Beef Brisket Dinner - Sunday, October 5, 2008

Hey Young Chefs!

Tonight, Mommy cooked a HUGE dinner for the entire family. Everyone came over - Nana & Pawpaw, Uncle Gary and his girlfriend Aline, and my cousins - Jourdan, Camrynn, Ashlynn & Jasmynn. Actually, Camrynn and I helped Mommy in the kitchen. We rolled the meatballs, made the ladybug pesto pizzettas, helped clean the kitchen, and set the table. Here's what was on the menu:

Appetizers:
Lady bug Pesto Pizzetas
Stuffed Mushrooms
BBQ Chipotle Cheddar Turkey Meatballs
Roasted Garlic & Baked Brie Cheese with Crackers

Main Course:
Beef Brisket
Roasted Garlic Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Fresh Green Beans
Wilted Spinach & Sauteed Mushrooms
Garlic Polenta Patties
Fresh Pineapple

Dessert:
Berries N Banana Shortcake with Crema & Ghiradelli Chocolate Chips

Mommy made the beautiful floral centerpiece. She cut off the top of the pumpkin and scooped the insides out. Then she filled it with water and arranged fall-colored flowers inside. It's simple and elegant.

















I helped Mommy make dessert. Here my cousins watch as I cut and quarter the strawberries for the dessert. Hi Ashlynn, Camrynn & Jasmynn!

















This is what the dessert looked like when it was finished. Yum! Yum!

















My cousins want to come to an Eliana Cooks! Culinary Clinic. I guess I'll have to start teaching classes! LOL :)

Cool kids cook so get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana

Super Sirloin, Twice-Baked Taters & Grilled Cabbage - Thursday, October 2, 2008

Hey Young Chefs!

Tonight's dinner was definitely delish! Mommy and I made Top Sirloin steaks, tantalizing twice-baked taters, and grilled cabbage. Yum! Yum!

Here I am wrapping the potatoes for baking. Thank you, Aunt Heidi, for the idea to make bake potatoes with our steaks!

















I made my own seasoning blend for the steaks using three different kinds of seasoning including "Eliana's Magic Seasoning Blend."

















Once the steaks were seasoned, they were thrown on the grill. We also grilled cabbage, which came out fantastic. To grill cabbage, cut the cabbage into four quarters. Drizzle with a little olive oil, season to your liking (we added minced garlic too), and wrap in foil, leaving a little air pocket at the top. Grill for 45 minutes to one hour on low heat. Here is the recipe for our potatoes.

Tantalizing Twice-Baked Taters
Ingredients:
4 Russett or Idaho Brown potatoes
1 1/2 c. light sour cream
1 c. grated Cheddar cheese
1/2 c. grated Pepper Jack cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper

Directions:
Wrap potatoes in aluminum foil and bake potatoes at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and remove foil. Scoop out insides of potato and place in large bowl. Place empty skins back in the oven to crisp them (without foil) while you prepare the filling. Mash potatoes. Add remaining ingredients to potato and mix thoroughly. Spoon into potato skins and bake for 20 minutes. As soon as spuds are taken out of the oven, top with a little cheese and chives (optional) for presentation. Serve hot.

















For dessert, we had bananas and fresh blueberries with a little Mexican table cream poured on top. Then we sprinkled dark chocolate chips and added a dollop of Cool Whip. Talk about tasty!

Cool kids cook so get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana

Fajita Fiesta! - Friday, September 26, 2008

Hey Young Chefs!

Mommy went to Baton Rouge to pick up Soleil, my 18 year old sister who goes to college at LSU. So Daddy and I cooked dinner for them. We made fajitas with all the fixings - cheese, lettuce, guacamole, and salsa. We also had fresh corn on the cob. Daddy grilled the fajitas and they came out tender and tasty. Yum! Yum!

















Here I am, making my fajita wrap.

















Delicioso! Cool kids cook so get creative in the kitchen.

Bon Appetit, Eliana

Ladybug Pizzettas - Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Hey Young Chefs!

I took over dinner tonight and made my original recipe, "Ladybug Pizzettas." Pizzettas are mini pizzas that are totally tasty. This is a vegetarian dish. Here's my recipe:

Ladybug Pizzettas
Ingredients:
2 sheets of ready-made thin crust refrigerated pizza dough
1/2 c. pizza sauce
1/2 c. Italian blend (mozzarella, parmesan, asiago, fontina)
4 tbsp. chopped black olives
Fresh basil
Tomato slices

Directions:
Cut circles into pizza dough with large upside-down drinking glass. Place on pizza pan or cookie sheet. Spread sauce on pizza dough. Sprinkle cheese on pizza sauce. Place a large basil leaf on top of cheese. Cover with one tomato slice. Top with black olive ladybug dots. Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until crust is puffy and golden. Makes 16-24 pizzettas, depending on the size of your pizzettas. Serve hot with side salad. Yum! Yum!

Here I am spreading the pizza sauce.

















Now I am topping the tomatoes with chopped black olives. See my Food Notes journal next to me? I am following my own recipe!

















Look at the finished Ladybug Pizzettas! They are delish! The tomatoes were tender and the pizza dough was crispy. Mommy says that they would make perfect party tapas (appetizers). The basil is the "secret ingredient" that makes these pizzettas awesome. Grown-ups, you'll love that kids get tons of veggies on this one. Kids, it doesn't even taste veggie-ish! Make plenty because the grown-ups will be sneaking extra pizzettas behind the kids' backs! (I saw you, Mommy...)

















I hope you enjoy this recipe. Yum! Yum!

Cool kids cook so get creative in the kitchen!

Bon Appetit, Eliana

My Cousin Christian's Birthday Dinner - Sunday, September 21, 2008

Hey Young Chefs!

We went to my Nana's house to celebrate my cousin, Christian's, birthday. That's Christian in the black shirt. Christian turned 17 years old. Can you find me? I am the second one from the left in the black and white flower dress. I am with my cousins, Ashlynn, Jasmynn, Camrynn, and Jourdan. Christian's girlfriend, Rachel, is the one in red behind him.

Nana cooked a big dinner. Here's my favorite -- bruschetta! Bruschetta is Italian. It's bread topped with olive oil, basil, tomatoes, and cheese. Nana bakes hers so it's melty and toasty. Yum! Yum!

















Nana made beef brisket, chicken alfredo, steamed sugar peas and asparagus, and potato salad. It was so good.

















Then of course, we had dessert - Christian's birthday cake and ice cream. Happy Birthday, Christian. We love you!

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

Bon Appetit, Eliana