Sandra Lee's Money-Saving Tips ... and French Toast - Slashfood

[Food Network Fan]

Sandra Lee's Money-Saving Tips ... and French Toast - Slashfood
By Sara Bonisteel
For her latest Food Network show, the queen of "semi-homemade" cuisine is teaching her viewers "Money Saving Meals" with tips on how to make dishes like this French toast without breaking the bank. "This show is like Suze Orman meets ...

[ibcheft]

Aunt Sandy is not no Julia, French toast will not break any budget I know of, and save the booze for special occasion, would that be every day ? looks like this new show is going to be one of those fillers, (fill the void when there is nothing else worth watching) and the spice mixes are the most expensive things on the shelf, go to the bulk, get a small amount of each and mix your own.

[Food Network Fan]

Sams club has big containers cheap, and keeping them would probably be as fresh as what you get in those packets.

[BerryBaby]

I don't care for the new look. Put some color back on her face and fluff her hair. She is a pretty woman but those new commercials make her look dull. Are they trying to make her look like the 'average' woman? I don't know?

Same stuff (regarding the TV show) just a new twist on how they say it.

Most of us, on this forum, we are beyond this. That's why we don't care for her style and that's ok.

I'm sure many will benefit from this show.

[Food Network Fan]

Actually I think what she is outlining here shows promise. She seems to be turning away from some of her standards ... like the cocktails. Keeping in mind that her Semi Homemade show is targeted towards entertaining ... where you might spend a little more to save some time if someone doesn't want do focus on the cooking more than the party, if she is going to do daily meals maybe she will be more frugal. Possibly the packets could save money if we took the time to figure it up. I admit I haven't priced them because I don't really care for them.

I am willing to wait and see the show before I am too critical. I know she did grow up with very little and had to save where she could, so this could be something she's very good at when the focus isn't entertaining.

I really hope she will do well with this show. If you read some of my suggestions I have made for shows I would like to see them do on the Food Network this is it. I would like to see her pull this off fabulously. I like Sandra, her current show just isn't my cooking style ... so I hope I like this one.

[MiseEnPlace]

I was surprised by the recipe... real stuff.
I don't go for the spice packet idea as money savers, but I'm going to give the show a try. Of course, she no AB so she has a high, high bar to reach.

[BerryBaby]

Of course I hope this show does well. Just not a fan of Semi-Homemade.

Maybe this venue will work better for her.

[Food Network Fan]

I am actually getting kind of excited to see this show. In the commercial they show her going to the grocery store. I hope it's a REAL store, and it's not a typical NYC type place where they will have all sorts of things you can't find in middle America.

This show has grand possibilities to me, I am praying she doesn't revert to the prepackaged dump and stir.

You know a lot of the reason I was able to be a stay at home mom is that we could save on groceries by actually cooking. I know a lot of families that say they couldn't afford it, but they buy all sorts of pre cooked items and go out to eat at least a couple of times a week if not more. When you are paying for that, gas to go back and forth to work the kind of clothes you need for everyday and child care, I can't believe they are really making that much.

I have really noticed how much people are relying on the quick fix items in the store and it's such a shame. Even with meat, if you do work outside the home, a slow cooker can be your best friend and it just takes a few minutes to cook most side dishes and veggies. You come home and the main course is ready, that's faster than a drive thru.

I don't know if people just need someone to show them that or if they just think it's a lot harder than it really is and they are too lazy to try. I would love to be able to make others realize how much they could save.

[Food Network Fan]

Sandra Lee talks "Money Saving Meals"


Sandra Lee's new show, "Sandra's Money Saving Meals" should save home cookes between 22 and 50 percent on their groceries (depending on their weekly spending).
At a press breakfast this morning, "Semi-Homemade" guru Sandra Lee talked about her new show, "Sandra's Money Saving Meals," which will start on the Food Network on May 10 at 12 p.m. The show seems to fit in well amidst the current economy.
Each episode will start at the supermarket, where Sandra will provide savings tips (one she swears by: eschewing lots of flavors in favor of a McCormick's all-in-one seasoning package).

Unlike "Semi-Homemade Meals," this show features recipes that are 50 percent store-bought and percent homemade (the "Semi-Homemade Meals ratio is 70:30).

MORE HERE

[Food Network Fan]

Oh dear, 50/50 is not as good as I had hoped. But there does seem to be a huge market for what she's doing. I want a show that will help them see they don't need to cook that way. Help change some lives.