Sandra Lee

Sandra Lee

Sandra Lee
While most serious chefs are spending hours researching suppliers with the freshest possible food, Sandra Lee has taken the opposite track in her Food Network program, Semi-Homemade and as her critics are quick to remind us, is loading her recipes with preservatives and dyes contained in the "semi". Well, guess you have to do something different to get attention these days! Seems as though by the time the large food chain grocery stores begin stocking organic fresh foods, and people now read food labels as seriously as they read daily newspaper headlines, Lee's cooking concept could throw most of us into shell shock. But again, didn't someone (almost everyone) say she caters to those who don't really like to cook? Now we're talking! Since she has at least 23 cookbooks and a magazine in print and they're still selling, can we assume then that about 80% of the population is looking for a quick fix so they can get out of the kitchen in record time? Of course, since the reason you need to get out of the kitchen quickly is because you spend all day working, you won't have any trouble supplying the extra food money going into all those prepared foods you'll be doctoring, or the liquor for all those cocktail recipes. At the very least you will impress your guests who will leave thinking you're a marvel in the kitchen for making that impressive dinner all by yourself after spending the day running a company! Fait accompli!

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On the other side of the food fence, Ms. Lee now has a new show geared to save the food budget called Sandra's Money Saving Meals. Mind you, this is for families who still have Lee's average family of four monthly budget of $1,126 left to spend. We can't remember what year that was, but you'll need that much for the 20 or so ingredients needed for each recipe! We think the main point she may be trying to make is to stop throwing away leftovers and re-purpose them into the next night's meal, . . and the next, and the next. But don't worry, she'll also teach you how to distract family members from the fourth night of the same leftovers with a dramatic tablescape. Great work!

Criticized at every turn, whether it be for her Ice Princess persona or that her signature cooking style flies in the face of today's healthy eating concerns, clever Sandra knows it doesn't matter what they say - just as long as they continue to say it. That's what puts the grin on her face all the way to the bank!

Sandra's long-time boyfriend is New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The couple were living in Sandra's home near Mount Kisco, New York until he moved into the governor's mansion last January.