(For those of you who have not read one of my posts on Sandra Lee in the past, here’s a bit of a warning…
I do not like this person. I am ruthless and more than a bit cruel when discussing her. This is not going to be a read in praise of Aunt Sandy. You have been warned!
If you are a Sandra lee fan, please read the bottom of this post before commenting. ((You may skip the rest, you won’t like it))))
For me, Semi Home Made with Sandra lee is something akin to a train wreck, or a serious auto accident in progress. I don’t want to watch it. I have no interest in the carnage, and most likely what I see will scar me for life. But as with a train wreck, I simply can’t turn away, the sight is too ghastly for that. I simply stare in shock as something beyond my control goes terribly, horribly wrong.
Try as I might,if I fail to get to the remote before she starts talking, I’m stuck in the glow of her inanity like a deer in the headlights of a fast moving semi truck. Somewhere inside of myself I know that the end is near, but there is a part of me that just has to see what those shiny lights are, regardless of the danger.
For those of you who railed against me for having nothing at all positive to say about Miss Lee, let me say this. In the span between my first post on this person and today, I have seen some decent looking recipes on her show. Not many, mind you, but a few. For the most part I tally those up to “it’s such a simple dish that it has to be good.” In any case, there aren’t enough of those moments to keep me from finding new and improved ways to state my obvious distaste of her.
EDIT:– For those of you who just have to tell me she trained at the Cordon Bleu:
No, She did Not! She dropped out of a Cordon Bleu Satellite Class after one week, stating she could get the same results out of a package! (What a nauseating thought!)
So let’s dive in shall we? Let the carnage begin!
Thirteen more Things about Semi Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee
- Sandy still hasn’t curbed the habit of matching every single item in her kitchen with the clothes she is wearing. this might even have been a neat idea for one or two episodes, but it’s really just gone too far at this point. I have a great fear that one day she’ll take to coloring her hair to match as well, or worse, color coordinating her nieces and nephews!
- Does the fact that it’s difficult to find a picture or video of this woman without a cocktail in her hand a bit frightening to anyone but me? What message is the network trying to put out here, that the only way you can properly enjoy this excuse for a program is with a stiff one in your hand, or better yet, two?
- While we’re on the subject, the most notable portion of Aunt Sandy’s show is “cocktail time”. It is begun each episode with the infamous words “And now it’s time for my favorite time of the day, Cocktail Time.” In her first few seasons this consisted of one drink with enough horsepower to render a large man into a drunken idiot. It seems that Sandy has themed her shows to make sure that she adds one more cocktail to “cocktail time” with each season. Hopefully that is the case, since aside from being cab-calling strong, her drinks are the one thing on the show she seems passionate about, and most look pretty good. Anyone else for a show titled “Cocktail Time with Aunt Sandy”? Let’s skip the “cooking” and just get to the drinks, shall we?
- I mentioned in my last post on this subject that Sandra’s idea of a kids menu was generally frightening to me. This unease has shifted to a firm state of panic, as her choices for drinks have now turned to “and for the adults, just add vodka”. What happens if the containers get mixed up!!?
- I will admit that Sandra no longer looks like she’s drunk herself under the table the night before taping her episodes. She’s gained a few much needed pounds and has lost the emaciated look of a binge drinker, for which I’m sure her liver is thanking her. It is very possibly the reason that she’s come up with some nearly palatable menu items. She can actually taste this slop now!
- Apparently her time as a cooking host has not taught her basic kitchen skills. I saw an episode a few weeks ago where Aunt Sandy was measuring out some liquid (probably vodka). Her recipe calls for three cups of the stuff. As she’s telling you this she tops off her measuring cup and pours it into a pitcher to mix with the other ingredients, all the while stating that you “need three cups”. The problem? Pyrex doesn’t make a three cup measuring cup! Nor does OXO, or any other company that I’ve been able to find. She poured four cups worth of whatever it was in there. I think messing up your directions by a full cup is a bit careless, don’t you?
- Figuring out where Aunt Sandy gets her recipe ideas from is no real challenge. Oh sure, there are some that are inspired by Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali or Bobby Flay, but for the most part if you want to see what Sandra will be making next season, all you have to do is watch Rachael Ray this season. You can bet Sandra will be back next year with her own version of the ever-so-perky brunette’s recipes in tow.
- I can’t discuss Sandra lee without taking a moment to mention the table settings she has dubbed “tablescapes”. (The fact that this word will be a part of the English language very soon makes me want to gag, but I digress.) While she has set up a few that even I liked, for the most part even her producers have to be wondering what the h@ll this woman was smoking when she came up with the idea for some of these impractical assemblies. Her use of unfinished fabrics doesn’t bother me, but plates set on pedestals at the table is not only ugly and nearly impossible to talk over, but so impractical that it should have been banned by the production staff, not featured on her show.
- Sandra is personally in charge of every aspect of her show, including her wardrobe. Unfortunately she, sometimes seems to forget her age. Sorry Sandy, you are not cute in a sun-dress designed for a 15 year old, nor are you cute wearing Daisy Duke wannabe clothes. Lastly, please, please, please do not ever wear camouflage again!
