Yeah Paula Deen is my fav. Sandra Lee is ok when she does her kid shows..There are some good ideas I can do with my nieces and stepkids. I will say she does drink alot....

I watched the show once and stopped because I did not like it. But on a funny "pre-prepared food story", For years when my parents and inlaws came to dinner. I knocked my self out cooking for days. Last Easter I was too exhausted to bother. I warmed up a pre cooked spiral ham, boxed mashed potatoes dressed up a little and frozen green beans in the microwave. Very Sandra!! When my Mother sent a thank you note, she commented on how lovely the meal was and how my cooking has improved over the years!!! LOL

I find the way she talks, to be very annoying. I don't know how to describe it. It's not really the sound of her voice as much as it is the way she says things, I think it's the inflections in her voice. If I can get past listening to her talk, some of her decorating tips are creative.

I will admit that I have only watched parts of her shows. I watched a weeks worth, and then just switched to catching a few minutes here and there.

Does she use shortcuts relentlessly? YES
Is that the whole point of the show? YES

So, while I don't particularly think all of her ideas are so great, I can see that she does at least inspire people to try and cook at home. It can be the start of a great passion and love for cooking. We don't always have time for slow roasted stew from scratch. Sometimes a shorcut works out great.

None of you buy microwaved meals?
Canned veggies?


What about making cakes from a box? Is that a shortcut?

She's not so bad. A little too color coordninated, maybe, but the concept of not being a food snob is a good one. They should maybe trial out some of her projects first, though.


Angie

I LOVE Paula Deen! I think Sandra has too much alcohol on her show. That is my gripe with her. I understand the value of scratch cooking. Cut a break. I am a mom of three girls 13,8,7 plus I'm a full-time student, over the girls program at church, teach 3 & 4 yr.olds. During all of this trying to go back to work. So, sometimes semi-homemade would be wonderful for my family. On nights when I have tons of homework, my husband cooks; or goes for pizza. My DH gets told to "take a number" when he has an issue.
I have a sister who would benefit from watching this show; can't cook at all. My great-grandma taught me.

I must say i don't understand people thinking she drinks a lot. She does a show once a week(they show it everyday, I know, but I am sure they have been taped over a few years.) the premise is that it is for entertaining friends and famiily, thus having a cocktail at your party. I don't find that so odd. It isn't as if she has a drink in her hand through the whole show. I don't drink so it doesn't appeal to me, but I don't find that part of the show odd. Every show of Emeril I have seen has a cocktail in it as well. Lots of people have a drink served when having a dinner party and such. Even Paula has drinks on her show (not every show), I don't know anyone who doesn't love Paula though, so no one picks on her about it. If someone bugs you I think it is just too easy to find everything they do annoying. It is that darn human nature thing popping out! =0)

OK girls lets be nice. I am a stay at home mom with two kids (girl 11 & boy , so I have the TIME ( or so my sisters think) to make a lot of things from scratch. On the other hand my older sis (she calls herself an instant-box mom) works like a million hours a week and once mentioned to me about this lady that makes things and uses shortcuts. Well, she was hooked. My younger sis, well, she can burn boiled water. So to her Sandra Lee would be like God in the kitchen. lololol. So what it boils down to is (Spanish saying very loosely translated) "God made different colors for different taste."

I personally think that she is full of S@%T. But I also look that these people are "characters". It can be "reality" tv all it wants to be, but in reality there is 20 million people planning there whole day with, what to wear (if sex sells they will show it - even on a cooking show), what to say and what to cook. If we were offered the amount of money she makes and the money it takes to put on one of these show and be a success we would be the first in line. I am sure that she doesn't come up with half of the recipes that she does, hence the way it is done on tv isn't the same as on the web site. As for the other "characters" on the channel, well they are pretty much the same. As much as we might love/like some more than others they are all controlled buy the same powers that be, tv directors, producers, writers. It is funny because I actually LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the food network. I have it on all the time. My dh tells me how many ways can they cook the same thing. But we learn from other, there knowledge and there mistakes. Would I use canned icing from the supermarket on a wedding cake regardless if I add Flavoring or not. NO!!!!! But would I let my kids play with it while I am working on a real cake. Yeah!!!!! They love the stuff. Now the idea of the cookies and the grapes were great. I think that I would have made the cookies from scratch, but in a pinch or something that I would send to my kids school for class Yeah I think that I would use store brought.

I think that there are people on this channel that have more knowledge of the kitchen than others. Can ya'll imagine Sandra and Giada in the same kitchen and really cooking with Alton Brown and Paula Dean. Oh my God would that be a sight to see, it is toooooo funny in my head. As for Emril, well I think that he is just a lot of FLUFF!!! He can make a scrambled egg into a two hour show and still only make scrambled eggs. So I don't watch him much he Bams!! too much and it gives me a head ache. But that is the key, if there is something we don't like just turn off the tv or change the channel.

( a Forest Gump moment) My momma told me, if you ain't got nothing nice to say, than don't say nothing at ALL!!!
I only say this because if one day one of us here were to have a tv show were we would teach our craft, I am sure that we would get more criticism more than support. As much support as we get here we can't get anywhere, but let one of us do a show and see how much we get.

Sorry so long, just had a lot to say on this one. Don't think that I like Mrs. Licky fingers or Mrs. Booble Head, I just don't see it fair them getting shi#ed on and not the people that create and run the shows.

