semi-homemade

Before I go any further I want to say that this isn't another one of those Sandra Lee-bashing articles. I actually like her. Semi-Homemade Cooking is one of my favorite Food Network shows. Having said that, I have a lot of problems with her new (or should I say new-ish) show Money Saving Meals.

I mean, seriously, does this show need to exist? I know times are tough for a lot of families right now, but I don't think that we need to figure out our meals to the point where we know how much each serving costs when we cook the meal for our family. She's always talking about how each serving "only cost $1.07" or "if you buy this you'll save 22 cents!"

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.

I could probably write something about politics, sex, healthcare, education, or religion and it wouldn't be as controversial as what I'm about to say: Anthony Bourdain is wrong and Sandra Lee is right.

If you haven't been keeping track of the things Bourdain has been saying about the Food Network host, here's a quick summary. Bourdain wrote some unkind things about Lee and her Semi-Homemade Show (and some other Food Network hosts) a couple of years ago. Among other things he called her "pure evil," a "hell spawn," and said "she must be stopped." Ouch. There's also this video of Bourdain at a food festival dumping on Lee, and now Bourdain has written on his blog about his recent brief encounter with Lee. at the premiere of Julie & Julia.