- Sandy has been touted as “The Next Martha”, but for all the hype, she still sits in Rachael Ray’s shadow, both on the Food network and off. I’ve often wondered if she will simply snap one day and go after Ray-Ray with a Semi-Homemade handgun, though I still can’t figure out which 30% of that she would create from scratch.
- Sandra Lee’s love of store bought angel food cake borders on the obsessive. Her Kwanzaa and Hanukkah cakes have already earned her a place in infamy, and I can’t see her stopping there. I’m waiting for an angel food ‘tini to hit the air at some point. Grotesque? Yes, but I wouldn’t put it past her if she’s had too many cocktails.
- It boggles my mind that Gourmet Magazine ran a featured artice on Sandra In the September 2003 edition titled “Good Bye to All That” with a subtitle of “Cookbook author and soon to be television star Sandra Lee doesn’t see any reason to devote her days to tedious culinary tasks. She doesn’t think you should, either”. Isn’t Gourmet supposed to be pushing the virtues of fresh seasonal gourmet food? They do however, confirm that Sandra was already touting the virtues of “wine, wine and more wine — or Margaritas — at the end of every day”
- It is actually a measure of Sandra’s success that allows people like me to despise her so. I am truly not alone in my hatred of Miss Lee. YouTube is full of anti-Sandy videos, and Television Without Pity has a forum dedicated to nothing more than bashing Sandra. (It’s the only dedicated Food related sub-forum there, that should tell you something!) If the Anti-Martha hadn’t infested our collective presence with her malodorous idea of what life should be like, we wouldn’t get the pleasure of repeatedly trying to find some way to collectively forget her. Thank You Sandy! And keep those ‘tini’s coming.
By this point there are rabid Sandy fans foaming at the mouth, especially if they’ve read part one in the series. Before you shoot straight to the comment form to lambast me for being vicious, cruel or heartless, I’d like you to hear me out on a few points, if you will.
My wife thinks some of Sandra’s craft projects are worthwhile, and to be honest if Sandy ran a crafting show, I would probably not dislike her as much as I do. The woman does have talent, just not in the area of cooking. Since her show is on The Food Network, I expect some sort of culinary insight from it. The only place I see that is in her cocktails, which she has been touting for years as the way to relax at the end of the day.
I am aware that Sandy had a hard life growing up. So did a lot of us. I think it’s wonderful that her ideas have been so well received by the world, it gives me something to snark at.
If you would like to disagree with me, feel free to do so. Do not attack any other commentator on this blog, or I guarantee that your comment will never see the light of day. Likewise with cursing like a sailor. I actually was a sailor, and I refrain from such language here. I would ask you to do the same.
Please do take note. This is not a personal attack on Sandra Lee. I do not know Sandra. I cannot comment on her as a person in daily life. I can only comment on her television persona, which I personally find to be trite, annoying and forced, if not downright Barbie-Doll fake. I reserve personal attacks to people I have actually met.
So, do you love her or hate her? Let me know in the comment, but please. If you do like her. Explain why! I’d really like to know.
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I appreciate her, in her own way. What is nice about her is that she has recipes that are (in general) possible for an average person who lives somewhere without specialty stores to make (which is refreshing if you’ve ever tried to find Korean Curry powder in central PA). I wouldn’t make the majority of her food, and I do find the matchiness of her show to be a bit scary (mind you – I go to Martha’s alma mater so I’m pretty immune to that stuff).
In general I would only use some of her slow cooker recipes (she had a chicken pot pie that actually looked possible and tasty) and some cocktail recipes. But the fact that she made a grown-up version of a jello shot for the Food Network Thanksgiving special one year really endeared her to my friends and I. Mostly because we constantly make fun of her, but you have to respect someone who is maybe 40 and still making jello shots and yet doesn’t look like a hobo (or Tara Reid).
I am with SJR. I have Noooo idea who she is. Hope that makes you feel good!
Now do not hold back..tell us how you really feel..LOL. I have have watched her maybe once or twice. I tend to watch Rachel Ray or Barefoot Contessa.
I don’t know who she is because I don’t watch television, but I’m guessing she is laughing all the way to the bank. You makes some valid points as well. Enough so that I wouldn’t watch her under any circumstances. Have a great TT. :)
I’ve never seen her so I take no offense. You do seem passionate though.
Now, reading between the lines, I slightly suspect that you are not very fond of this woman, whoever she is1
I’ve watched her show, and find your post to be very accurate, even though I do like her.
Happy tt!
Oh dear!!! You know. About 3 months ago I found out she’s my uncle’s great neace or something like that…so I guess we’re related. Have to laugh. Happy TT!
I really know very little about Sandra Lee. “Almost Homemade” sounds a bit weird.
