A New Look at Sandra Lee

  • Posted by Editor
  • November 26, 2007

Posted by Cate O’Malley on Paper Palate.

made-from-scratch.jpgI make no bones about it, I’m not a big fan of Sandra Lee’s cooking, or her Food Network show, Semi-Homemade. That being said, after reading a recent excerpt from her new memoir Made from Scratch in People Magazine, while I may not be a fan of Sandra Lee’s cooking, I am now a fan of her as a person. She definitely is a survivor, having made it through a very rough childhood, and I give her complete props for coming out on top.

As a toddler, she was bounced around various relatives, but eventually went back to live with her abusive, mentally ill mother at age 6. By the ripe old age of 12, Sandra Lee was the main caregiver to her four siblings. As she said in People magazine, “People watch the show and see this Stepford kitchen and perfect little blonde - it’s important for them to know you can create a beautiful rose garden out of a pile of manure. If I did it, others can too.”

An excerpt from her new book, Made from Scratch:

I was doing all the laundry, cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping. I daydreamed of being a normal kid, but that wasn’t the reality. [My mother] Vicky spent most of her days watching soap operas. All she seemed to do was use her nasal spray, take her pills and scream at me. We were forced to go on welfare and collect food stamps so we could eat. I had become mom, sister, caretaker and homemaker of our family.

[When I was 15], one morning Vicky looked me in the eyes and said, “You are going to be so much more than I am when you grow up.” She was right. I was going to be so much more in ways she couldn’t possibly imagine. I stared at her in disgust and said, “You’re right. I am going to be more than you.” She flew into an uncontrollable rage. Her punches were landing fast and hard - I could barely catch my breath. Both of my eyes were swollen and my body was covered in welts. I had a boyfriend at the time named Duane, and I called and asked him to come get me. He took one look at me and said, “Go pack your stuff.”



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November 26th, 2007
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
DocChuck
Posted on:
November 27, 2007 at 9:43 pm

Is there a more powerful argument in favor of human cloning than Ms. Sandra Lee?

I think not. I’m a PhD, if that excites you.

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
The Government of Iceland
Posted on:
November 28, 2007 at 4:33 pm

REYKJAVIK, Iceland . Associated Press. The government of Iceland yesterday voted to award official citizenship to American “lifestyle expert,” Sandra Lee. The historic vote came after nationwide surveys documented the Icelandic people’s insatiable craving for American “junk” foods. The survey revealed that over 90% of all Icelandians actually prefer processed convenience foods to their fresh counterparts. This came as a surprise to government leaders, since processed foods are virtually unavailable in Iceland, a country where whale blubber, preserved fish and dense brown bread are pantry staples. The vote to grant Ms. Lee citizenship was seen as a political move to entice American companies like Campbells, Kraft to market their products in Iceland. Ms. Lee claims credit for creating the highly controversial “SemiHomemade” [tm] lifestyle, which stresses the use of canned soup, canned frosting, cheese food product, ranch dressing and similar products over foods that provide proper nutrition. The recent introduction of cable television – including Ms. Lee’s show — is thought to be the cause of the overwhelming new demand for American foods in this generally overlooked Scandinavian nation. “Cool Whip, like, it rocks, said Sigrid Bjornegard, a Reykjavik college student. If I see one more Lutefisk and Limpa sandwich, like, I’monna hurl.” Iceland’s Minister of Health, Vignir Helgarson, expressed outrage at the vote. “A vote for Sandra Lee is a vote for heart disease, diabetes, obesity and tooth decay. Except for the latter, these diseases have heretofore been unheard of in Iceland.” Ms. Lee, through her spokesman, thanked the Icelandic government for the honor and expressed enthusiasm for the chance to bring real Swedish Meatballs to a longing people.

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Secret Santa
Posted on:
November 28, 2007 at 4:36 pm

Sandra Lee tests her recipes extensively on small animals before she unveils them to the general public. She donates any usable bits of their pelts to charity, so that deserving inner city children find fasionable fur-trimmed bomber jackets under the tree at Christmas.

Thank you Sandra lee.