookbook and said that she is going to try several of my recipes. Yay, Savannah!

12-10-11 Kid Chef Eliana takes a picture with fan, Savannah

This recipe is called 2X2 Chicken Fajita Soup because the amounts of each ingredient equals 2. For example, 2 cups, 2 tablespoons, 2 cans, etc. It’s a super simple recipe that takes 20 minutes to cook. It’s great for kids and college kids, and perfect as a weeknight meal for busy moms. Here is the recipe:

2X2 Chicken Fajita Soup

Ingredients
2 qts. water
2 pkts. taco seasoning
2 cans corn, drained
2 cans sliced new potatoes, drained
2 c. Fajita, Southwest or Mesquite chicken strips
2 tbsp. cumin
2 tbsp. garlic salt
2 cups fresh salsa (I like to use my “Fresh from the Garden Salsa” recipe)

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pot over medium heat. Cook for 20 minutes. Optional: Top with cheese and serve with tortilla chips. Serves 8 to 12.

Cool kids Cook and Get Creative in the Kitchen!
Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

Hey Young Chefs!

Here is the video of me cooking shrimp etouffee’ at the New Orleans Seafood Festival. The recipe is on my previous blog post.

Cool Kids Cook and Get Creative in the Kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

9-11-11 Kid Chef Eliana prepares to demonstrate her shrimp etoufee at the New Orleans Seafood Festival

Hey Young Chefs!

Today, I did a cooking demonstration at the New Orleans Seafood Festival. I cooked up some tasty shrimp étouffée.

9-10-11 Kid Chef Eliana shops at Becnel's Farmer's Market in Belle Chasse for fresh produce for her cooking demo at the New Orleans Seafood Festival

But my recipe started yesterday at Becnel’s Farmers Market in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, where I bought bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. I used the tomatoes to make a rich, homemade tomato sauce. Inside the sauce, I had bell peppers, onions, celery, carrots, Cabernet wine, and carmelized honey. I took the sauce to the festival for my etoufee’. Good food starts with fresh, local ingredients.

9-11-11 Kid Chef Eliana pours cornstarch into her shrimp etoufee at the New Orleans Seafood Festival

Did you know that etoufee’ comes from the French word, etoufer, which means to “smother?” I smothered Louisiana shrimp in that delicious homemade tomato sauce, trinity (bell peppers, onions, and celery), green onions, heavy cream, and white wine. To thicken the sauce, I added cornstarch instead the traditional roux (a cooked mixture of flour and oil or flour and butter used to thicken sauces and stews). The shrimp was added and cooked for a few minutes, until they turned pink and plump.

9-10-11 On the big screen, Kid Chef Eliana plates her shrimp etoufee

I plated my shrimp étouffée with Cajun Country rice. Cajun Country was a big sponsor of the festival and I enjoyed meeting Mr. Robert Trahan, whose father founded Cajun Country Rice in Crowley, Louisiana. I was invited to take a tour of the facility. We passed out samples to the crowd and everyone loved the étouffée.

9-11-11 Kid Chef Eliana signs her cookbook for fans at the New Orleans Seafood Festival

After my demo, I signed my cookbooks for fans. There was even a line waiting for me. I had a great time with Mr. Greg Reggio as the emcee and hope to come back to the festival next year! Thank you so much, Mr. Greg!

Here is my recipe:

Eliana’s Shrimp Etouffée

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. butter
1 lb. Louisiana shrimp
About 5 stems of green onions
1c. of trinity (a precut mix of bell peppers, onions, and celery)
8oz. tomato sauce
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. water or shrimp stock
1/4 c. white wine
1 tbsp corn starch for thickening
1 tbsp water
2 tsp of Adobo seasoning (found in Latin section of super market)
1tsp. Cajun seasoning

Directions:
Melt the butter in a pan on medium heat. After butter is melted, add trinity, green onions, tomato sauce, white wine, Cajun seasoning, & Adobo. Next, pour in heavy cream and water. Stir for a while. After a few minutes, add shrimp. Mix corn starch & 2 tbsp of water together in a cup. While stirring, pour in corn starch a little at a time. The étouffée is ready when it starts to bubble and shrimp is pink and plump. Serve étouffée on a bed of rice. Enjoy!