I would love to have you stop by to check out 13 Phrases & their Origins. Also you may want to submit a recipe to win an absolutely wonderful programable slow cooker (shipping included in continental U.S.) for the contest I am offering for National Soup Month. Happy TT! Blessings, Cricket
That’s frightening stuff. The idea of “semi-homemade” is weird off the bat. The put-on stuff drives me nuts with anyone, even TV which is a put-on to begin with. God bless!
You are funny in you r observations
Ew -did you say store bought angel food cake?? She’s not even at altitude and angel food cake isn’t that hard to make.
I do love your reviews – they are deliciously helpful!
Happy TT!
I’d never heard of her until your post about her. Does that help. I love it!
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
I have absolutely no idea who Sandra Lee is, but now if I see her name I will head the other direction.
I don’t like Sandra Lee either.
It drives me crazy when she’s making a recipe and she keeps saying, “And then I want you to…..” like she just assumes we’re going to make it.
Or when she “dolls up” canned frosting (yuk) by adding vanilla.
And then she waves bye bye with both hands like a little kid.
Funny stuff. You are very observant and I liked your observations.
I have never seen her show. Only heard about it in passing. Now I will have to check it out to decide for myself! :-D
You’re entitled to your own opinion on your own blog, but I do want to point out that she did train at the Cordon Bleu. I don’t like her too much, either, but she takes her work seriously, and there is room for her, along with the Anthony’s and Mario’s of the world. *You* have four kids and do it all from scratch :)
I watch Sandra Lee from time to time. She’s okay, but you’re right on about a lot of what you say.
All her cocktails worry me! My four-year-old used to watch Food Network at “nap time” and he watched Sandra Lee. He started talking about wanting a cocktail. What?!? He doesn’t watch anymore, and I don’t watch that often.
I think I’ve only made one recipe of hers – Banana Pudding Bites or something like that. They were easy and good, and my boys loved them, but her focus on cocktails and tablescapes (who can afford to do that all the time anyway?) and matching kitchen decor is distracting. I like her basic idea of using prepared foods (in some cases) to liven up a recipe.
Ashley,
On days when the food snob in me is at bay I find that I can laugh at her as well. Most days however, I just change the station. I find that I’ve invested too much of my time on Miss Lee as it is. I don’t even have enough left in me to snark at her any longer. If she ads a moment of happiness to your day then perhaps the show is worth airing after all.
Elizabeth,
I’m not knocking the concept. I mentioned that in my first post on Miss Lee. My mother used to do the same thing, and I’m pretty confident that almost all home cooks do this from time to time. My issue is that she claims the concept as “revolutionary”. Funny, it wasn’t revolutionary when my grandmother or my mother did it…
Melanie,
I’ll remember to let my true feelings show on the next round, LOL!
Nicholas,
I have no idea whether I would be fond of Miss Lee herself, as I have not met her. I am not fond of her television show or the persona she puts forth there.
Jenn,
Feel free to like her. Obviously people like myself are in the minority. You won’t break my heart one way or the other.
Rhonda,
Don’t panic! Any thoughts of suicide are only passing, I promise! YOU’LL GET THROUGH THIS!
Seafoam,
I hadn’t thought to mention that, but you are absolutely correct. I think she assumes that if you are watching you must be one of her rabid fangirls. Of course if you are, you’ve already redecorated your living room to match Sandy’s set of the day…
zenmomma,
Have tissue handy. You may find your eyes bleeding.
Nancy,
ATTENDED. For One Week! She quit, stating you could get the same quality out of a pre-packaged food flavored product at the mega Mart. She’s a dropout. That does not give her the right to claim the school at all.
Ashley,
give the kid a Shirley Temple ;) Just 7-Up or Ginger Ail with a splash of Grenadine. (Pomegranate Syrup) On the sweet side yes, but it will make the lil’ one feel special.
Well, I had never heard of Sandra Lee till you mentioned her, so I went and looked her up, and then read your list. Interesting opinions and discussion. Now I’m curious to watch one of her shows myself and see if I agree with you!
Heh. I watch her mainly for Cocktail Time (I used an altered, non-alcoholic version of her Sangria recipe the other day at a baby shower I hosted, and it went over really well), but there is something strangely mesmerizing about her, beyond just the fodder it provides for my husband and I to get snarky.
Did you see the Food Network Christmas special last year, when they brought out a bottle of champagne and she was the first to hoist her glass up to get it filled? We about fell over laughing.
Still, she does have the occasional good idea, and she does know her cocktails. Gotta give her credit where credit’s due.
I have no idea who she is until your post:) But you are intitled to your own opinion! Nice one! :)
I’ve never seen her show…and after reading this, I likely won’t. :)
Oy, the canned frosting thing. Why anyone would use premade frosting when it’s quite literally the simplest thing in the world to make is just … the thought of actually eating that stuff makes me gag.
Adding strawberry extract to storebought frosting, and smothering a storebought angel food cake, IS NOT COOKING!
I’m right there with ya. She drives me up the wall.
Wow, I feel really out of it…I’ve never watched her! Now I almost want to, just to see if she’s really as awful as you say.
