Dia de Los Muertos Altar for Jaime Casas – Tuesday, November 2, 2010
11-2-10 Dia de Los Muertos Altar project for Spanish
Hey Young Chefs!
I wanted to show you a cool project that I did for my Spanish class. I had to create a “Dia de Los Muertos” altar for a deceased family member. “Dia de Los Muertos” means “Day of the Dead.” It is a Latino tradition to create an altar that memorializes and celebrates the life of a loved one who died. I chose to honor my grandfather, Jaime Casas, who passed away on July 9, 2008. I called him “Papi.”
A “Dia de Los Muertos” altar typically has food, flowers, candles, personal items, clothing, and colorful candy skulls. It is celebrated between October 31 and November 2. Here is what the items on my altar symbolize:
Left Side of the Board
• Café con Leche Cuban Salsa CD – Symbolizes Papi’s love of dancing
• Maraca – Symbolizes Papi’s love of Latino music like salsa & merengue
• Pink and blue skull with tiara – My sister, Soleil and I, made the skull by hand out of clay. It symbolizes his two “princessas,” his granddaughters.
Middle of the Board
• Tinsel Star – Inside the star is a photo of my Papi on a chair. You can’t see me but I was sitting next to him.
• Palm tree, sand & sea shells – Symbolizes the island country of his birth, Cuba
• Mojo Criollo label – Symbolizes his love of cooking. Mojo is a Latino marinade. He loved cooking black beans, ropa vieja, tostones, yucca, and sandwich Cubano.
• Gold fleur de lis – Symbolizes his love of New Orleans, the city he lived in since exiling from Cuba in 1960
• Vase of colored lollipops – Symbolizes his love of dulces (sweets)
• Party blower – Symbolizes Papi’s love of parties, especially birthdays and big family gatherings
• Rosary – Papi was Catholic and was buried with a special family rosary.
• Large photo – The large photo of my Papi was copied from his funeral program
Right Side of the Board
• Family photo – Papi loved his family more than anything. We always had dinner together and celebrated holidays together with my dad’s parents and my mom’s parents. The picture was taken on Mother’s Day 2009.
• Butterfly – I made the butterfly from a clothes pin and a coffee filter. It symbolizes Papi’s transformation and flight to heaven.
• Postcard, business card, and picture of Eliana eating a Cuban Sandwich – Papi did not live long enough to see my cookbook come out. I dedicated it to him. He would be so proud.
Candles
There are three kinds of candles on the altar.
• Tall blue candle in the middle of the altar
• Multi-colored candles in the middle of the altar that spell out my Papi’s name, J-A-I-M-E
• Big candle with blue skull at the bottom of the altar
Maybe you can create a “Dia de Los Muertos” altar for someone you love who passed away. It’s a great way to remember them and celebrate their life.
Get creative!
Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana
Eliana Cooks! Cookbook debuts at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans – Saturday, October 9, 2010
10-9-10 Close-up of Kid Chef Eliana at SOFAB
Hey Young Chefs!
Earlier this month, I had a cooking demonstration at the Southern Food And Beverage Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was part of the “New Orleans Con Sabor Latino” exhibit, which I was a part of! I was one of 13 Latinos in the New Orleans area chosen to be photographed for the exhibit. It’s quite an honor.
New Orleans Con Sabor Latino exhibit - Eliana's profile
During the demonstration, I made Cajun Cuban Sandwiches. I talked about my family’s influence on my cooking, especially my Papi, who inspired the sandwich.
10-9-10 Eliana Cooks! at Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SOFAB) in New Orleans
We had a large crowd and I sold a bunch of cookbooks. Yay!
10-9-10 Kid Chef Eliana talks about her new cookbook, Eliana Cooks!
Then I autographed! 
10-9-10 Kid Chef Eliana signs her cookbook
My family was so proud of me! My mom and dad even wore uniforms with my logo embroidered on their shirts. Too cool!
10-9-10 Kid Chef Eliana with her mom and dad
If you would like to order my cookbook, you may order autographed copies from Octavia Books. http://www.octaviabooks.com/book/9780615411958
Check my website for dates of upcoming events. I have several demonstrations and book signings coming up before the holidays.
Cool kids cook and get creative in the kitchen!
Bon Appetit,
Kid Chef Eliana
Eliana Cooks! Cookbook Proofs – Tuesday, September 7, 2010
9-8-10 Eliana's Cooks cookbook cover and title page
Hey Young Chefs!
