For those local readers, you’ll know I do a local TV segment each week on Wednesdays. For the past four years, I have loved cooking up some of my favorite recipes on the segment. This is a picture of my very first time four years ago appearing on Rise & Shine to talk about my blog. I had no idea that this appearance would lead to 4 years of TV appearances and so much merriment and chaos in cooking and dining! This was my first “cooking set” aka a table with a black tablecloth on it. Six months later, I was thrilled when one of the producers showed me the new rolling kitchen set that I got to use from that point on. You’ve come a long way baby. I spent much of this time with anchor Lance West, who made me feel immediately at ease and I looked forward each week to seeing what trouble we could get into together cooking. We broke several of my kitchen utensils (mostly he did), sprayed batter and chocolate over every known surface and had so many laughs. I am ever grateful to him for taking me under his wing when I had no idea what I was doing. I am also grateful that he never let me try to slide by anything to the viewers and put things right out there like “Do you want to share with the viewers the ingredient you FORGOT to bring this morning?” Thanks Lance, for keying everyone in on the missing powdered sugar for my fudge recipe, the missing egg white that I tried to substitute a bowl of water for to brush the pie with and for keeping me calm when my glass baking dish of chocolate ganache went crashing to the ground when the set was wheeled out a mere 30 seconds before I was supposed to make truffles for Valentines Day! I’ve also loved seeking out and showcasing some of my favorite local eateries,and meeting chefs and restaurant owners. These have been some of the nicest folks I have ever met. There have been plenty of antics with the news anchors, weather persons and camera operators and crew. I have lasted through several anchor changes and worked with so many great people. Starting in the New Year, I regret to inform you all that I am taking a hiatus from my four-year-stunt on Rise & Shine. There are a few reasons why. First off, it’s been four years of prepping from weekend to Wednesday to get ready for my one recipe I prepare on the show. This has involved a weekend day of brainstorming, food shopping, recipe preparing and photo shooting, a day for photo editing, a day for writing, and each Tuesday night has involved preparing my mise en place (prepping, slicing, chopping, adding to bowls) and setting an alarm early for the next morning to jar Mr. Wonderful from his sleeping slumber to drive the 20 minute drive to lug all my stuff into the studio and help me set up. He has helped and then sat and watched and snapped photos for me along the way.This is why he’s so “wonderful” to me. From there – I have headed over to my full-time job. If I could do this solely as my job, I’d do it with JOY forever. But…. Thus said, it has been an absolutely wonderful experience, however, I am taking a break. A break to work on a writing project I’ve kept prisoner in the back of my mind for 4 years. A break to spend previously mentioned “weekend to Wednesday” with my kids, who will soon be leaving the nest permanently. A break to let Mr. Wonderful sleep in. Not really on that last part, but I’m sure he won’t mind. A break to recreate a passion for cooking in my mind and heart with no pressure or time crunch. I write this with mixed emotions and I feel like I’m leaving a huge part of my creativity behind while embarking on a new and exciting opportunity. I have prayed, and I’ve heard answers and I am at peace with my decision… I will still be here on my blog, with recipes and eateries galore. The station has told me I’m welcome to return at any time. But until then… I hope you’ll stick around…there IS more to come!