I actually thought your TT was humorous. :)
Hmm, well I wasn’t aware of her booze swilling ways. That’s awesome. Sundress designed for a 15 year old, jet fuel in both hands, crossed eyes? How could you miss?
When I arrive home this afternoon, I’m going to set up Tivo to find me a few of her shows. Then? Late at night, when the house is quiet and I have some time to myself I will turn on a show. Turn the volume way down low, close the curtains and bask in the glow. Thanks for the heads up!
Biggles
As for myself, I’m ambivalent. I don’t watch her show, because she hasn’t caught my interest. Her books are popular at my library, but then the cook book section is always popular.
I’d never heard of her before. She sounds a bit like the Galloping Gormet. Except I like him.
The entire idea of “semi-homemade” bugs me. Why bother if you’re not going to do it right? The fact that her liver is probably looking for a new host body makes me laugh.
You had me laughing so hard I was in tears! I am a total Food network junkie and she just irritates me to death. My 12 yr old even refers to her as the “drunken gourmet”
Hi! Funny lists! I hope you don’t mind, but I linked to this post over on TWoP.
I’d also like to add for anyone who’s still on the fence about her: It’s true what Jerry says about just about every home cook using convenience products and fixing them up at home, but I would also emphasize that there is a tasty and sensible way to do this and there is a disgusting and wasteful way to do this. Sandy almost invariably goes for the disgusting and wasteful way.
Furthermore, her recipes save neither time nor money as she claims. She uses convenience products, but she uses so many of them and she’s so fussy with the recipes that a simpler version of the dish made from real ingredients would have taken as much or even less time and would have tasted better and been healthier. And the cost? Forget it! Just visit the Television Without Pity test kitchen thread (click on my name) to see the $24.80 meatloaf recipe that involved a meatloaf made with Shake’n'Bake, dry seasoning packets, and cans of condensed soup that involved said meatloaf being left to boil in a Crock Pot for 7 hours in cans of soup and its own fat. Be sure to look at the pictures. It’s toward the end of the thread.
Awesome list!
One thing you missed is her inability to use the English language, both pronunciations and basic grammar. “Fantastic” is “F’ntastic”, “chervil” comes out as “gerbil”, and this is how she describes her Semi-Ho philosophy: “I was kind of in the forefront of leading this whole kind of utilizing your grocery store front.”
Anyone who adds artificial flavors to Cool Whip to “take away the packaged taste” can’t be trusted.
Hi there, I think of her as my own personal “wrongness” barometer. I see what she does; and whatever it is I know that if I do the opposite, all will be well in the world. Snark aside, I do believe there is something wrong with her taste buds. It’s the only explanation I can find for the taste combinations she comes up with. Also, I find it ironic that someone soooo busy she can’t ever use fresh products, has time to put together the horror show she calls “tablescapes” Wouldn’t the time she spends hot-gluing fake flowers to fabric be better used on steaming some fresh green beens once in a while?
I once described Aunt Sandy as an accident that you don’t want to look at, but you can’t stop yourself as you are passing by. I haven’t tried any of her recipes, and the only ones I might accidentally try might be a dessert. Even some of her cocktails seem to me to be a little over the top. I guess I’m an old fashioned kind of girl, a simple bourbon and coke or tequila makes me happy, I would be afraid of choking on some of the things she puts in her cocktails.
Thanks, Jerry, you’ve affirmed my belief that she IS the anti-Escoffier/Child/Puck/Crocker, etc. What a waste of airspace! How long do you suppose her show would take if she left out the words “just” and “sorich’n'thick’n'soda-lishus, IkinnotWAITforyoutotrythis”? Keep those “Snadra” lists coming!
I still don’t understand rantings like this or others of its nature. I have no serious liking for Sandra Lee, but I have no disdain for her either. That reason being: how can I hate someone I don’t know? And if I really disliked a tv peronality, chef, host, or celebrity so much, I most certainly would avoid watching them on television! Most of these cooking show people are on tv for a reason, they have something to share and a unique background. Sandra Lee is no exception, she was a victim to a brutal divorce at age 11, and played surrogate mother to her four siblings until she was 16. Her mother was depressed and bedridden during this time. Her step-father (who has been accused of abuse) came home, took all of her siblings and left her alone. She started her semi-homeade concept because she wanted to take part in enjoyable pastimes (eating, socializing, cooking) with no fuss. She is a woman with determination, and ended up becoming a well-known “semi-homemaker” on tv. Regardless of whether or not you respect the way she dresses, the way she talks, the way she cooks, the way she looks, or the way she decorates, she is a human being, and like the rest of us might try to do more often, is trying to pursue her passion. AGAIN, I am not even a fan of hers, I am just so whole-heartedly NOT a fan of “hate blogs” because what is the point of this? Paris Hilton shouldn’t be a celebrity, William Hung shouldn’t be a singer, and maybe you’re right, Sandra Lee shouldn’t be a “chef.” But the energy you’re expending criticizing her on a very public domain is only taking away from YOU.
