My TV debut experience

Me and Tony Pann, meteorologist and the man with a plan!

Yesterday was WILD! I spent so many days being nervous, but the actual live segment flew by in a flash!

So how did The Raw Mocha Angel find herself on television? First, I intend on having my own raw vegan and gluten-free vegan cooking show on national television. When you intend, think from the END. Not, "How is that going to happen?" Think about what you really want and focus on that end result. I didn't know anyone in the TV business before October 30, 2010. That is the day I met Tony Pann at the late great Mystickal Voyage. It closed on October 31st. :-(

Tony and I got to talking about life, and he asked me, "What do you really want to do with your life?" I said, "I want my own television show where I teach people about the vegan & raw vegan lifestyle." He said, "I'm going to make that happen for you."

Yesterday was the beginning of my dream coming true.

http://www.wbaltv.com/video/25940205/detail.html

Carlotta, the floor manager

So the next question: Why did I cook, instead of doing something raw? Originally, I was to be on at 7:45am and 9:45am. But the producer had double booked. Someone else went on at 7:45. I was live at 9:45am. My plan was to do something raw and cooked. But the producer told me I HAD to cook something. The point of Sunday Brunch is to make a meal. That's where the tofu idea came from. When I come back to WBAL, and other local stations, I'll see how far I can push the raw envelope!

My vantage point

My friend Michele and I spent a lot of time intending that this TV segment go well. And it did. I got there an hour early so I had time to get acclimated. The anchors, Lisa Robinson and Sarah Caldwell, were awesome. They both talked to me and gave me pointers. Getting there early gave me time to settle down.

Once it was time to go live, the whole thing was a blur. Experiencing it, in the moment, it felt like time went into hyper-drive. When I watched myself back on TV, everything moved in normal time. It was surreal. But now that I've done it, I'm glad I rehearsed what I would say and do. Four minutes is not a lot of time to demonstrate how to cook anything, but I got it all done :-).

Thanks for reading and coming along with me on this journey. I told you all in my Third Anniversary post that 2011 was going to be exciting!!!

Love,

Althea

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My TV debut experience

We Go Vegan For Sunday Brunch - Video - WBAL Baltimore

We Go Vegan For Sunday Brunch - Video - WBAL Baltimore

I was on TVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! The link is above. It was live and wild, but I had a lot of fun. Tony Pann, meteorologist extraordinaire, did the segment with me. He kept me at ease. The other anchors and the floor manager were wonderful. They calmed my nerves and helped keep me grounded.


Adapted from 30-Minute Vegan.


Tofu Scramble




2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup onion, diced
6 garlic cloves, minced
4 mushrooms, diced
1 lb. extra firm tofu, water pressed out, and crumbled
3/4 teaspoon tumeric
3/4 teaspoon paprika
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons wheat-free tamari
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 medium tomato, chopped
3 cups spinach, washed, drained, and chopped
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Cilantro, as garnish


-Slice tofu in half. Place on a plate. Put a skillet, or pot on top of it. Place something heavy, like gallon
of water, on top of skillet. This will press the water out for you. Leave for a few hours. Pour the water off
the plate before using. If you are pressed for time, wrap the tofu in a towel and squeeze the water out by hand.
-Place oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and mushrooms and cook until
the onions are soft, about 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
-Add crumbled tofu. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
-Add tumeric, paprika, nutritional yeast, tamari, and basil.
-Add tomato, spinach, and cook another 3 minutes more.
-Add salt and pepper to your taste.
-Garnish with cilantro. ( I like it with avocado too.) Enjoy!

Love,
Althea ◦

We Go Vegan For Sunday Brunch - Video - WBAL Baltimore