Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cooking
by Sandra Lee
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Book Reviews of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cooking
Book Review: There is a place for Sandra Lee
Summary: 3 Stars
My mom bought this book for me and I read through some of the comments that people posted here (both positive and negative). As a working mom with a toddler I have to admit that the ease of these recipies is what appeals to me. I like that Sandra Lee offers brand name items to purchase and that many of her recipies are not labor intensive. Do I wish she used more vegetables and fresh ingredients. . . sure. But I also know that I can substitute those in on my own.
Initally I liked that there was a section of kid friendly recipies but this became my big disappointment in the book. Many of her kid recipies are deep fried and I have NO INTENTION of frying food for my child (nor do I own a deep fryer). For many reasons, the biggest of which being that it is simply unhealthy. There is a place for fried food in cooking but I don't think that place is with kids. In this regard, I wish she has provided modifications for baking some items instead.
Book Review: You've never used canned tomato paste?
Summary: 3 Stars
I flipped through this book recently and was pleasantly surprised at what I found. Sure, the brand names are gimmicky, so use your favorite tomato paste, or your favorite refridgerated pasta instead. Come on...do you always make pancakes from scratch? Hello? Is someone a bad person because they don't make lasagna noodles from scratch ALL the time?
I'm a purist by nature. Cake mixes make me gag, but there is a place for this just as there is a place for my personal hero, Julia Child. And sure, I'm not going to use Kraft Mac & Cheese as the base for something...but there's a balance here and you pick and choose. This book isn't meant for organic types, nor is it meant for vegans, vegetarians, and so on. It's still a heckuva lot better than a boxed meal (just empty into a casserole dish and bake). Now THAT's something to have a heart attack over :)
Book Review: WHAT is the point of this show???
Summary: 1 Stars
Sandra Lee has nerve calling what she does "cooking." Putting together a bunch of boxed "ingredients" and dumping them into different bowls is not "cooking." Too bad we aren't seeing professional chefs cut down Lee with the same ferocity they do with Rachael Ray.
I get nauseous just thinking about the amount of sodium and everything else that's in all those bags of packaged food that she uses (and why all the mixed drinks? Maybe Lee can put together a show about how to make mixed drinks - alcoholic and non-alcoholic - because she seems to know all about them).
To think she follows Ina Garten (who can actually cook) Monday-Thursday, is indicative of the fact that The Food Network doesn't have a whole lot of requirements as to who gets a show on their channel.
Book Review: Advertising
Summary: 3 Stars
This book really isn't about eating on a budget or nutritious food. The way I see it, it is all about advertising. While this may have changed with the 2nd release of the book, the first release is just pages of her brand loyalties. Do we really need to use her brand recommendations for butter? Or saltines? Come on!
I bought this cookbook with the hopes of finding new recipes that I could cook on the quick but I didn't end up finding anything worth making. While my boyfriend was drawn to a few recipes, we decided that none were worth the nutritional suicide.
I would definitely consider checking her books out again if she started showing interest in healthy eating but, in the meantime, I'm sticking with the other Food Network personalities.
Book Review: Quick and Easy Meals, but not for the pro chef
Summary: 4 Stars
I would recommend this book for a way to get additional recipes for your collection that are easy to do. I am a pretty good cook, and can do lots of fancy recipes from scratch, but sometimes I just don't want to take all that time, and just want to throw something together from the cabinet (other than Hamburger Helper). The writing style of the book is easy to follow - you don't have to be a master chef to understand the ingredients, yet you also don't get sick of a bunch of cutesy words (EVOO anyone?) like some other popular cookbooks.
If you are learning how to be a great cook, this is not the book for you. But if you want some quick and easy meals, this and her other Semi-Homemade Meals book are great choices.