Ugh! That head cold has kept me from replying here, so let me handle this in two separate replies, If you will be so kind.
You will? Oh, Thank you!
momhuebert,
Definitely do watch the show. Decide for yourself. I post my opinions on her series and that is exactly what they are My Opinions. You may feel quite differently. Enjoy!
jeanjeanie,
I can’t help but laugh at times myself. And yes, most of her drinks look pretty good. I’ll probably use at least a few of her cocktail recipes at our ext holiday party.
Laura,
Point well made, adding premade store-bought to premade-store bought defies even her interpretation of what she does. Kinda sad, innit?
Cindy,
See above reply to momhuebert ;)
Biggles,
You’re gonna make me sick, man.
CelticLibrarian,
I dunno if I’d call those “cookbooks”, but hey, if she’s actually helping someone, I’m all for that!
Alice,
Nope! Graham Kerr (The Galloping Gourmet) is a whiz in the kitchen. he was even when he was falling down drunk. Sandy can’t claim that.
Chris,
Nah… We all do it to some extent or another, even us foodie types. The point is… it can’t be her original idea, because everyone was already doing it!
Shannan,
Tell your 12 year old that he/she is my hero!
Rashka,
I could not agree more. I caught part of her “Safari” episode yesterday while cleaning the living room. (vacuuming, couldn’t change the station!), she used up about $12.00 worth of ingredients just to dress a small salad! Who in the world does this? Not to mention it made enough dressing for a banquet hall affair… Geesh!
Jess,
Sorry… can’t… reply… laughing… too… hard…
ruken,
That’s a good barometer… I do the same with parenting skills and my natural father… It works pretty good! (my “Dad” is my stepfather, and really a very good one…)
To be continued…
Sherri,
I mentioned the dangers of her foods in my first post on the subject. As for your choices in drinks, I’m right there with ya! Keep it simple is a good mantra.
Mare,
Probably not too long, actually. A lot of that has to do with where she was raised though. It’s a common trait of L.A. residents to talk incredibly fast.
Lastly, I just received a comment that challenges these posts, and I feel it deserves its own reply… Please continue…
Bridg,
As stated in the entry itself, I am discussing her television persona, not Sandra as an individual. I have never had the pleasure of meeting her in person. She may be the sweetest human being on the planet, I don’t know, and I probably never will know.
I realize Sandra had a hard life as a child. So did I, and so did many other people. This is not a reason to say “Awww, Poor Sandy, let’s let her pollute the culinary world all she wants.”
As for her methods being “No Fuss” I can honestly state that I can make the equivalent to most of her dishes from scratch in the same amount of time , if not in less time, and for a heck of a lot less as far as expenditure goes. I could cite definite examples, but I’m saving that for another post.
Sandra is a determined woman. She’s turned that determination and devotion into a very well paid career. I applaud her for that. (Also an upcoming post.) It does not negate the fact that what she claims to be her “revolutionary” concept of Semi-Homemade is not revolutionary at all. My mother used it, most likely so did yours. It’s a method homemakers have been using for years. There’s no shame in it, but I refuse to allow her to take credit for it without a fuss!
Yes, Sandra is a person pursuing her passion. I am pursuing mine, as well. The fact is that Miss Lee and I disagree on certain topics. I feel that the Food network has let down its viewers, and that there is something fundamentally wrong with this television series being aired as a “cooking” show.
In regards to your statement about “Hate Blogs”, I do not sanction them myself. Cooking by the seat of my Pants is not a “hate blog”. I do not suggest any action against any person based on race, creed, color, religion or belief. I do however, stand by my right to disagree with public figures. Miss Lee is such a figure, and I disagree with her viewpoints.
You obviously stand on that right as well, as you have made it a point to give your views here. I applaud that. I don’t expect everyone to agree with my opinions, nor would I ever expect it.
I believe that Miss Lee feels it is acceptable to serve her family, friends and guests complete slop, just as long as the drinks are strong enough to dull their senses first. This, to me, is unacceptable. I have no intention of changing my tune. As long as Food network allows this woman to continue preaching her ideology, I will continue to rail against it. I will also continue to give praise to what is, in my own humble opinion, programming that forwards good cuisine.
I do apologize if the strength of my conviction here has led you to believe that I am targeting miss Lee personally. this is not the case at all. Sandra Lee is a symptom of a larger problem. I am simply attempting in my own way to bring attention to it.
Thank you for voicing your opinion. Please, have a very nice day.
Re: some of her dishes are good.
I made the Shrimp Noodle Soup, which was actually quite good and it helped me get over a cold. Some of her ideas seem clever; my mom and grandma used them too. But the Kwanzaa cake? ROFL, I was ready to call Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to stop her.
BITTER,
Wasn’t the shrimp noodle soup from her Japanese inspired episode?
If so, that’s one of the only episodes I’ve ever really liked.