A few days ago, I received the cookbook proofs from Morris Press Cookbooks. My mom, dad and I reviewed the proofs to check for mistakes and typos. There were were a lot of errors we had to correct. Above, you can see the mock-up of the front cover and the title page.
Then we packed the cookbook proofs and went to the UPS Store to overnight it back to Morris Press Cookbooks. It cost $47 to ship it! Holy Cannoli! Below is a picture of the back of the cookbook and one of the interior divider pages. The cookbook is divided into sections: Appetizers and Beverages, Soups and Salads, Veggies and Side Dishes, Main Dishes, Breads and Rolls, Desserts, Cookies and Candy and last but not least, This and That.
-8-10 Eliana's Cooks cookbook back and interior divider
I am so excited about my cookbook. I can’t wait for it to debut on October 9. When my cookbook is available, you can order it from my online store. I hope you are as excited as I am!
Cool Kids Cook and get Creative in the Kitchen.
Bon Appetit, Eliana
Creating Eliana’s Sabor All-Purpose Seasoning – Sunday, September 5, 2010
9-5-10 Kid Chef Eliana with her Sabor Seasoning
Hey Young Chefs!
Today, I created sample packets of my new all-purpose seasoning called “Eliana’s Sabor.!” “Sabor” means “flavor” in Spanish. Sabor! has paprika, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, salt and other spices. It’s a perfect blend of spices to use on any kind of food whether you’re cooking or seasoning at the table.
9-5-10 Mixing the Sabor
Eliana’s Sabor! is great on meat, potatoes, eggs and in all your savory dishes. I developed the recipe for this seasoning blend when I was 8 years old! My family and I use it in our cooking all the time. They always ask me to make it when we run out! Here’s a little secret: it was previously named “Eliana’s Magic Seasoning Blend” but “Magic Seasoning” was already used by another famous chef on his spice! So we changed the name and I love it! It’s so awesome!
Eliana's Sabor Seasoning
Everyone who buys my new cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids, will receive a free sample of Eliana’s Sabor! My spice blend will be available for sale here when my cookbooks arrive in October.
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
Video Tutorial: Dulce de Leche Dessert Pizza – January 8, 2010
Hey Young Chefs!
Here is a delicioso recipe for Dulce de Leche Dessert Pizza!
Ingredients:
1 package of pizza mix
marshmallows
dark chocolate chips (or any kind)
1 can of dulce de leche
1/3 c. of milk
Directions:
Follow the directions on the pizza mix and bake the pizza in the oven. In a sauce pan over low to medium heat, dilute the dulce de leche with the milk. Mix thoroughly. When the pizza is cool, spread the dulce de leche mixture on the pizza. Sprinkle chocolate chips on the mixture. Place marshmallows on top. Now it is ready to eat. Yum!
Cool Kids Cook and eat dessert pizza!
Bon Appetit, Eliana
Video: Eliana’s Room Tour – Sunday, January 3, 2010
Hey Young Chefs!
Some of you may wonder what a little chef’s room looks like… Well, this is the tour of my pink and blue princess room. Cinderella is my favorite princess and she is everywhere. I hope you enjoy it!
Cool kids cook and have clean rooms. Get creative in the kitchen and in your rooms!
Bon Appetit, Eliana
Video Tutorial: Old Fashioned Waffles – Sunday, January 3, 2010
Hey Young Chefs!
This is an easy waffle recipe that tastes great. Enjoy!
Old Fashioned Waffles
Ingredients:
1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 3/4 c. milk
Dash vanilla extract
Directions:
Heat the waffle iron. In a bowl, mix dry ingredients together. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix. Pour 2/3 cup batter onto the waffle iron. The batter will spread once the top is lowered. Cook the waffle until golden brown, about 2 to 5 minutes.
Note: Waffles may be cooked, stored in a plastic zip bag, and reheated in a 350°F toaster oven until warm and crisp. You may also store waffles in a zip bag and freeze them.
Cool kids cook so get creative in the kitchen!
Bon Appetit, Eliana
2009 Holiday Greetings from Kid Chef Eliana!
Hey Young Chefs!
This video was created by me and my cousins, Camrynn, Ashlynn & Jasmynn. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope 2010 is a great year for you!
Cool kids cook so get creative in the kitchen!
Bon Appetit, Eliana
Video Tutorial: Hickory Parmesan Burgers
This is a yummy recipe!
Cook kids cook!
Bon Appetit, Eliana
