I'm at a loss for words.

[valis2]

I'm watching an episode of Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade cooking.

Look, I'm not a cook. At all. Nor a baker. I hate cooking. I'm awful at it. So really, I'm not one to criticize a cooking show. Except that...holy cow. This show completely boggles my mind.

The host claims that she is saving time. She seems to rely upon buying store-bought food, and then adding an extra ingredient to make it appear that she's made the food from scratch.

I believe, however, that this show is entirely devoted to the illusion of making cooked food look as if you have made it from scratch. It's a very strange niche to explore. How many women really want to buy packages of dried gravy and pass it off as real gravy? Are there really that many women who are interested in such tomfoolery?

This show is filled with "widgets," booze, an obsession with creating "tablescapes," and a relationship with buttermilk which, quite frankly, frightens me.

Worse yet, when I try to give this show the benefit of the doubt, thinking, well, perhaps single mothers or those who don't have a lot of time would enjoy this show, I run into a logistics problem. You see, her "recipes" call for all sorts of canned goods, store-bought prepared foods, extra ingredients, and strange, single-purpose tools. The problem? It all seems more expensive and less tasty than just making it from scratch.

Seriously. I know nothing about cooking, but I watch Rachel Ray once in a blue moon, and she has 30 minute meals which look tasty and simple. She has a recipe today for a mushroom salad which does not, as far as I can tell, contain a single prepared food, yet looks quite yummy, and probably doesn't take that long.

Compare that with Sandra's meal today, which included a berry pie made with frozen berries, canned pie filling, premade pie crusts, and an insane "widget" whose only purpose is to fake a lattice top for pies.

Who is her audience? Vain middle-class women who want to somehow appear like wonderful cooks, and have the money to spend on all of these extra ingredients? It's bizarre.

This is all gillieweed's fault for pointing out this insane phenomenon.

Comments

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's sort of an Anti-Cooking show. The first time I saw it I thought, "If the Food Network hasn't jumped the shark yet, they have with this show!".

How can any of this crap be healthy? The tons of canned and jarred foods have to have tons of unhealthy stuff in them. There's no way I'd ever try one of her recipes.

It was never that way when Wolfgang Puck was around. At least we still have Alton...

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness for Alton! He's absolutely my favorite. I'm not a cook, by any shot, but his shows are so educational that they help inform me about food in general, and they're just so entertaining!

I am really astonished about Lee. Everything I saw on that show looked kind of odd, and I really wonder about the flavor, after seeing what went into the food!

[julian-black.livejournal.com]

I suspect the success of "Semi-Homemade Cooking" is because there are a lot of women out there who can't cook very well, yet feel guilty about feeding their families out of cans and boxes. Doctoring convenience foods to make them seem closer to homemade is a way to assuage some of that guilt. Add to that all the cooking shows and magazines, and the ever-increasing knowledge and expectations people in this country have about food--it's not only a gender issue, but a class one as well.

No, I don't get it, but then again my mother was unapologetic about raising her kids on hot dogs, Spaghetti-Os, Tuna Helper and Kraft Dinner. She had a Suethor attitude towards cooking--"Don't like? Don't eat!"

For someone who never really learned to cook, and/or isn't all that interested in learning to do it well, I can see how "Semi-Homemade" is an appealing option. It's not as intimidating as cooking from scratch; you can't really screw it up because most of the work has been done for you. But not only is prepared food much more expensive, it's bad for you--the sodium, sugar, and/or fat content is usually insane. Ugh.

As for the gadgets--[rolls eyes]--it's amazing how many people I know who barely know how to wield a basic chef's knife, so they have drawers full of specialized gadgets, many of which get used only rarely and are a pain in the ass to clean.

I don't like cooking, and I'm not very good at it, but I manage pretty well without prepared foods. And if I have a favorite TV chef, it's Jacques Pepin. I'm never going to cook any of those meals, but it's fun to watch him make real food.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I think you're right about the success. There is no other explanation for it. In fact, her success makes me think awful thoughts about our society in general.