9-10-11 Kid Chef Eliana takes a photo with a fan at the New Orleans Seafood Festival

Cool Kids Cook and Make Shrimp Etouffée!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

7-22-11 Kid Chef Eliana in the WWL-TV Studio Kitchen

Hey Young Chefs!

On Friday I made an appearance on WWL-TV Morning Show with Sally-Ann Roberts and Eric Paulsen! It was so cool being on WWL. I cooked three different dishes and a drink. I made my Devil’s Food Monster Muffins, Baked Scotch Eggs, and Garlic Cumin Potatoes. As a drink I made Sparkling Pomegranate Punch. If you’re wondering what Scotch Eggs are they are hardboiled eggs encased in sausage, breaded in bread crumbs, and deep fried. My Scotch Eggs are baked and made out of turkey sausage. That way it’s healthier.

7-22-11 Kid Chef Eliana with Sally-Ann Roberts and Eric Paulsen at WWL-TV

Ms.Sally-Ann and Mr.Eric were so nice! Mr.Eric even tweeted ” you are going to be a rock star in the culinary world”. That is so cool! Here is the link to the segment on WWL-TV.

When the show was over, the crew raced to the kitchen to eat! They loved the food.

7-22-11 The camera is on Kid Chef Eliana in the WWL-TV Studio Kitchen

I had a blast at WWL-TV! Everyone is amazing there.

Cool Kids Cook and Get Creative in the Kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

7-9-11 I sing my song to the audience

Hey Young Chefs!

Yesterday I had a cooking demonstration and book signing at Cherry Books in Thibodeaux, LA. Before I start the demo, I sing my song “Cool Kids Cook” to the audience.

Then I cut the tomatoes.

7-9-11 I cut the tomatoes for my salsa

After I added more ingredients to the Ninja, I poured in the salt.

7-9-11 I pour salt into the blender

Next, I served “Fresh from the Garden Salsa” to everybody. They ate ALL of the salsa. I’m glad they liked it!

Finally, I signed my cookbooks. I took take a picture with two of my fans.

7-9-11 My two fans take a picture with me.

I had an awesome time at Cherry Books! Everyone was so nice.

Cool Kids Cook and Go to Cherry Books!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-29-11 Kid Chef Eliana prepares for her cooking class at Camp Girl Power

Hey Young Chefs!

Yesterday, I taught 3 cooking classes at Camp Girl Power in Destrehan, Louisiana.

In this picture I prepared my food for the cooking class at the camp. Then I was asked to appear on stage to answer questions from the girls. I also sang my song, “Cool Kids Cook”.

6-29-11 Kid Chef Eliana performs and answers questions at Camp Girl Power

Next, we went to the kitchen to make “Fresh from the Garden Salsa” from my cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids. Here, the girls are sweeping their cilantro that they chopped, into the blender.

6-29-11 Girls sweep cilantro into the blender for their salsa

After we blended all of our ingredients, it was time to taste the salsa. The girls were in LOVE with it. I tried everyone’s salsa. They did a great job and all of their salsas were delicious.

6-29-11 Girls eat their tasty salsa creation

Tons of fun!

Cool Kids Cook and Eat Salsa!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-19-11 (L-R) Ashlynn, Camrynn, Jasmynn, Me, and Josie

Hey Young Chefs!

On Father’s Day, I had my Cupcake Cutie Birthday Bash! It was so fun! First, we made cupcake tacos. Cupcake tacos are made with a small tortilla inside a ramekin baked at 400 degrees for 7 minutes. When cooled, you add the lettuce, cheese, and ground meat. On top, you pipe sour cream to make it look frosting. Sprinkle cheese. Add a grape tomato as a cherry. Isn’t it cute?!

6-19-11 A cupcake taco

After we ate our cupcake tacos, we made Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes with a Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting. I used fresh strawberries. Yum!

6-19-11 We made Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes with a Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Then, it was present time. My best gift was my new cupcake cutie room!!! Everything is cupcakes!

6-19-11 My new cupcake room!!!

Another one of my presents was a Susan Spicer cookbook from my mom and dad!!!

6-19-11 A Susan Spicer cookbook!!!

