It all started with Manne. My sister Clara loved him. I didn't. Manne was a leggings-clad mime—a made-for-TV children's entertainer who pedaled through the woods on a stationary bike and spent endless hours slipping on banana peels. My sister laughed, face inches from the screen. I yawned. So began my relationship with the tube—and it's stuck. I still don't really watch it much, except for the occasional game show or Sunday night movie.

But there's one exception: Food TV. I confess. I am addicted.

Given even just a few minutes of spare time, I turn to cable channel 67 to check on Emeril, Mario, and—my personal favorite—Sara Moulton. This woman is amazing. I devour every word, hang on every tablespoon and have the call-in number jotted down by the phone in case I have a segment-related question.

Unlike many of the complicated new prime-time additions, the premise of Sara's show is simple: she picks a theme—picnic meals, gourmet dinners, etc.—and prepares 3 - 5 recipes, complete with interesting culinary nuggets, suggestions and viewer calls.

The best part—the Cookalong—happens once a week and features a regular Jane viewer (it could be you!) who receives all recipes beforehand, prepares the same dishes in her own kitchen, and checks in throughout the televised hour. Pure brilliance.

Lately, I've even tried to emulate Sara's style and kitchen panache when I putter about my own clutter-filled cooking cranny. I haven't gone so far as to purchase the name-embroidered white smock (or pink with flowered sleeves, or navy with white lapels...the possibilities are endless). But I do like to stir, slice and bake wearing my clogs and short, wide pants. A pocket-bedecked apron adds a fancy touch, as do those little Pyrex bowls, ideal for miniature measurements, like ½ tablespoon or ¾ teaspoon.

Sara is perfect—but not in that stuffy Martha Stewart way. She looks like your best friend's soccer mom, the one who always had cookies and milk ready after school. Her hair is never out of place, her nose always free from flour and I've yet to see her flip an omelette on to the floor. But she's not out of reach. And that's the hook.

Her food is standard, weekday fare—the kind you have time to make even if it's 5pm and the refrigerator is empty. Left-over spaghetti frittatas; bread-crumb topped casseroles; roasted chicken with rosemary, lemon and thyme; and an olive oil-garlic-white bean spread that I make for any party.

To make it all the more scrumptious, she's recently added another show—it's true!—at 9pm CST weekdays. Unlike her earlier, down-home, mom-in-the-kitchen segment, this one features celebrity chefs and cookbook authors preparing their specialties. Though most of the recipes are still winners—requiring more elaborate procedures—I reserve this time slot to fully enjoy Sara's exquisite charm and culinary know-how.

When guests falter, forget or fumble, Sara is always ready to step in and take over the ladle for a few minutes. Best of all, she understands the necessity and pure harmony a glass of red wine brings the food-making process.

Never thought I'd say these words, but... tune in! Sara is waiting.