Cool Kids Cook Radio Show #83 Interview with Bill Wurtzel of Funny Food Art – Monday, June 9, 2014

Hey Young Chefs!

For Show #83, I interviewed Bill Wurtzel of Funny Food Art.

Bill Wurtzel of Funny Food Art
Bill Wurtzel of Funny Food Art

BILL WURTZEL was an award-winning advertising creative director and a jazz guitarist. He won over 200 ad & design awards and as a jazz musician, he played for many years with numerous jazz legends. Bill says, “I’ve been entertaining my wife, Claire, with funny food since we were dating. Our wedding announcement has a photograph of me with steak and spaghetti on my chest. Breakfasts are spontaneous using whatever ingredients are on hand – with no pre-planning. My inspiration has always been making Claire smile.” Bill and and his wife, Claire, do workshops in schools and museums that make it fun for children to learn about nutrition. Bill shows how to make Funny Food. When kids make it, they eat it, and try healthy food they may not have eaten before.

Funny Food Art
Funny Food Art

“A Tisket A Tasket What’s Inside My Basket?”
Today’s secret ingredient is Cilantro. Here is a recipe for my “Cilantro Lime Chicken.” This recipe was invented while my mom and I were on vacay in Orange Beach. It’s so tasty!

Cilantro Lime Chicken
Cilantro Lime Chicken

Ingredients:
2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. cilantro, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 limes, juiced and zested
1 tbsp. Adobo seasoning
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and let marinate for 30 minutes. Grill chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side or until chicken is cooked all the way through. Serves 4-6.

“Figure Out This Food!”
I have a game on my Facebook page called “Figure Out This Food.” I post a close-up of a food item and the first three guesses get a shout-out here. Congratulations to Patricia Miera, Judith Serrano-Reyes, and Jessieca May for guessing “Tamarind.”

FOTF - Tamarind
FOTF – Tamarind

“Snacktivity Time”
It’s Snacktivity Time! Here, I give you fun easy breezy snack ideas. Today’s Snacktivity is…“Watermelon Shake.”

Watermelon Shake
Watermelon Shake

Ingredients:
3 c. ripe, seedless watermelon cut into chunks
2 c. ice
1 c. club soda or sparkling water
2 tbsp. local honey
Spring of mint for garnish

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender and mix well. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

“Creative Cuisine”
This is my recipe for “Root Beer Cilantro and Oregano Braised Pork Chops”.

Root Beer Cilantro and Oregano Braised Pork Chops
Root Beer Cilantro and Oregano Braised Pork Chops

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 c. onions, chopped
3 large cloves garlic, grated
2 tbsp. Adobo seasoning, divided
8 center cut pork chops
12 oz. root beer
1/4 c. lime juice
Zest of one lime
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 c. fresh oregano, chopped
1 tbsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. black pepper corns
1/4 small jalapeño, de-seeded and chopped
2 bay leaves

Directions:
In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium. Add on walls and sauté for five minutes until translucent. Add garlic. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of Adobo seasoning on both sides of the pork chops. Add pork chops, getting a sear on both sides of the pork chops. Add root beer, pouring enough to leave some of the pork chops exposed. Do not cover all of the pork chops with the root beer or they willdd remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover pot and lower heat to medium low. Cook for two hours or until pork chops are tender. Remove bay leaves and peppercorns before serving. Serves 8.

“Kitchen Crafts!”
Here is a fun kitchen-related craft. Today’s kitchen craft is how to make a “Mason Jar Vase with Orange Slices”.

Mason Jar Vase with Orange Slices
Mason Jar Vase with Orange Slices

Supplies:
Mason Jar
2 oranges, sliced
Bouquet of flowers
Water
Ribbon (optional)

Instructions:
Step 1: Line mason jar on the inside with orange slices.
Step 2: Fill with water.
Step 3: Add flowers.
Step 4: Tie a ribbon around the mason jar rim. Enjoy!

That’s all for this week!

Bon Appetit,
Kid Chef Eliana

By Chef Eliana

Kid Chef Eliana is the author of two cookbooks, Cool Kids Cook: Louisiana and Eliana Cooks!; the host of a weekly radio show called Cool Kids Cook on Voice America, the Internet's largest talk radio network with over 9 million monthly listeners; and a media personality. Named one of the “Top 10 Most Famous Kid Cooks” in the world by The Daily Meal and Fox News, Kid Chef Eliana is a young entrepeneur on the move. She is a 2012 Winner of New Orleans’ Gambit Weekly’s “40 Under 40” award, the youngest recipient in their history. She was a competitor in SuperChef Kids, a national webisode series produced by the creators of Iron Chef®. In 2010, Kid Chef Eliana was profiled in an exhibit at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum. She is featured in a book called The Parents’ Guide to Raising CEO Kids by Dr. Jerry Cook and Sarah L. Cook. She is also a featured kid chef on ZisBoomBah.com, a national website for kid foodies. She is an Ambassador for Healthy Fare for Kids, an organization that helps restaurants across the nation add healthy options to their kids’ menus. During Superbowl XLVII, Eliana worked with the Taste of the NFL to help “kick hunger.” In the future, Eliana plans to design chef wear and cookware for kids, create a line of spices, and host her own TV cooking show. Her mission is to educate and encourage kids to become culinary explorers. As Kid Chef Eliana always says, “Cool kids cook and get creative in the kitchen!”

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