My mom made the same twenty meals over and over again, but then again, they were marvelous. Seriously. Chicken papperkash with homemade dumplings, moo goo gai pan, flanksteak wrapped in bacon, lasagna, burgers with homemade french fries...she's awesome.

I have a friend who works at a culinary equipment store, and she really dislikes single-purpose gadgets. I was talking about buying an avocado slicer and she nearly exploded, heh. Turns out she was right...the slicer isn't really that helpful.

Anyway, I do enjoy the Barefoot Contessa, and I'm thinking about looking for her books. Her food looks appetizing.

[todayiamadaisy]

I'm all for shortcuts in cooking - frozen berries, for example, are handy when berries aren't in season and you need a berry fix. And I don't like those cooking shows that go too far the other way and say that you must always make your own stock and other things that would take hours to do. But the show you're watching does sound a bit odd - you'd think there should be a balance, like a pie made with frozen berries and pastry made from scratch.

Does she show the brand of the store-bought goods she's using? She might be writing recipes for a sponsorship deal.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I definitely think she gets something. I think she names brands in her recipes, though I might be wrong on that.

And I totally understand shortcuts. In the very next show, Rachel was talking about chicken stock, and she used store-bought chicken stock. It totally makes sense. But when most of the meal is prepackaged, and could have been made fairly easily from scratch, cheaper, same time, better taste, it makes me think she's crazy. heh.

[seaislewitch.livejournal.com]

That Sandra Lee is such a phony! She acts like she eats what she makes, but she can't possibly with that skinny figure. A lot of her stuff is really putrid. Although, once she did have a cute idea for a child's birthday party using candy as the decorations. So, I'll give her that, but again, it was STORE BOUGHT!

Now, Rachel Ray, she's the REAL DEAL. She miss uses adverbs, but other than that, she's AWESOME! I own several of her cookbooks, and I've actually made some of her things and they rock.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Rachel scared me a little at first, but I'm getting to like her. Her meals are made from fresh food, she has some smart tips, and even though I'm not into some of the things she makes, I like how focused everything is and how her food seems very simple and smart.

[seaislewitch.livejournal.com]

Alton rocks!

[orange-bastard.livejournal.com]

I'd do him in a heartbeat XD

[seaislewitch.livejournal.com]

And he'd make you an omelet afterward!!!!

[snarkypants.livejournal.com]

Heh. My hubby learned how to make omelets because of Alton. And he totally rocks at it now.

Unfortunately, I've never been able to get him to make me an omelet after a horizontal interlude. But it's something to aspire to.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Hells yes!!

[orange-bastard.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Sandra Lee. But I can tell you, Rachel Ray is one cheap tipper! ($40 a day)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I've seen commercials for that $40 a day show...does she not factor tips in? That's horrible!

[seaislewitch.livejournal.com]

LOL! Well, she's just showing you exactly 15%. Most of us tip 20% if the service is good and round up too. I'm sure she and her crew tip well after they all eat there.

[thermidor.livejournal.com]

I added Sandra Lee to my Yueltide nomination for Food Network RPF just to be a villain! ;)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

What's "RPF"?

[thermidor.livejournal.com]

Real Person Fic - scourge of many :O

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aha! For some reason I misread, and thought it was something that Food Network was actually planning.

Wow, you're going to make poor souls actually try to write fictional tablescapes? You are cruel! Yet hilarious.

*laughs and laughs*

[thermidor.livejournal.com]

yes, yes I am.

[gillieweed.livejournal.com]

Aha! For some reason I misread, and thought it was something that Food Network was actually planning.

LOL! Haven't you seen her on the FN Holiday "All-Star" speshuls!!!

Not to be missed! The last one they made Booby Flay cook with her and she almost flambéd him. Fortunately, her own contribution was minimal, consisting of (appropriately enough) dips. They didn't even let her set the table! One of the decorators from HGTV was brought in to do the honors, which AMAZED the bubble-headed RayRay because the woman was OMG! Pregnant! and it's just AMAZING that she can DO THAT in HER CONDITION. Yeah, whatever, Rachael. Yummo, right?

And of course she had her own Semi Hodown Holiday during which she tried to poison children and gave the "crafts" to do which involved threading fishhooks though gumdrops (ok, paperclips but still), making holiday "punch" out of cream, cream, booze and cream, and creating a holiday meal menu of booze, appetizers, dessert (a "christmas tree" made of macaroons and candy cherries that ended up looking like a boob-tree) and a prime rib roast rolled in packaged ranch dressing mix.

Ho Ho Ho!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The last one they made Booby Flay cook with her and she almost flambéd him.

rofl!! That would have been hilarious! We could have gotten rid of them both in one fell swoop.

Yeah, whatever, Rachael. Yummo, right?

I detest the word yummo and all who utter it in a serious manner just on principle.

And of course she had her own Semi Hodown Holiday during which she tried to poison children

I'm dying!! That's hilarious.

a prime rib roast rolled in packaged ranch dressing mix.

Yes, she did the same thing for her chicken fried steak! Beautiful steaks, dipped in packaged ranch dressing. Or maybe the gravy was made out of it. Whatever. It looked worse than Cracker Barrel food.

[whitemunin.livejournal.com]

I despise that show almost as much as Emeril. I don't see the purpose of it, and you've listed all the reasons why it's so inane. I've used some of Rachel Ray's suggestions and think her show is far more practical. I wish she'd cut down on the perkiness though. I can only stand to watch about 5 minutes straight before walking away from the TV or turning the channel.

Give me Alton Brown any day. He is the god of all things culinary.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I can't imagine why anyone tunes into that slop show.

Rachel Ray is a bit too perky, but if I concentrate on the 30 minute meal itself, I can almost tune her out. ;)

I adore Alton Brown.

[gillieweed.livejournal.com]

Mwahahahahaha! Sandra Lee, the anti-Alton!

Hey, I've used frozen berries and frozen pie crusts. I've used biscuits in a can. But I've never managed to make as big a mess as the Semi-ho manages to create on every single one of her craptacular crapfests! My favorite, the "burger dogs" that look exactly like turds on a grill.

As far as time saving...HA! That lattice pie crust thingy must take 10X longer to clean than it would take to make a real lattice crust on a pie. And you can used prepared dough for that too.

Anyway, her "cooking" is just an excuse for her to swig gallons of booze over the course of 20 mins or so. Who knew there were so many flavors of vodka?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

But I've never managed to make as big a mess as the Semi-ho manages to create on every single one of her craptacular crapfests!

I loved it when she compared her apple pie punch to her grandmother's homemade from scratch apple pie. I wonder what her grandmother thinks of this abomination of a show?

Isn't it funny that her grandmother taught her how to cook, and Lee rejected it all in favor of ranch packets?

As far as time saving...HA! That lattice pie crust thingy must take 10X longer to clean than it would take to make a real lattice crust on a pie. And you can used prepared dough for that too.

YES! I cannot imagine this show benefitting anyone who really does need to save time or money. Seriously.

Anyway, her "cooking" is just an excuse for her to swig gallons of booze over the course of 20 mins or so. Who knew there were so many flavors of vodka?

I didn't realize how boozy she was until this show! It's kind of scary.

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

*lol*
This reminds me of a distant aunt of my mother's. For 40 years she told her husband she'd made his favourite "Knoedel" (potato dumplings) from scratch when in fact she bought them ready made. She even used a grater with a piece of potato to make it look real. It all came out when another guest at a party said "Oh, I love those Pfanni Knoedels! They are so much better than the home made ones."
It was quite a party wracker ;-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

ROFL! Oh my goodness! The look on his face must have been priceless.

[gillieweed.livejournal.com]

Here's the thing about Ms. Lee.

There's nothing wrong with using convenience foods. There's nothing really wrong with "passing off" convenience food as your own. I've never seen a Mrs. Paul's package with a copyright claim on it, or a Swanson pot pie threatening jail time for anyone not citing the XYZ Conglomerate.

It's nice if you have the time to make everything from scratch, it's nice if you have the ability to make everything from scratch, but face it no one wants to, or has the time to be Pioneer Woman! every day. Hell even St. Alton uses prepared pastry and frozen vegetation when it's not going to make a diff. Those in the know have even caught him advocating imitation vanilla for baking (Made of wood? Ew!)!