Dude, you are hilarious! your observations are asute…spot on, sir. i found yr site from the link on instructables. my lucky day, fr sure! so, do you have a T.V. foodie that youre cool with?
peace, Atom
She went to a Cordon Bleu COURSE at a satellite school in Canada. The course was supposed to be two weeks; she stayed for two freaking days. She never even bothered to learn the basics before taking shortcuts; that is why I cannot respect her cooking. Maybe she should do 50% homemade and 50% premade to cut down on all the sodium, high-fructose corn syrup and preservatives….the woman must know something I guess, but she seems clownlike to me.
@Jerry – re: Shrimp Noodle Soup. I forget which episode. But when you think about it, Helen Keller could make Shrimp Noodle Soup and not stuff it up….at least she did tell us NOT to use the seasoning packets in the ramen packages.
I really started out hating this woman, too, but had a change of heart. I can’t really hate her. I don’t know her. Can’t judge her. She sucks as a “chef”, or whatever it is she’s doing on Food Network, but she seems to really believe in what she’s doing. Can’t really knock her for that. She seems to adore her family, though, and that’s a good thing. She does funny things like bumps the oven door closed with her butt, yelling, “Woo!” I’ve grown to actually laugh at her Sandraisms: “I cannot WAIT for you to try this”, “…give this a nice stir….”, “See how delicious this is?”. Gotta love her diction, too: “Imunna”, “wunnerful”, “aig”, “groshry”, “craff storrr”, “plllate”. Yeah, she goes nuts with the cocktails. I had no earthly idea that many flavors of liquors existed. LOL. And no, I don’t agree with making the cocktails right next to your nephew, as he makes his own virgin version. That’s weird. The tablescapes are out of control, not to mention the coordinating clothes, and the rainbow of unused Kitchen-Aid mixers!! Instead of allowing it to anger me, lol, I actually look forward to the show coming on each day. If I get nothing else out of it, I get to laugh! The show is hilarious, its premise is hilarious. I mean, Cool Whip/tubs of hydrogenated oils and MSG spice packets….come the EFF on. LOL. She even made a huge deal the other day that she normally would never use the fresh version of the ingredient she was about to use, but that this was for a special occasion. That was just soooo funny! I’m not going to hate Sandy any longer. She could be a nice lady, for all I know. Food Network needs her unintentional comedy, though!
I HATE SANDRA LEE WITH THE SAME PASSION AS YOU…. SHE HAS NO PURPOSE ON FOOD NETWORK OR IN THE FOOD WORLD. SHE IS AN ABOMINATION FOR CHEFS AND HOME COOKS ALIKE!!! SANDRA LEE IS HORRIBLE…
The only point I will dispute is #6. It’s possible the 4 cups of liquid you saw her adding was an editing error. Maybe she was using a two cup measuring cup and they didn’t show her adding the first cup just the full two cups? It’s just a guess. The rest of your points are totally valid. I’m particularly irked by her speech inflections. Everything is “SOOOOO” delicious, or “SUUUUPER” cute. She draws out words to emphasize how good things are, but it loses effect when she draws out every other word. Ugh.
Its funny that you take the time out of your life to post how much you hate someone, on another thought you could write “1000 things I hate about sandra lee” and she’s still making the money, she must be a good person for being able to make money.
I just recently discovered Sandra Lee’s show and I love it! I’m all for short cuts and saving time in the kitchen. Just wish I had more time to watch her show.
my husband laughs at me everytime Sandra Lee comes on and quickly changes the channel. she doesn’t seem like a bad person but her show irritates to no end. I have watched it several times hoping she would somehow redeem herself but that has been a huge no-go. The thing is check the ratings on foodtv in regards to her recipes, not good. Most of her recipes come up three stars or less which should tell you something right there. Also, the tablescapes drive me crazy! who has the time or money to do that? Maybe for a special occasion but the whole match this and match that makes me want to throw-up.
Funny post! I can relate!
I cannot understand how she even got on FN. Truly if she would put her time into cooking instead of those atrocious “tablescapes” she might have gotten somewhere. With all of the crud they put in pre-made foods I cannot believe FN is letting her peddle these recipes. I am a full time student with a part time job and 2 kids. If I can find the time, Aunt Sandy should be able too. Yuck! I felt 2 yrs come off my life when I happened across her show.
I haven’t read all of the posts, so I hope I’m not repeating anything that’s already been said.
I’m curious about something………..at the start of Semi-Homemade, while she’s narrating, she indicates that she’s been cooking and entertaining since she was a child. Now I see that she is promoting the Share Our Strength program and one of the first lines of her commercial is, “As a child, sometimes I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from.” WHAT? Well, Sandra, which is it? Were you hitting the food banks so that you could cook and entertain as a child? Now FN has given her another show? Are you kidding me? In the words of Anthony Bourdaine, “She makes my eyes bleed……………” Between the changing of the set to match her outfits to the “can I just tell you?” line that she throws out every 3 minutes, I wanna scream!
