That author Elizabeth Mulderig just won a cooking award from a prestigious French organisation might come as a shock to those who know her, as she has a reputation for burning takeout dinners.The Gourmand Culinary Institute of France has named ‘Tiny’s Bermuda Colouring Cookbook’ the best cookbook of the year for Bermuda. Ms Mulderig is now in the running for the grand prize competing against professional chefs from all over the world. The prizegiving will be held in February at the Theatre of Le Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.The cookbook is part of a series of books she has written starring Tiny, a tree frog who tours Bermuda wearing a battered straw hat. The recipes in the cookbook were loaned by various members of her family, who felt it was best to help in the interest of the children who might read it.“When my husband and I first saw an e-mail saying we had won, we thought it was a hoax at first,” said Ms Mulderig. “I was extremely surprised and thrilled. It is the last thing in the world I expected, so that is always fun.”They initially entered the competition after receiving an e-mail from Gourmand, but weren’t entirely sure if it was legitimate. They waited to see if they would be asked for money, but they never heard anything after submitting the cookbook. They forgot about it.“Then my husband got this message and we thought ‘what do they want from us?’” Ms Mulderig said. “Not that the cookbook isn’t fabulous; it’s just too weird that I would be connected with it. We found out it is actually a very prestigious culinary institute in Europe.”The cookbook, (which, again, has recipes created by other people) includes easy recipes that cater to children such as Ho Ho French Toast, Tiny’s Frogaroni and Cheese and Frog Grog.“We not only tried to make the recipes simple but also healthy,” said Ms Mulderig. “We have something like granola which is relatively easy to make using Bermuda fruits; we have kite day cookies, so there is some Bermuda folklore in there.”She is now waiting to hear if she will have to go to France to collect a trophy. The final judging will be held in two weeks. Ms Mulderig is already envisioning a Tiny book called ‘Tiny Tours Paris’.“The cookbook has been selling well because it is not only a cookbook, it is a colouring book as well,” said Ms Mulderig. “While the child is waiting for the recipe to cook they can colour in the pictures. The fact that it is an activity book has made sales pretty strong.”The cookbook is a one of a long string of Tiny the Tree Frog books that include ‘Tiny the Tree Frog Tours Bermuda’ and ‘Tiny the Treefrog Sails to Bermuda’ among others. She also has another series about a dog called Do-Boy. The cookbook was produced entirely in Bermuda.“I have learned that tourists love products that are entirely Island-made,” she said. “They ask me quite a few times ‘Does this have anything to do with China?’ or ‘Is it made overseas?’ If I can produce it here, I will.”n BetsyBermuda.com