Next, we had a cupcake collage contest. We had to tear pieces of construction paper up to make the cupcake. We only had 20 minutes to finish. It sounds like a lot of time, but it’s not. It was hard.

6-19-11 Everyone holding up their cute cupcake collage

We all voted who won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. I got every vote except mine. Can’t vote for yourself. I won 1st place, Camrynn won 2nd place, and Josie won 3rd place! We got some pretty cool prizes.

6-19-11 Me, 1st Place, Camrynn, 2nd Place, Josie, 3rd Place

Then, we all created chef hats! ( If you want to know how to make them, I blogged it in an earlier post.)

6-19-11 We all created chef hats

Finally, we decorated plain canvas bags with fabric paint. We all designed our own cupcake on our bags. Here are the different bags.

6-19-11 Look at our creative cupcake bags

After that, we all went to bed. But, whoever was the first to fall asleep was going to get creamed. I creamed Ashlynn. She didn’t even notice. I forgot to take a picture. Sorry.

I had a blast at my party. And so did everyone else.

Cool Kids Cook and Eat Cupcakes!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

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

6-14-11 French Toast made out of their homemade luau bread

Hey Young Chefs!

The day before we leave to go home, I ate homemade French Toast made out of luau bread from The Coffee Shack. It was really good. At The Coffee Shack, I saw two Madagascar geckos eating guava jelly next to our table. It was so funny!

6-14-11 Two Madagascar geckos eating guava jelly at The Coffee Shack

After we ate, we drove to Punalu’u Black Sand Beach where the water is crystal clear. The wet black sand and dry black sands’ colors are totally different.

6-14-11 Wet black sand and dry black sand

Soleil found a rainbow rock that is so pretty.

6-14-11 A cool rainbow rock

Punalu’u is so pretty and so different from any other beach I’ve been to.

6-14-11 Me at Black Sand Beach

After we changed, we headed to Volcano National Park. We saw the steam vents, that feel like a sauna. It was cold and hot at Volcano National Park.

6-14-11 The hot steam vents

Then, we drove to the crater. The crater was huge. There was hardened black and brown lava everywhere! This is a panorama of the rainbow and the crater. My camera didn’t stitch it well. LOL At least it looks like a double rainbow.

6-14-11 A panorama of a rainbow and the crater

Next, we walked through a rain forest in Volcano National Park.

6-14-11 Eliana and Soleil walk through the rainforest at Volcano National Park

After walking through the rainforest, we finally reach inside the Thurston Lava Tube!

6-14-11 Inside the Thurston Lava Tube at Volcano National Park

When we were finished walking through the lava tube, we left Volcano National Park and drove around the rest of the island, eating dinner in Hilo. Finally, we went back to our hotel. What a day!

Cool Kids Cook and Visit Black Sand Beaches and the Volcano National Park!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-13-11 A sea turtle from the glass bottom boat ride

Hey Young Chefs!

On the second day of the Big Island, we went on a glass bottom boat ride. We saw many honu (sea turtles) like this one above. We saw yellow tang and lots of other fish too!

After the glass bottom boat ride, we went to the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory. They grow and process their own chocolate. This is the inside of a cacao pod.

6-13-11 The inside of a cacao pod

There are many steps to processing cacao. This is one of the steps called tempering. It looks delicious!

6-13-11 The delicious chocolate swirling in a pot

When the tour was over, we bought chocolate and then left to go to Kona Joe’s Coffee Factory.

When we got there, we saw coffee cherries. This is what coffee looks like on a tree.

6-13-11 These are coffee cherries

This is what the medium roast, dark roast, and espresso coffee beans look like after they are dried and roasted. Wow!

6-13-11 Medium, Dark, and Espresso Coffee Beans

When we finished touring, we went to Magic Sands Beach.At the time we went in the late afternoon, the sand was disappearing.

6-13-11 Mommy and I frolic at the Magic Sands Beach

At least it was still pretty. In the morning, where we were standing, it would have had a lot of sand there.

6-13-11 The water is so pretty and the sand is so white at Magic Sands Beach

We had such an adventure that day. It was spectacular!

Cool Kids Cook and Explore!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana