Sandra Lee Videos

Meet Sandra Lee

An internationally-acclaimed home and style expert, Sandra Lee’s trademark 70/30 Semi-Homemade philosophy combines 70% ready-made products with 30% fresh and creative touches and allows everyone the time and confidence to create something that looks, feels or tastes from scratch. As host of Food Network’s Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee, she has revolutionized the way people think about ‘homemade.’

Sandra’s philosophy was born out of necessity due to the hard times she faced throughout her childhood. The oldest of five children, Sandra helped her mother manage the household and the kids while the family lived on food stamps and welfare. She quickly learned how to turn budget-friendly products into delicious and specials meals for the family.

As she grew up, Sandra applied her Semi-Homemade® philosophy to things beyond food. In 1989, after attending the University of Wisconsin, Sandra was faced with her own home decorating dilemma: how to decorate her home with style and flair on a limited budget. Accepting the challenge, she invented a quick, easy way to re-create her own home from the inside out. Sandra realized that others could use the same solution and decided to establish her own line of patented home and garden products. After founding her business, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade®, in 1992, she took her products on-air, developing top-selling craft, floral and scrapbooking products for QVC Shopping Network-USA. She went on to spearhead and anchor the launch of the craft and home decorating categories for QVC-United Kingdom and QVC-Germany. Her innovative product lines have earned her numerous industry awards, and Sandra even created her own DIY home improvement video series that has sold more than a million copies.

Lee then attended the Le Cordon Bleu where she learned that her Semi-Homemade® philosophy and savvy shortcuts could be applied towards gourmet recipes so that every over-extended homemaker could create and savor delicious dishes at home in less time and at a fraction of the cost.

Between 2003 and 2008, Sandra has authored 13 successful cookbooks all published by Meredith, including: Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Cooking, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Desserts, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Cooking II, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Grilling, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® 20-Minute Meals, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Slow Cooker Recipes, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Cool Kids Cooking, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Cooking Made Light, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Gatherings, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® 20-Minute Meals 2, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Slow Cooker Recipes 2, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Cooking 3, and Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Grilling 2. In 2007, Sandra also released her critically acclaimed memoir, Made From Scratch. Three new cookbooks are slated for release in fall 2008: Semi-Homemade Money Saving Meals, Semi-Homemade Desserts 2, and Fast-Fix Family Favorites.

The popularity and relevance of Sandra’s Semi-Homemade® concept moved seamlessly from print to television and the Internet. In fall 2003, Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee premiered on Food Network as one of the highest-rated show daytime launches in the network’s history and still remains a consistent top-performing daytime program. In 2008, the show received a Daytime Emmy-nomination and is celebrating its fifth year on Food Network along with its 200th episode. www.Semi-Homemade.com receives more than 55 million hits annually and is home to the popular Semi-Homemakers® Club and the Semi-Homemade® web magazine.

Sandra was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her involvement with many charitable and philanthropic organizations. Sandra is the national spokesperson for Share Our Strength and its annual "Great American Bake Sale." She is a founding member of the Los Angeles chapter of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and has served on the board of trustees for Project Angel Food. Sandra is a generous supporter of God’s Love We Deliver, the Central Park Conservancy, and she served as the celebrity chef for 2008 DineOut LA raising funds for Aid for AIDS. She is also a participant in Harvard Business School’s annual Woman’s Entrepreneurships Conference.

Sandra has appeared on many national TV shows including Good Morning America, Today, The View, Ellen and Tyra. She has been on the covers of national magazines including Ladies Home Journal, TV Guide, Family Circle, Brandweek, Woman’s World and was recently selected by People magazine as one of the world’s 100 Most Beautiful people.

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