ILSL Monthly Recipe: August 2006

That's right, Sandra Lee loathers.  It's that time again.

You know the drill by now.  Many of you have rallied behind the Sandra Lee monthly loathing sessions aimed at all things halfassed, unhealthy, unwholesome and just plain disgusting, but there are many more of you left to participate.

C'mon, show the internets how much you loathe Sandra Lee.  All you have to do is join me by undoing the Semi-Disgusting equation of hers -  70% semi-homemade +30% creativity = 100% of the credit - and making a much better, tastier dish with 0% semi-homemade processed crap and 100% of your own creativity.

The creativity comes into play as we use her August recipes from her horrendous 2006 calendar as inspiration to show how wholesome food is actually made.  After the jump is one of her actual calendar recipes for the month of August.  All you have to do is use her recipe as inspiration - eliminating the semi-crap ingredients and making a dish all your own from it.  Send me in a submission and I'll post your photo, links or whatever the hell else you want alongside the recipe I create.  Here are examples of some entries from the past.
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This month will be fun and easy to play with - a pasta salad made with the excellent summer combination of sour cream and canned pineapple.  You know, because it's summer and the hot weather always calls for a tub of sour cream and canned fruit.   Plus, you know that fresh fruit is really inconvenient to use right now.  So remember - 100% creative and 0% semi-homemade.  Those are the only rules.  Send in your submissions to joe at foodienyc dot com by noon July 31.  I will post all entries on August 1.

Imagine using FRESH vegetables, fruits or herbs in a pasta salad rather than canned.  Wow.  What a novel idea!!!

Recipe from August 2006 Semi Homemade Calendar

Curried Bowtie Salad

serves 4

3/4 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons McCormack curry powder
2 cans pineapple chunks, Dole
1 ripe avocado
1 apple
16 ounces bowtie pasta

Preparation:
In a large bowl mix sour cream and curry powder to blend.  Fold in pineapple, avocado and apple.  Cook pasta in a pot of boiling water until just tender. Drain.  Rinse pasta under cold water. Drain. Fold pasta into sour cream mixture. Refrigerate until cold. Season to taste and serve.

Comments

[chiff0nade]

It sounds to me like these comments were made by a lot of jealous, food-network star wannabes.

Personally, I am a PROFESSIONAL CHEF, graduate of Peter Kump's Culinary Institute. As such, I obviously know MORE about cooking than most, if not all of you.

And I can assure you people that I see a LOT of value in Sandra Lee's recipes and methods. She serves a definite need for the working mother who has limited time to prepare a decent meal for her family.

Now I had to leave Brooklyn rather unexpectedly and move to Clearwater, Florida (legal problems, you understand). But then, after my third husband dumped me, I found a WONDERFUL man who I call "Big Bear" (you can see his beautiful photo on my website) . . . he looks just like Bobby Hill on the "King of the Hill" program.

Now, because I am unemployed and my daughter is in prison, we eat mostly pizza . . . BUT only "GOURMET" pizza like in restaurants such as the POINTE here in the Tampa Bay area. Big Bear (all 437 pounds of him) will NOT eat just regular pizza.

However, he does love my meals that I prepare after watching Sandra Lee.

Sometimes even he watches Sandra (but then he disappears into the bathroom for a while). I guess watching her delicious, rich foods upsets his delicate stomach and he has to take a seltzer.

You people should get over it. Sandra Lee is great and she is here to stay. And I, as a PROFESSIONAL CHEF, simply adore her.

[therealchiff0nade]

It sounds to me like these comments were made by a lot of jealous, food-network star wannabes.

Personally, I am a PROFESSIONAL CHEF, graduate of Peter Kump's Culinary Institute. As such, I obviously know MORE about cooking than most, if not all of you.

And I can assure you people that I see a LOT of value in Sandra Lee's recipes and methods. She serves a definite need for the working mother who has limited time to prepare a decent meal for her family.

Now I had to leave Brooklyn rather unexpectedly and move to Clearwater, Florida (legal problems, you understand). But then, after my third husband dumped me, I found a WONDERFUL man who I call "Big Bear" (you can see his beautiful photo on my website) . . . he looks just like Bobby Hill on the "King of the Hill" program.

Now, because I am unemployed and my daughter is in prison, we eat mostly pizza . . . BUT only "GOURMET" pizza like in restaurants such as the POINTE here in the Tampa Bay area. Big Bear (all 437 pounds of him) will NOT eat just regular pizza.

However, he does love my meals that I prepare after watching Sandra Lee.

Sometimes even he watches Sandra (but then he disappears into the bathroom for a while). I guess watching her delicious, rich foods upsets his delicate stomach and he has to take a seltzer.

You people should get over it. Sandra Lee is great and she is here to stay. And I, as a PROFESSIONAL CHEF, simply adore her.

Louise (the REAL chiff0nade)
Clearwater, Florida
<<<3

[cb]

i just stumbled upon your site searching for a japanese shishito recipe and came upon this. i love you. seriously, i could write a screed about why i hate sandra lee if i had the time. . .

i love this concept. i hope to catch the next installment and participate then.

