Semi-Homemade Cooking With Sandra Lee Whips Up Its 200th Episode

isilzha · 04-26-2008, 04:20 PM

Food Network's Semi-Homemade Cooking With Sandra Lee Whips Up Its 200th Episode
Tuesday April 22, 8:45 am ET

'Wedding Bells' Episode Premieres Saturday, May 3rd at 10am ET/PT
NEW YORK, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- This May, Food Network's Semi-Homemade Cooking With Sandra Lee celebrates its milestone 200th episode. Premiering Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 at 10am ET/PT, the "Wedding Bells" episode exemplifies Sandra's successful combination of simple cooking solutions with creative entertaining ideas. Over the years, Sandra has prepared more than one-thousand recipes that utilize her signature Semi-Homemade approach of combining 70% specially selected store-bought items with 30% fresh ingredients to create mouth-watering dishes that look and taste like they were made from scratch. From flavorful food and creative tablescapes to cocktails and kitchen decor, Sandra offers fool-proof, unique ideas that are stylish and affordable.

"Our viewers have a special connection with Sandra," said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming & Production for Food Network. "They rely on her clever recipes and entertaining tips, which save them time and money while delivering outstanding results."

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Congrats Sandra Lee!

bluejeanz · 04-26-2008, 04:37 PM

I'm actually surprised that this show lasted as long as it has. There must be a lot of women out there who love her 70/30 style of cooking.

I wouldn't put it past the FN to have a new show with a format that uses 100% of store-bought pre-packaged items. Recipes like you'd find in those "3-5 ingredients or less" type cookbooks.

BerryBaby · 04-26-2008, 06:30 PM

Congratulations, however...
honestly, I just don't get it...who is watching? Who relies on her clever recipes? I have never met anyone who has. Wonder where the biggest viewing audience is located, and what is the average age.:blueshirt: Also, where do they pull their data from?

isilzha · 04-26-2008, 07:38 PM

But you're an expert cook who doesn't need the kind of tips she has to offer. Maybe for someone who doesn't have much cooking experience but still wants to make a meal Sandra Lee fulfills the need.

BerryBaby · 04-26-2008, 09:07 PM

Thanks, however, there have never been any real fans that have spoken out here.

You are right, I'm sure she is helpful to many. :catplus:

isilzha · 04-26-2008, 09:19 PM

My biggest problem with what she does is that it looks expensive to do it that way. But if you have the money and can do it and like it, then it works.

bluejeanz · 04-27-2008, 10:23 AM

I personally find everything about Sandra Lee irritating and/or annoying and don't care for her type of 'cuisine' but, as they say, 'there's something for everyone'. I'm sure there are women all over the country who don't have time to make gourmet meals for their families and this is the closest thing to it. At least they're trying rather than just cooking up some mac and cheese from the blue box, putting it on the table and calling it good. I'm not such a food snob that I don't sympathize with their situations. I remember being a single mom with a full-time job trying to raise two kids all alone. There just weren't enough hours in the day.

One thing I don't understand about this show is that, while she gives a homemaker a lot of shortcuts as far as recipes and meal-planning, she spends a good deal of her time and money on her tablescapes. I can see doing it for a particular occasion but must every meal be an 'extravaganza'? Just a 'few cents here' and a 'few cents there' for all of her supplies can add up to a hefty total. And just where do you store it all??

Now if the FN could come up with a show that gives simple, quick and healthy recipes that have only a few ingredients, I think it'd be a hit. At least the meals would be a lot more nutritious than using boxed or pre-packaged foods. And it'd give Aunt Sandy a run for her money.

BerryBaby · 04-27-2008, 10:37 AM

When we were first married 34 years ago, Hamburger Helper was all the rage. I admit I'd make it and add my own touches like peas or some other vegetable to the mix. However, I didn't need anyone to show me how to spruce it up.

I'm sure there people who do. I've come a looonnnngggg way since then and haven't made anything out of a box in eons.

Yes, all that stuff she uses on tablescape, and the time involved making the placecards and other things, doesn't make sense.

She's doing all these shortcuts on cooking and then takes twice as long to set the table and spends all her money there, when she could have spent it on higher quality food!

isilzha · 04-27-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Responsible for helping her mother manage the household, Sandra faced hard times throughout childhood and quickly learned how to turn budget-friendly products into delicious and special family meals. Faced with another dilemma -- how to decorate her home with style and flair with limited funds -- she invented a quick, easy way to re-create her home from the inside out. She then founded her business, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® and has since created award-winning product lines for the home and garden. She is also the best-selling author of 13 cookbooks and a recently-released memoir titled "Made From Scratch."

...

Iwishyouwereneverborn · 05-01-2008, 03:54 AM

It's incredulous that people take her seriously and actually follow her suggestions. The idea that using so much store bought crap will save time is completely juxtaposed with the thought that so much time and money spent on ridiculous themes will take up much more time. Why not spend an hour and prepare a good, healthy, tasteful meal instead of two making horrid food and awful tablescapes.