Screenshot: A Weblog: Homemade, Semi-Fabulous

I was IMing with a friend last night and we decided that I am the anti-Sandra Lee.

Sandra Lee is the frightening person behind the Semi-Homemade trademark, and host of the self-titled Food Network show in which she illustrates how to live the Semi-Homemade life. Every meal in Semi-Homemade world is garnished just so, served at a color-coordinated "tablescape" that usually seems to involve using one's extensive collection of cake plates as pedestals for the dinner plates, and is accompanied by an also color-coordinated cocktail (but don't worry - Sandra always shows how to serve out virgin portions for the kids before finishing them up). Underneath this veneer of gracious homemaking is a collection of short-cut recipes heavy with prepared foods which are then cleverly doctored up to hide the fact that no real ingredients went into the making of the meal.

My identity as the anti-Sandra Lee become apparant to me when describing my version of a quick homemade meal out of stuff in my cupboard - tuna spinach casserole - and noting to my friend that while it looks like a mess, it only takes 15 minutes and the key is to use fresh spinach and whatever homemade vinaigrette you of course have on hand in your fridge. My recommended tablescape - books and newspapers covering less than 50% of the table.

Sandra can't even put together a risotto recipe without turning to Uncle Ben's garlic and butter flavored rice and a can of cream of mushroom soup. And that is part of the insanity - every recipe requires some specific packaged food one must make sure to have on hand. Contrast with this simple mushroom risotto recipe that requires: mushrooms, rice, olive oil, butter, a stock cube, and grated cheese. Except for the mushrooms, these are all fairly basic items. Don't have a stock cube? Maybe you have a can of stock in the cupboard, or could substitute some herbs to make up for the loss of flavor. Have an onion or fresh garlic on hand - chop it up and cook it with the mushrooms. Don't look now - you made a homemade recipe, in a comparable amount of time, using higher quality ingredients you likely already had on hand, often at a lower cost, and with clearer options for substitutions.

Sandra is clearly tapping into some women's guilt over not having the time to be "perfect" homemakers, but instead of suggesting ways to efficiently get healthy meals on the table (which, while I've got my issues with Rachel Ray always washing her produce in advance, she at least uses real ingredients and is honest about sometimes substituting money for time without compromising quality), Sandra suggests that so long as you maintain the illusion that everything is "fun and fabulous", you can sacrifice the substance. So that, in the end, Sandra Lee is no friend to those women at all.

Comments

Ok, Sandra Lee is not one of America's top chefs, and the fare she serves is not haute cuisine, but I sense a little jealousy in your rant. Sandra is America's #1 MILF. She is to cooking what Anna Kournakova is to tennis. Get over it!!!

Posted by: a sandra fan | March 6, 2006 6:34 PM

Is Sandra Lee's target audience really men? That surprises me - I would have pegged her target audience as women who were looking for a less time-consuming version of Martha Stewart. Or are you saying that the real reason women watch Sandra Lee is because they think she is an attainable sex symbol that they could plausibly model themselves after in their current lifes?

It's an interesting take on the show, and it actually bothers me less than the thought that people are watching for the recipes. It would also be consistent with the vast weirdness of her *always* including kids in her cooking plans, but them never being her own kids - she's presented as both available single woman and mother figure at the same time. But I still have to object that the same goals could be met while, with the same amount of time and effort, making food that is significantly more nutritious.

It goes back to the contrast between Rachel Ray and Sandra Lee. Rachel offers tips for bringing classic, wholesome cooking into people's hectic schedules. Sandra Lee offers tips for cooking high-fat, high-sodium, preservative-filled prepared foods but dressing it up to mimic cooking from scratch, without addressing the nutritional nightmare of the dishes. We all cook with prepared foods sometimes, but its a matter of degree.

Posted by: Amanda | March 7, 2006 8:02 AM

Hey--no one watches Sandra for her recipes...you watch her for her...those flashing boobs, outrageous tablescapes, and idiocy in general..too much fun....better than American Idol on so many levels.

Posted by: loomloli | April 17, 2006 6:42 PM

Nice to see that someone eles hates her as much as I do. Here's a link Anti-Sandy blog.

Keep up the good work.

Posted by: andrew | April 30, 2006 9:43 PM

I love Sandra Lee's boobs!!

Posted by: Anonymous | July 31, 2006 3:31 AM

If Sandra's supposed to be a Martha Stewart knockoff, she needs to learn how to screech "I told you--no wire hangers!!!!" Lee's got more of that WASPy, sloshed by 2pm vibe.

Posted by: Anonymous | October 20, 2006 2:40 PM

Sandra Lee is the hottest and most likeable cook on tv today. She knows how to market her looks to attract the audience. Her suggestions and Halloween costumes were fantastic!
I wish there was a website with more pics of her!

Posted by: kirk | October 27, 2006 5:53 PM

Wow I'm so shocked to hear all this negativity towards Sandra.. I really like her! She doesn't grate on the nerves nearly so much as Rachel Ray, ya know the one you're just dying to trip right in the middle of her "yummo!" speech from the fridge to the counter? ;)

Posted by: Angie | October 31, 2007 2:40 AM

Sandra Fan's post made me spew my coffee all over my desk with laughter.

Honey, YOU need to get over it.

Posted by: Sandra Lee Sux | April 18, 2008 11:27 AM

I think Sandra Lee is gorgeous and those boobs are the whole reason I tune in. Enough said.

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