Finding romance after Andrew Cuomo is like experiencing 'first love all over again', says Sandra Lee.

Despite being in a relationship with her fiancé for three years, Sandra Lee's romance still feels fresh.

The host of "Blue Ribbon Baking Championship" told Planet Chronicle Digital that it feels like having a first love again for him and that he believes he is his first love for the contestant.

She continued, "Our relationship is completely different from any we've had before. The things we experience with a first love are exactly the kind of stuff we go through. Some of it is silly, and some of it isn't. It's always present, every day. There's no time off. We're in it to win that."

Lee is dating Ben Youcef, 44, an actor-producer.

She marked her 58th birthday on Instagram with a series of photos of her and Ben kissing, captioning it, "The best birthday gift ever was Ben! Thank you for pursuing me relentlessly and not accepting my 'no's'. You were right!"

"I am grateful for my love!" she added, also writing, "Thank you God for such a wonderful man to kiss."

After overcoming numerous health and relationship challenges, Lee found love with Youcef.

"Being a pancake on a griddle and getting flipped was the turning point in my life. I had just reached the perfect place when everything went south," she said of the past decade.

"Life teaches us to enjoy the good times because the bad will inevitably come, regardless of who we are. Although I thought I had already experienced my share of difficulties, life showed me that there were still more challenges to overcome. As a result, I had to take them in stride over the past few years."

In 2015, Lee was diagnosed with breast cancer, specifically ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and underwent a double mastectomy and later a complete hysterectomy.

"It's almost like having a first love again for me. And I think for him, I am his first love." — Sandra Lee

In 2019, four years after their initial relationship, she and her longtime partner, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, experienced a highly publicized breakup.

During the break-up, she discovered that her uncle, whom she regarded as a father figure, had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and relocated to California to look after him until his passing in 2023.

After experiencing a breakup, I relocated to California to be near my uncle. This decision proved to be the best for me as I got to spend quality time with him. We embarked on numerous trips together and accomplished many of his bucket list items. This was precisely what I desired and what I accomplished.

Handling the whirlwind of emotions helped Lee learn a lot about herself.

Lee stated, "I simply allowed it to exist and breathe. I relaxed and observed what was happening while embracing my true self and identity."

Some of the decisions I made were difficult, heartbreaking, and out of my control. I had no control over them, except how I handled them.

""I managed my life one day at a time, taking my time with it. I packed up much of my New York home when I left for California and it's still in storage because I haven't been able to deal with it until just this year," Lee said."

"I went through every aspect of it, yet it's still not easy. Nothing is easy. You know, 14 years of a life is a difficult thing to walk away from."

Her relationship with Youcef has been easier because she teases him, saying he can't cook his way out of a box.

"That's how it works out," Lee said, explaining that he enjoys eating and he likes to cook, and his favorite meal is lamb chops with mashed potatoes and brownies for dessert.

"Each relationship is unique, with its own set of special and challenging aspects. The question is whether one can handle the challenges that arise with a specific person. Sometimes it's possible, and other times it's simply too short a life."

Instead of wedding plans, Lee is currently focusing on her new series "The Blue Ribbon Baking Championship" on Netflix.

In addition to co-hosting with "American Pie" star Jason Biggs, she also judges alongside former White House pastry chef, Bill Yosses, and renowned artisan baker, Bryan Ford.

The "Semi-Homemade" star was thrilled to see contestants unite, even with prizes like $100,000 and a Best in Fair blue ribbon at stake.

"Nothing's easy. You know, 14 years of a life is . . . to walk away from, it's not an easy thing." — Sandra Lee

She stated that she admired how they assisted one another when in need, even if it meant leaving their stations and aiding their rivals. Despite the potential harm to themselves, they were content to lend a helping hand to their fellow competitors.

The show's state and county fair aesthetic showcases true Americana for Lee.

She stated that, in her opinion, the people who attend state fairs represent America's true identity, as they are highly popular among children.

As she continued, she remembered her own happy memories of going to fairs when she was a child.

"I recall the details of my first kiss with Ben on a tram at a fairground when I was 13. State fairs are a popular pastime where people enjoy eating, having fun, riding rides, and spending time with friends. It's all about good, clean fun."

Even after 12 years of creating "The Blue Ribbon Baking Championship," Lee still had to make last-minute changes.

"We decided to shoot the competition in real-time, just like every other food competition, where contestants go home, rest, and are fine. However, we realized that this was not real life and that someone had to be the best baker with all the stress, pressure, and challenges. Therefore, we ran the show in real-time, with bakers baking in real-time. If it's a day, it's a real day, and that's a lot of work, stress, energy, and focus. But it's also a lot of joy, and it makes amazing television."

"The Blue Ribbon Baking Championship" is streaming now on Netflix.