'Semi-Homemade' Sandra Lee Is Making Homes on 'Extreme Makeover'

You may know her as the perky blonde chef who plans the creative "tablescapes" on Food Network's 'Semi-Homemade' series, but Sandra Lee is the creator of a multimedia cooking and entertaining empire that includes the TV show and a series of books, a recently launched 'Semi-Homemade' magazine, the 'Sandra's Money Saving Meals' series and an upcoming series of holiday specials on HGTV.

Lee, whose memoir 'Made From Scratch' details the hardscrabble childhood that led to her career, is bringing her home and family expertise to 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' this Sunday (Oct. 25, 8PM ET, ABC). Lee talked to AOL TV about the family that inspired her to get involved with the show, as well as her new books, her efforts to help families save money and the realization of her lifelong dream of starting her own magazine.You may know her as the perky blonde chef who plans the creative "tablescapes" on Food Network's 'Semi-Homemade' series, but Sandra Lee is the creator of a multimedia cooking and entertaining empire that includes the TV show and a series of books, a recently launched 'Semi-Homemade' magazine, the 'Sandra's Money Saving Meals' series and an upcoming series of holiday specials on HGTV.

Lee, whose memoir 'Made From Scratch' details the hardscrabble childhood that led to her career, is bringing her home and family expertise to 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' this Sunday (Oct. 25, 8PM ET, ABC). Lee talked to AOL TV about the family that inspired her to get involved with the show, as well as her new books, her efforts to help families save money and the realization of her lifelong dream of starting her own magazine.

What's special about this particular 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' project?
Well, the couple involved, Nathan and Jenny, is a married couple with three kids, and they quit their corporate jobs to start Salt & Light, which is basically a food bank in Illinois. They feed over 250 families a week, and it's just especially important with the economy ... a lot of people depend on them. And it's just incredible that these people would do that -- Nathan quit his job as an engineer to work on Salt & Light.

And what did you and 'Extreme Makeover' team do for the family?
We not only redid their home, but we redid the food bank, too. During the week, they have families who come in and get clothes and food, so we did a whole clothing drive, and we had a huge fundraiser. In fact, we made enough money from the fundraiser to not only pay off their mortgage, but to put money in the bank to run the food bank for a year. And we got two trailer-loads of food donated from big food companies. It really took an army to do this particular show, and I'm so glad that I got to do it, because, as amazing as it is to see the show on TV every Sunday, when you're there, it is 50 times more intense and rewarding than you can possibly imagine.

Sunday is a big day for you with your other projects, too, with three book releases and the second season premiere of 'Sandra's Money Saving Meals' (12PM ET, Food Network). That show is so timely right now ... did you do anything differently this season, with that in mind?
I spent a lot of time on the phone with buyers of grocery stores. I would call and speak to the buyer for the meat department of Costco, the produce department at Kroger ... I would talk to big companies like ConAgra, who just did a survey and found that two in five families find it nearly impossible to get weeknight dinners on the table. So I do my research. You're going to see a lot more food comparisons, price comparisons. You're also going to see a lot of alternatives, like, if you ran out of this ingredient, you can use "this and that" to replace it, so you won't be running out to the store for things that aren't absolutely 100 percent necessary.

And your new books, are they more entries in the 'Semi-Homemade' line?
Yes, all the books launch this week: We have 'Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Weeknight Wonders,' which is all about saving time; 'Semi-Homemade Money Saving Slow Cooking,' which is about saving money; and 'Semi-Homemade Cocktail Time,' which is about enjoying your life, having your friends over, having a little girl time, or a little time with your honey.

You also launched your 'Semi-Homemade' magazine this year, in an economy where magazines and newspapers have taken a big hit. Why a magazine?
Well, I have to tell you, I was kind of geek in my early twenties. I lived with my aunt and uncle, and I used to drag my aunt into the neighbors' backyard, and ask her to take photographs of me. I'd get myself all dolled up, grab a basket full of fruit or something, and I would pose for photos and tell my Aunt Peggy I wanted to have my own magazine someday. That's the only thing I wanted; it was my dream. When I was little girl ... I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. We didn't celebrate any holidays, which is why I'm kind of the queen of holidays now, because I really love them like a six-year-old, and I find joy in them every day. But when I was a Jehovah's Witness, even when I was eight years old, I wanted to come to New York City, and I wanted to work for The Watchtower.

And that is how I started loving magazines and publishing. And I know that sounds really odd, but when you want to work for a magazine for that long in your life, and then you finally get your own magazine, it's a dream. You get the chance to make a difference, and you can show people how to make beautiful things out of next to nothing, how to save them a ton of money. There are so many magazines out there that really don't stand for anything but a bunch of ad pages. I really love my magazine and cherish every single word in it. It just has to stand for something.

The three words that you always use to describe the 'Semi-Homemade' approach are attainable, affordable and aspirational. If you had to pick one of those three as being the most important, would you say "attainable" is the most important?
I really would say attainable, that it's inclusive or affordable. You have to be able to find it. That's what attainable really means in that statement. That [ingredients], for example, are attainable. Not just things you would find in a fancy store, or have to travel to Harrods in London to find.

Isn't it also the idea that most people can't devote the time, effort and money, to make a whole meal from scratch every day, but any meal that gives families a chance to sit down together is a good, attainable, thing?
That is absolutely right. What I think everybody really needs to understand is that there is a complete difference between 'Semi-Homemade' and 'Money Saving Meals,' and here's the difference: 'Semi-Homemade' is all about saving time. 'Money Saving Meals' is only about saving money. On that series, I will only show you the convenient if it's cheaper or costs the same. So you're going to be doing a lot cooking from scratch with 'Money Saving Meals,' and you're going to be saving time with 'Semi-Homemade.' They're different concepts, but they're all about the family.


More 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' full episodes on SlashControl

Is that what prompted you to get involved with the 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' project?
Yes, definitely! It's all about families who are trying to make ends meet, and still trying to be good, responsible community leaders. Running the food bank ... who gives up a six-figure salary to do something like that? I'm not sure they show this in the episode, but Nathan and Jenny weren't the only family being considered for this episode. There were two families, and when [Nathan and Jenny] got it, they didn't jump up and down and pat themselves on the back. What they said was, "How can we help this other family?" That is the kind of people you see on the show, and that's why, every time you watch the show, you have tears in your eyes. I was simultaneously laughing and crying so hard. This episode will probably be one of the most emotional episodes you'll see.