[Chris]

My wife, who is not really a cook, and in fact rather relates to Sandra's philosophy of streamlining while in the kitchen, loathes SL.

Something about decorating a child's birthday cake with a martini on top was apparently the last straw. Chris

[Dr. Elizabeth]

I think that Sandra Lee serves a legitimate purpose. She offers ideas for busy, working mothers who need some help in preparing meals for their family . . . even though they have very limited time in which to do so.

But, Sandra Lee invokes INSANE JEALOUSY in a lot of people, especially women who cannot handle the fact(s) that she is famous, she is beautiful, she is wealthy, and that she has a faithful following AND a successful series on Food Network.

These women (shrikes) who have NEVER accomplished ANYTHING in their pathetic, non-productive lives, are SO quick to cast their jealousy-driven aspersions on Sandra Lee.

As an example, one can read hate-filled messages on such cult-like websites as the CassandraCrossing, on Ed Levine's website, SeriousEats, and even on Kraft Food's chat rooms.

Bunch of pathetic losers, in my opinion.

[Jeannie]

Sandra Lee does go overboard, but she does have some good ideas, although I could never afford the tablescapes, etc. But worse than her is GIADA...YUK! What a fake smile, and the way she pronounces her words is sickening....spa-get-ti..ri-co-ta..and her Sss "delissshus...ssshugar...

[The Bewildered Housewife]

Finally, people who loathe her as much as we do. I hate everything about her show, from the horrible props and colors (they PAY people to do that?) to the fact that she never looks like she's wearing a bra. Those are some heavy utters, my friend.

Oh, and then there's the... what is that... cooking? Those are disgusting and unhealthy... what are they... recipes?

Is it time for another monthly recipe yet?

BHW

[Sam]

What is the big deal? Loathe? disgust? repulsed? these are some pretty strong words. You all think you are so smart and sophisticated and totally miss the boat!! I don't think anyone will be investing too much in your sort of brand while Sandra Lee will certainly continue her beautiful recipe for SUCCESS you will be tittering away with your hateful blogging exchanging petty digs. the fact is that ANYONE can follow a recipe on air with an army of culinary directors for back up..ANYONE can grill a mushroom or make a pasta dish or a reduction or a cheesecake but are they really doing anything different? original?? to the person who rights this blog..you should be investigated..this is an unhealthy obsession and YOU should be stopped.

[zoebisch01]

Finally and thankfully someone on the interwarbs feels the way I do about her show. Actually I feel that way about most of the Food Network shows, but that's a story for another day.

[Jay]

I use to watch her because I thought she was hot. Now she is looking a little hagard looking. The food she makes is awful.

[Brent D Smith]

I live in Bangkok and often go to Singapore on business...and I laugh every time I go into Borders books in Singapore...STACKS of Sandra Lee "cook books" piled high on the floor with a 70% OFF sign...and it's been there for the past 6 months. Just goes to show you that authenticity always pays off.

Love your blog and hate Sandy...oh, the stories I could tell...I used to live in LA. :)

[laptop battery]

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[Hooligan X]

She talks strangely because she is half in the bag. I think you are ignoring her efforts to help functional alcoholics feed their emotionally scarred brood.

[Cathy Ziegler]

I too am a culinary snob and cringe at the semi-homemade theory, however, I believe the reason for her show is to help out those domestically stupid culinary misfits who couldn't boil water if their lives depended on it. It sounds like everyone on this website knows cooking, and knows it well. Since we are all above the rest in these skills, leave poor Sandra alone. She is only helping out the less fortunate folks who truley don't know the difference between an anus and anise when it comes to the kitchen. Honestly, we should all pool together and open up a restaurant of our own to show the world our talents.

[angel]

seriously. . . u have to get over yourselves. . . wheres the television program u are all on. . . for people on a budget or who cant afford the time it takes to make all meals from scratch and are tired of the same fast food garbage night after night, she helps, be it ideas or if u choose entire recipes. . . so what if u dont like every recipe? have u never messed around in the kitchen and come up with something only u thought was palatable? no? then maybe u need to let go of the hand of the person leading you (could that be emeril?) and try something yourself. at the very least get off her back.

[Amy]

Wow, must be freaking nice to afford to cook with fresh ingredients. I live on ramen and peanut butter sandwiches. So... grats or something. At least I can afford to cook some of the crap I see on Food Network. Am I healthy? No way. Do I like the food I eat? Hell no. Can I afford anything more? I WISH! I'd much rather eat food from one of the Top Chef contestants than Sandra Lee, but at least I can afford Sandra's stuff now and then.

[Jon]

This is great! I can't believe this anti-depressant overdosing alcoholic hobag has a show!!

[jordan sneakers]

it must be delicious!

[jordan sneakers]

must be delicious,i want to have a try!

[Penis Enlarger]

That must be yummy :)