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

6-17-11 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

6-2-11 Kid Chef Eliana performs her song, Cool Kids Cook, at Webster Parish Library in Minden, LA

Hey Young Chefs!

At Webster Parish Library in Minden, Louisiana, I performed my “Cool Kids Cook!” song again in my mom’s show. After I sang my song, I signed cookbooks and took lots of pictures with fans.

Then, we went to Moody’s Place to eat. It is a small restaurant but the food is amazing! The first thing they bring out is hot water cornbread. The cornbread is baked and then fried. Yum!

6-2-11 Hot water cornbread at Moody's Place in Minden, LA

After eating hot water cornbread, I had fried pork chops with creamed potatoes and yams. The yams are my favorite!!!

6-2-11 The fried porkchop plate with creamed potatoes and yams at Moody's Place in Minden, LA

Then it was dessert time! We had Peach Cobbler, Blackberry Cobbler, and Apple Pie. Yummy in my tummy!

6-2-11 Pies and cobblers at Moody's Place in Minden, LA

This is me and Ms. Moody, the owner and chef. She is the one who makes the delicious food! It’s true Southern cooking.

6-2-11 Ms. Moody with Kid Chef Eliana

Cool Kids Cook, Read, and Eat at Moody’s Place!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

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

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

Hey Young Chefs!

Aunt Heidi, Mommy (Author & Storyteller Dianne de Las Casas) and I went to the Piazza di Italia. It was grand like a palace and looks like an Italian plaza! Mommy dipped her feet in the fountain and walked around. She said it felt like bath water. After that we went to the Louisiana Children’s Museum. I am in front of a butterfly made out of CDs! I love the reflective blue and purple colors! That would be a cool project for home (on a much smaller scale).

This horse below was made of steel and recycled cardboard. It is about 10 feet high. It’s hard to believe that someone can make something so big out of cardboard! It is on loan to the museum so see it before it’s gone!

I went “shopping” at Winn Dixie. I grabbed a basket and a list and shopped. Here I am filling my basket at the grocery store.

The fruit almost looks real from far away. It was fun shopping at Winn Dixie. After shopping, we went to the Kids Cafe. I served Mommy iced tea, baked chicken, green beans and mashed potatoes. Mommy said the chairs hurt her because they are so little and hard. I enjoyed serving her, just like in a real restaurant.

Then we played with the massive bubbles. I tried and I tried to get the bubble over my head, as high as I could but it was challenging. Look at me in the giant bubble! Don’t let it POP!

Being inside the bubble was fun. Mommy also made a giant bubble. It was funny watching her inside the bubble. Mommy’s bubble is BIG!

We had a ton of fun at the Louisiana Children’s Museum. I want to go back there with my cousins, especially Camrynn!

Cool Kids Cook and go to the Children’s Museum.

Bon Appetit, Eliana