Vic

I have watched Sandra once with my son. It was a halloween one. My son was like..she is gonna catch her sleeve on fire.........lol. I missed the alcohol part. I think that is the part that would interest me. I wish I could get paid to drink and look pretty......lol.
My favorite is also Paula and her boys. I too would have a restraining order against me if she lived next door. I like Rachel because she seems real and looks like she actually eats what she makes. I like some of Giada's recipes but can't afford to make too many of them. I have to be faithful to Emeril because he was the cook who popped my cooking cherry. He is the first one I remember ever watching. I like the show where he cooks for the audiance(sp) and they get to try it.
I really liked the show where the couple got their wedding catered. I would have totally cried just like the girl if I got to meet everyone.
My most favorite place where I have learned the most is right here!!!!!!!!

The main thing that bugged me about Sandra Lee (one of many LOL) was the show when she had her niece on. She kept referring to herself as "Aunt Sandy"! Even when she was talking to her niece. She just kept referring to herself in the third person!!

Lazy_Susan

I cant believe how long this thread is getting.

Schmoop "my fair brady" is a show where christopher knight (peter brady) is getting married to adrian curry (American next top model winner). I actually missed the wedding part because i switched over to the cake competition which was great BTW.

I told my hubby about this thread and he said "who the girl you was watching today with the cakes" i said yes and he said "her show is supposed to be for those who dont know how to cook and want to entertain friends easily". He's right and her drinking is not bad, barefoot contessa drinks alot on her show and no one is bad mouthing her. I like her btw. maybe sandra does know how to cook but semi homemade is not to show her cooking abilities. its a show to show that its easy to entertain, it should have been called semi homemade easy entertaining. She does her tablescapes for entertaining purposes. Honestly how many of you can do a tablescape like hers?? I honestly cant on my own. She gives ideas and tips and she's good at it. I'm not her biggest fan but lets look at her show for what it is easy entertaining with simple foods. Its a good way so you're not beat by the end of the day and you actually have time and energy to spend with your guests. As long as it tastes good thats all that matters and all that people care about. If her food is nasty thats a different thing. Lets bash her if her food is nasty.

edited to say my hubby likes canned frosting (horrible to say but true).

I agree with some of the things I've read on here, but I have taken a few pieces of advice from Sandra Lee... For example- the wax paper strip idea has saved my hyde on several occasions. And I like how she re-decorates for every occasion/event, even though it's extremely unpractical.
What bothers me about her is, yes, the scantly clad outfits and cleavage. But, it also bothers me that she makes a cocktail EVERY TIME SHE COOKS!!!!! My mom said that that's a California thing... And I'm not against cocktails, in moderation, but DANG- EVERY TIME?!? It kinda gets annoying!!!
Also, Giada DeLarentis (butchered the spelling on that one) CAN BE SOOO ANNOYING!!!!! CAN SHE OVER PRONOUNCE ANYTHING ELSE? Just watching her talk make me wanna barf.
Thanks for letting me vent!

Ina Garten does not make a cocktail on every show, nor does she sing "Cocktaaaaaail Time!"

that is funny, no she does not sing it but ina does not have sandra's personality.

Kelleym you obviously dont like her and nothing i say will sound right because its already how you feel. I'm not here to change your mind about her its just that i dont think she deserves this bashing. Go on hating her, i was just giving my opinion.

I dont know if her food tastes good because i've never tried any of her stuff, just not my style. There has to be people out there that like her and her food or she wouldnt be on TV still.

Is there anyone out there that has tried her food?? If so how was it?

Kelleym if you are a good cook then thats great but all i'm saying is that this show is great for people that dont know how to cook and want an easy way to entertain their friends. am i wrong??

did the lobster wrap she made on the wedding cake show that bad looking? it didnt look fatty and chemical-laden to me. And if you think its salty then thats something you are doing wrong not her.

I agree with you, debbie2881. Her show is more about entertaining and easy recipes. Who cares if she makes cocktails? When I have parties, I like fun drinks. I think all of the hostility has a lot more to do with the person than the food. If a man was doing the show, nobody would be ready to come to blows over it. Or if this was an ugly woman...same thing. Right?

My opinions about her show and her food have absolutely nothing to do with her appearance.

There's not a lot "semi-homemade" about the lobster wraps except for the dressing, which I've never heard of. I do wonder how one little blanched chive can hold together a tortilla cone.

I won't try to change anyone's mind, either. We just disagree, and it's great that we can do that here

Some of her recipes have been tested by the brave souls here:
Sandra's Test Kitchen

I can't believe y'all were having a Sandra bashing and didn't invite me.

My biggest pet peeve is when she claims that she is doing things "just like my grandmother use to". You know good and well her grandmother wasn't cooking and decorating like that. If her grandmother was having all those tea parties and doing tablescapes all the time.... I would be VERY surprised. I think they both need to get a life... a real one.

Speaking of the kids' parties... have you seen the one for her niece, but the niece isn't even on the show? How tacky! I wonder how that niece will feel that "Aunt Sandy" is cashing in on her at the bank?

Now, Paula is amazing and I plan to go to her restaurant SOON!

Kelleym he lobster was store bought already cleaned but most of us do that with sea food anyway. The wrap didnt have much semi homemade to it huh. I dont know how the chive held the tortilla together either. it is great to have a conversation where we disagreen and no one is getting steamed. i'll check out that link.

beez you are funny, the thread is 6 pages long, about time you saw it. Let us know how paulas restaurant is. she's so cute

kelleym they are brutal. "SLop" Very entertaining.