I agree! Aunt Sandy drives me crazy! She is like a step-ford wife and her recipes are rather pathetic. What makes me really crazy is her use of “little, cute and nice”. Everything is little, cute or nice….on and on…….She even makes my 11 year old son crazy with inane babbling…..so fake.
I must confess I love SL. She is so cute. The way she says things like “woo!”, “super simple” and “marscapone”. On one episode she was cooking outdoors and she said “you’ll see the trams coming by, looking at the wildlife animals”. Sandy dear, animals ARE wildlife.
I cannot stand those seasoning packets she always buys….”it will save you money, think of ALL those bottles of spices you would have to buy!!!” Well if you buy them all once, you will have them for a long time, and you can actually control how much of what spice goes in your food. Plus, and I know this is a tough one for her, but you can actually make it YOUR OWN RECIPE. I hate this woman. Hate I tell you! Why would you substitute taco seasoning in a fajita recipe? You are not making TACOS!!! AHHHH!!!!!! Also, Why does she emphasize every third word? Her recipes look like pig slop and her table settings make me want to vomit on myself. Who has the time or money to buy all the crap she puts on her tables? Jesus, someone get her off the air.
I could have written this entire post myself. In fact, I just posted today about how my husband loves to tease me about my dislike of Sandra Lee.
http://blog.wantingwhatyouhave.com/2009/09/now-hes-just-teasing-me.html
I’m so glad it’s not just me.
I once saw the crazy bat put popcorn and 7-inch taper candles on a cake (which I’m assuming was angel food). She’s insane. But unlike the proverbial trainwreck, I can no longer watch. It’s not even entertaining in the oh-my-gawd! fashion it once was. I did enjoy a few years back when Food Network got all their TV personalities together for a holiday show and had Candace Olsen (from Divine Design) do the decorating. I stood up and cheered.
At first I was drawn to watch her show,thinking you can have great meals and do squat…. but after I tried some of her recipes I realized something was really wrong.Then after each time I watched I started really hating the sound of her voice, like finger nails on a blackboard. Then I couldnt focus on what the hell she was blabbing about and began to wonder who she has intercourse with to give her so much air time. I really hate this woman. So darn annoying-someone should tell her.
I know her family and her past and it’s all a huge fake! I have read her book and it made me gag!
She in a manipulative bitch to her family and she won’t even talk to some of them.
AND I think her show is so terrible…I can’t even believe FoodNetwork carries it!
i only have one thing to say since i found this in my board moment of internet searching…I LOVE YOU MAN! i too hate this woman’s show. my mother-in-law thinks she is the greatest and i have yet to figure out why. thanks for the laugh!
I think she is a gorgeous woman with a ton of talent. I could CARELESS if she dropped out of the culinary school. She got a great opportunity in life that anyone of you haters would take if you had the chance, but apparently you are not ambitious enough to get there. Further, if you were intelligent enough to actually listen to her before writing such horrible things, you would know that she never has claimed or said she was a professional chef. Also, about her changing up the other chef’s recipes, she always gives credit to them. All she is doing is changing it up so that people who work 60 hours a week (unlike people like you who have the time to write blogs) can make good tasty food without spending a ton of time or money on it. I really just don’t understand why people in this world are so very jealous of another person’s success. If it bothers you so much, why don’t you focus on doing something like that for yourself instead wasting your time on why you hate Sandra Lee. For not liking her, you sure spent alot of time writing about her!!!! I NEVER write back on this stuff but I do really enjoy her show and if you don’t, then don’t watch it..It’s that simple! All I thought to myself when I read this was…. looks like another lazy person sitting at home with 40 cats has nothing better to do…..I wish Sandra Lee tons more success and as for you….try turning your anger into something more positive for yourself, then maybe you too can be successful.
Sandra Lee is not only an awful cook, she is, after Sarah Palin, the most inarticulate person I have ever encountered on TV. One would think that her producers would correct her abuse of the English language. One day I counted 36 times of using “pop” on one 30 minute show. She pops things not only in the oven, but in the trash, on a plate, in the fridge, in a bowl, in her mouth, on another piece of food, ad nauseum.
Everything you hate about her is exactly what people like me like about her. To each their own. I did share a train ride with her recently NY -Boston and I do agree she seems to have a drinking problem – she was so plastered by the time the train pulled in the station she had to be wheeled out on the luggage cart!
For heaven sakes Jerry lighten up and get a life. I watch her now and then and have gotten some good ideas….but I don’t seem to have the same obsession that you have .. No one said you HAD to watch.
I just hate the way she pronounces her L’s. She LLLLLLLLLLLoves this or adds LLLLLLLLLLLLemon to that. The way she allows her tongue to linger over the L makes her look like she’s auditioning for a porn flick. Bugs the crap out of me when I’m trying to watch the show.
I do think the “pop” thing would make a fun drinking game. Mix up a batch of her fake-tinis and each time she says “pop”, take a drink. When will people learn, just because your pour it into a martini glass does not make it a martini.
You all know she was a decorator or some such before she got this gig. She’s no cook, let alone any sort of chef. Just a girl out to try to pull a Martha by synergizing her salable products.
