So can we take a moment and honor Sandra Lee....

[The empressof all]

I know the "hatred" for her is strong amongst some of us in the foodie community but she did quite a bit of behind the scenes advocacy with Andrew Cuomo to pass the Marriage equality act that just passed in NY.

Personally, I have always found her to be a great source of quick hints and tips and a great advocate for getting into the kitchen and cook! Her new show on money saving quick cooking is great.

[cbayer]

1. I did not know she was politically active and on our side.

Good for her.

:toast:

[Lucinda]

2. Yawp. I was thinking of her last night watching Cuomo's comments.

And I do like her. She lets her freak flag fly. As do I. ♥

[Warpy]

3. I will never forgive her for that Kwaanza cake

and the number of recipes of hers that I've read that has one ingredient too many, that last ingredient making it sickly sweet or strangely flavored to the point I can't imagine choking it down if I'm ever dining at a fan's house.

However, I do know she's been a great advocate for LGBT issues. As long as she's not ruining food, I have no problem with her.

[trud]

5. Kwaanza cake

Dear Heaven, I just watched the youtube video of how to make that. It must be like listening to someone who's tone deaf sing.

[The empressof all]

8. The Kwanzaa cake was Inadvertant Genius

I mean really....Who in their right mind would set their Kwanzaa table without a Kwanzaa cake? It is what Marshmallows with Yams are to Thanksgiving. Sandra is forever linked to Kwanzaa and IMO keeps Kwanzaa spirit alive. I would even speculate that Kwanzaa has become even more widely celebrated due to this cake.

Perhaps we here can organize a Kwanzaa cake cook off this year to replicate the cake and to Celebrate Sandra and Kwanzaa!

[Warpy]

10. The apple pie filling in the middle also renders it inedible

because the sickly sweetness of the cake, canned frosting, and canned apple pie filling combined would make even a sugar obsessed kid vomit.

Of course, the yams with marshmallows also had the same effect on a lot of kids, so maybe you have a point.

If the point of a holiday is to make your guests vomit, then this is a rousing success.

[The empressof all]

11. If I remember correctly there were Popcorn and corn nuts involved

The canned apple pie filling is gaggy no matter what you put it in.

But how about if we made a home made angel food cake...filled it with a chopped apple, corn nut, chocolate chip and raisen filling...Frosted it with a Cinnamon frosting and garnished it with pop corn? I would probably use only one twelve inch taper though....


Have I told you lately that you are a hoot and a half Warpy...:hug:

[trud]

4. I read this as Sara Lee

and I was going, Yes! Next to the guy who invented La-Z-Boys, due gratitude. Oh, well.

[The empressof all]

9. The BEST Pound Cake Ever!

Sara Lee's Pound cake can not be beat IMO. Don't get me wrong --a home made pound cake is delicious but that loaf of frozen buttery goodness is the secret to quite a few of my last minute desserts. Layered with fruit, cannoli cream or pudding and topped with fresh whipped is just perfection on a plate. I love how you can slice it wafer thin when it's frozen and construct desserts of many layers. It's sturdy enough to stand up to layering but still light and delicate enough to not overpower the other ingredients.

I think I have one in my freezer....

[mopinko]

12. that's what i thought. i figured the empress couldn't be

wrong. but compared to betty crocker, i mean, come on.

[Vadem]

6. Isn't she Cuomo's SO? I thought I read that somewhere. n/t

[The empressof all]

7. Yes they have been together for a while now.

She pretty much acts as First Hostess for the state.

[trud]

13. concubine

I just read that some Catholic church hierarchy guy called her a concubine... lol!

[The empressof all]

15. I've heard that some call her Cupcake

Like in Hostess .......

Concubine is better than Whore of Babylon!.....:rofl:

I forget how intrusive the Church is back in NY.... We just don't hear from them much out here in Seattle.

[trud]

16. empress

You should have heard the Church on RI's attempts to pass gay marriage or civil unions (first failed, second is a maybe still.)

[The empressof all]

17. OMG I can just imagine

Out here in the blissed out PNW we don't hear much from the Catholic authorities. The Crazy Fundegelicals are even pretty easy to ignore.. Now the Vegans...on the other hand well...that's another story.... (I'm Vegan...:rofl: )

[Phentex]

14. My opinion of her changed when I saw her chefography...

it's her voice that drives me insane. The unNECcessary EMphasis on certain SYLlables makes me feel molasses has come to life and is trying to speak.

[Retrograde]

18. So what did she do besides say it was a good idea?

All the talk in New York - at least the part I was in last week - was about the Republican state senators who voted for the bill despite, in one case at least, pressure in his district not to do so. Nary a mention of Sandra: I think she's taking credit for this much like she takes credit for inventing "semi-homemade" cooking, which only goes back to the 30s according to my cookbook from that decade.

Hmmm, maybe she threatened Grisanti with her linguine in puff pastry, or tomato soup/cottage cheese lasagna if he didn't vote correctly. Yeah, I'm a shrike.

[Sentath]

19. The more I learn about her

The more I think she has a good heart, but that still doesn't qualify her for a cooking show ( ;

[GoCubsGo]

20. Anyone who includes a cocktail with every meal is okay with me.

Some of them actually sound pretty good--a lot better than some of the dishes she makes. Got to give her credit, however. Not everyone is, or wants to be a chef. Some just want to put a meal on the table. I wouldn't necessarily follow her recipes, but she does give good ideas by way of those dishes. And, I'd take her and her "tablescapes" over Katie Brown and her Workshop any day. Now, that woman does some weird shit.