The problem here is that most people don't brag about using nothing but trans-fat convenience foods and they certainly don't have their own cooking show and pass themselves off as kitchen goddesses.

As far as FoodTV goes, The Lee shows are pure comic relief, culinary TV Bloopers if you will, in contrast to Rachael (Enough Already!) Ray and Booby Flay's Horror and Suspense programming blocks.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It's nice if you have the time to make everything from scratch, it's nice if you have the ability to make everything from scratch, but face it no one wants to, or has the time to be Pioneer Woman! every day.

Totally, I agree. Sometimes you really do need to save time and money, and it can be a real pain in the ass to cook from scratch every day.

The problem here is that most people don't brag about using nothing but trans-fat convenience foods and they certainly don't have their own cooking show and pass themselves off as kitchen goddesses.

Yes! Absolutely. Her cooking is not healthy, and her shortcuts aren't always helpful, unless you're in a certain bracket and you want to "look" a certain way. The show is a train wreck, I swear, and even though I was horrified, I was fascinated as well. Mostly with the thought of, "Who the hell is actually making this food in real life?"

I really dislike that a smart concept (taking shortcuts in cooking) has been turned into such a weird mix of Keeping Up With The Joneses and that she's taken the idea of masking the shortcuts so insanely far (I mean, seriously, buying a "widget" to make the pie look latticed?). As you have pointed out before, it doesn't save money, and it's hard to clean it up.

She's a loony.

[snarkypants.livejournal.com]

That show totally reminds me of "traditional Mormon cuisine." Because every recipe starts with either Jell-O or Cream o' Mushroom soup.

(Seriously, google "Mormon recipes." It's not so much cooking as assemblage.)

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

So Mormon cuisine is basically a throw-back to the 50's? lol

[snarkypants.livejournal.com]

Much like everything else to do with Mormons and M-ism. ::sigh::

[valis2.livejournal.com]

haha!

Ms. Lee seems to be wholly obsessed with buttermilk and ranch dressing packets, herself.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

and a relationship with buttermilk which, quite frankly, frightens me.
Hee!
I couldn't agree with you more. Many people seem to expect every meal to be elaborate, with multiple dishes and a dessert, and I think it is one of the causes of rising obesity rates. I do understand the allure of convenience foods and use a selection of them myself (my favorite is the brocolli "coleslaw"), but there is nothing wrong with eating simply--a baked potato with cheese or scrambled eggs or sandwiches for supper. Way cheaper and healthier than buying frozen entrees (which are often over 4 USD each), eating out, or relying heavily on so-called convenience foods.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Her meal was scary, honestly, and her stubborn obsession with making the food look "home-cooked" really bothers me. Why go through so much trouble to fool people on such a consistent basis? Does anyone really do this all the time? Weird.

[bell-witch.livejournal.com]

The food network scares me. The shows I watched once (waiting for my sister at a doctor's appointment and it was on in the waiting room), every single main dish had onions in it. I'm allergic. They're nasty and strongly-flavored and every cook on the show cannot live without them.

Any reliance on one ingredient like that worries me. Makes me wonder why they bother with anything else. That, and they take a lot of time and expensive stuff to make a meal that looks like soylent brown. I'm serious. With pretty red peppers (which I merely don't like as opposed to being allergic.)

Making from scratch is often cheaper if you do it a lot and have the ingredients to hand. It's only expensive if you usually buy stuff and then need to make one homemade thing.

WTF, cutter for fake lattice top? Having the roller thing to make real lattice top is wonky enough but there's a fake one? Geesh. I am innocent. I also make Dutch apple pie and so no top crust. But that's me.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

She's pretty strange. Seriously, I can see shortcuts, no problem. But when you use all these shortcuts, and then go through elaborate and expensive motions to pretend that it's made from scratch...it's bizarre!

[gillieweed.livejournal.com]

Oh come on now, she has to find some way to make the time to glud dead things to her kitchen "window treatments"!