I watch her for entertainment sometimes. My three year old daughter loves her show. She refers Sandra as the grown up little girl.
Ummmmm…….. Okay, if you don’t like someone and say you don’t care for them. Why do you write it? You say you don’t care about her but you do. You honestly care for her because you observe her. So, what she likes to do the thing she does. I mean am I writing a blog about how much i hate you for writing this. no. You need to calm down and learn to worry about yourself. Leave people alone because you and I both know we dont know her life. If this is what she does because she is happy…then let her. I honestly didnt know that being happy is wrong in life. Just because you are depressed doesn’t mean you should turn the world depressed.
I have to agree with true gin martini fan: ms. lee’s emphasis on the longated LLLLLLLL is really annoying. i used to watch sandra lee when her show first aired but by the time her show switched formats to de-emphasize the natural aging lines on her face (and the fact that she constantly kept switching hairdos as well as kitchen decors), i stopped watching her all togther.between her and the ever expanding hips/rear end of rachel ray, i’ve decided to watch pbs cooking shows instead….sorry food network fans!
Hey I just wanted to thank you. Ive seen alot of “blogs” out there that say it is “humor” in critique of her and other FN stars…they are vile and disgusting in their INANE, immature and unrealistic comments and usually full of VULGAR, personally derogatory slanderous bites at her–this is not the def of humor. Your post or this one i read, was honest and humerous. You also called posters out ahead of time to watch the language. I laughed and may not agree with all your points but agree to the humor and observations made. I think she does help some people but my concern is that it appears that they dont edit her enough. I mean some of the directions are incorrect and to the point that in MID SHOW they replace what she has made with something made a bit diff by someone else so it is presentable and looks enticing. This could trick the unsuspecting to follow her to the T with disappointing results..that is a lack of professionalism to me.
Your a real hoot! I too am not a fan of Sandra’s “show”……. My big thing is her upward inflextion with certain words……
But you!!!!!! you apparently haven’t missed an episode. You know everything about the show….That just seems weird to me for someone who Hates it so. I’m certain you actually hate the show and not as you write the woman…..that would be a good indication of your character, or lack of…..
I is absolutely the show that I dislike. i have never met Ms. Lee in person. therefore i can’t say in any form what she herself is like as a person. I despise her television persona, nothing more.
I’ve never even seen her show. I don’t like her cause I watched her unmerciful torture of a cake via video I saw on Cakewrecks. She was making a cake with Mario Lopez and swearing that ‘it would look just like a professional did it!’ *shudders* Oh God…that poor cake! Poor Mario! Poor viewers at home!
Oh and I did see some photos and a few blogs of her Kwanzaa cake. I don’t celebrate it and I STILL found it offensive! *goes away to vomit*
I don’t feel one way or the other about Sandra Lee. I just want to thank you for your service in the Military…..
I personally find Sandra Lee very attractive in an odd sort of way — she’s very brittle in demeanor but is a sexy example of middle-age womanhood– but see nothing on her show to recommend it. In particular, her “tablescapes” are ridiculous — better named “table clutter” — and look like Wilma Flintstone’s idea of a formal dinner setting, except Sandra doesn’t use boulders — yet.
It’s patent this woman has a drinking problem and that in itself is enough to make me suggest to Food Network that they either step in and tell her to curtail the cocktail hour crap, or cancel her program. The time of day when she is on is also when a lot of children may be watching TV. Should a child surf to FN, they should not be presented with an image of a sexy blonde lush imbibing instead of cooking and eating.
As for her recipes, I can do as well. Despite that, no one will ever mistake me for a real cook.
I read all the comments on Sandra Lee and some of you are just awful. Most of you are just “haters” that probably sing in the church choir while bible pumping. I like her show and her. In the age of fast everything I welcome quick easy recipes. Hey turn off the tv and read a good decent book. The green eyed monster is never too far away. Shame!!! Get a good cocktail and contemplate life.
Life is too short to spend so much time hating — be it a person or a thing. Get a life. And have a cocktail! It will melow you out.
I really enjoy Sandra Lee’s show.
Most positive people don’t blog negatively about other people who are different. When I noted the overwhelming negativity, I couldn’t resist offering my two cents toward her defense!
Yes, Sandra Lee is at times hilarious to watch (see the YouTube “Cocktail Time!” video — it puts me into stitches!). Still, her recipes are quite innovative — and delicious. Her unique appeal is simply “Let me give the busy, budget-conscious cook with less, more to offer”.
She’s a strong woman who overcame many hurdles to get where she is today. I respect her unwavering tenacity, her creativity, and her individuality.
Rock on, Aunt Sandy!
@Lily,
I have to respectfully disagree. Sandra Lee isn’t doing anything “new” or “innovative”. she’s doing the same thing that home cooks have been doing since the invention of prepackaged food, and she doesn’t do it all that well. many of her “inexpensive” meals could be made the original way for less money and they would be a LOT healthier.
I think it’s time to close comments on this particular post
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