One week ago today, I did something I never thought I'd do. I cooked on LIVE TV. That's right. On. Live. TV. I had the lucky fortune a few weeks ago to be asked to do a very short spot on WBFF Fox45 here in Baltimore, where I was asked to talk about Thanksgiving side dishes. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!
I was beyond excited leading up to my 3 minute on-air spot, but I was also super nervous. What would I talk about? What would I bring? Would I cook? Would I faint? Would I pee in my pants? WHAT WOULD I DO?!
After much deliberation, I decided to go with two of my very favorite holiday side dishes, fresh cranberry sauce and homemade green bean casserole. Boom. Next step was to figure out HOW I would best talk about both of these dishes. ON AIR.
So the day before the big event, I made my delicious, completely scratch made green bean casserole ahead of time. I figured I could use their kitchen in the studio to bake it off. I also laid out all the ingredients I would need for the cranberries, deciding to just go for it and make that from the pot up on camera. I would of course get it started before the cameras started rolling, but that's how it was going to go.
I would cook the cranberries, and have the casserole ready to rock and roll. I practiced something to say over and over and over for the day leading up to the spot, but I really had no idea what to expect. No. Idea. Whatsoever.
So at 5:55 a.m. on Saturday, November 21, and I was awake, practicing and getting ready for my television debut. I started to get REALLY nervous. Like, "I don't want to go anymore," nervous. Like, peeing my pants might actually be something that may happen. Yeah. Super nervous.
My sister-in-law had arrived for her visit just the night before, and agreed to watch the kiddos while Michael and I headed out. We arrived at the studio just after 7 that morning, and I was able to get all of my preparations in the studio kitchen complete on time. I started feeling really good. Confidence was starting to kick in, thank God. Yes, I was still nervous but I didn't think I'd have a Ricky Bobby moment after all. Whew.
Then the time came. Mary McKenzie, the morning news anchor, entered the studio, and before I knew it, it was go time.
This woman is a PROFESSIONAL. She guided me through that 3-minute segment without a hitch. Before I knew it, my time was up, everyone was smiling, and feeling good.
Watch the video here:All in all, being on Fox45 was one of my very favorite experiences, and it's all thanks to everyone who comes and reads this blog. What an incredible moment, to realize that all of my hard work that I pour into Slow Down and Savor, all of my passion and excitement, it's all going somewhere good.
I just felt so overwhelmed and full of joy to know that my recipes for these delicious and simple dishes would reach a ton of people, and they'd be able to feed their families something new, healthy and festive this Thanksgiving, and for future holiday spreads. It made me excited to know that those who tried their hand at these dishes would likely gain new confidence, and would be more likely to get back in the kitchen to cook something else new, try new techniques or do something they never thought possible.
CHECK OUT THE FOX45 SITE WITH MY ON-AIR VIDEO HERE!I love it when people use the recipes I post here as a springboard or a launch-pad in their own lives and kitchens. So keep coming back. I have a ton of good stuff to come, and as always, remember to slow down and savor!