Food Network's Sandra Lee: 'No way' smart shoppers should buy generic
Filed under: Bargains, Food, Simplification, Charity, Celebs & Money, Video, Recession Diaries, Economizer
This Sunday evening, Food Network star Sandra Lee appears as a volunteer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and she'll be pitching in to collect something she knows a lot about: canned foods.
Lee has crafted a mini-empire out of her DIY advice that teaches people to take economical shortcuts with pre-packaged foods. Her expertise runs from gardens to drapes -- she helms two Food Network shows, Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee and Sandra's Money Saving Meals, a magazine (Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade), and three recently released books, Weeknight Wonders, Money Saving Slow Cooking, and Cocktail Time. And, of course, on ABC this Sunday, when she helps re-make the lives of some dedicated community volunteers.
In a video chat with WalletPop's Jason Cochran, Lee talks candidly about her youth spent on food stamps and working in food banks with her grandmother.
She also comes out against the purchase of many generic branded products, claiming that if consumers took the time to compare the labels side-by-side with more expensive brand-name goods, often "there's no way" they would hesitate to spend more on the fancier label.
She also dispenses some of her unlikely cooking tips. For example, when should you use jarred minced garlic, and when would it behoove you to make your own straight from the bulb? Also, with the holidays approaching, which cocktail is she recommending people use for their family toasts (here's a hint: Carrie and Samantha would drink up).
Lee's clever cooking shortcuts have raised the scorn of fresh-food proponents such as Anthony Bourdain, who has attacked her as "Hell Spawn of Kathie Lee" with "death-dealing, can-opening ways."
Don't miss the end of the chat, when Lee asks Jason to extend the interview for a minute so she can go out of her way to deal a blow against the so-called "foodies" who look down their noses at her.
Lee has crafted a mini-empire out of her DIY advice that teaches people to take economical shortcuts with pre-packaged foods. Her expertise runs from gardens to drapes -- she helms two Food Network shows, Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee and Sandra's Money Saving Meals, a magazine (Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade), and three recently released books, Weeknight Wonders, Money Saving Slow Cooking, and Cocktail Time. And, of course, on ABC this Sunday, when she helps re-make the lives of some dedicated community volunteers.
In a video chat with WalletPop's Jason Cochran, Lee talks candidly about her youth spent on food stamps and working in food banks with her grandmother.
She also comes out against the purchase of many generic branded products, claiming that if consumers took the time to compare the labels side-by-side with more expensive brand-name goods, often "there's no way" they would hesitate to spend more on the fancier label.
She also dispenses some of her unlikely cooking tips. For example, when should you use jarred minced garlic, and when would it behoove you to make your own straight from the bulb? Also, with the holidays approaching, which cocktail is she recommending people use for their family toasts (here's a hint: Carrie and Samantha would drink up).
Lee's clever cooking shortcuts have raised the scorn of fresh-food proponents such as Anthony Bourdain, who has attacked her as "Hell Spawn of Kathie Lee" with "death-dealing, can-opening ways."
Don't miss the end of the chat, when Lee asks Jason to extend the interview for a minute so she can go out of her way to deal a blow against the so-called "foodies" who look down their noses at her.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-23-2009 @ 1:18PM
j said...
generics don't pay commisions to people who recommend them
Reply
10-23-2009 @ 4:51PM
Weston said...
I'm at work and can't view the video right now.
Does Jason ask her if she, the food network or her publisher receive any compensation for product placement or endorsements from the non generic brand name products?
Reply
10-23-2009 @ 4:54PM
mlztbm22 said...
I agree J. There is absolutely nothing wrong with generics and many stack up taste and quality wise and can save a family as much as $25 - $50 a week. For more money saving tips including, how to use coupons, best grocery deals, printable coupons, etc... Check out: http://mojosavings.com
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10-23-2009 @ 8:34PM
c said...
Sandra is correct about the soups she talked about. Generics are not the same as national brands in that instance. However, sometimes it does not matter if you use it in a casserole. Generic canned tomatoes may not look as pretty as the Brand Name,but does it really matter if you have pretty whole tomatoes for a recipe that you are going to crush them up anyway. Generics are very good sometimes and sometimes they are not.They will usually save you money unless the Brand Name is on sale. Buy for what you are going to use it for and flavor that you want. Store Brands are also usually cheaper than Brand Names. Check your unit pricing to make sure you are getting a good deal.
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10-24-2009 @ 11:24AM
jean said...
I agree with Sandra Lee about avoiding generics. I use coupons (religiously) and always get better deals on the name brands than I would on generics........and the quality and taste is definitely better with the name brands
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 4:51PM
BITTER said...
Sandra lies and contradicts herself so much, who knows when to believe her. It's also pretty presumptuous of her to say that she knows more about what is in the grocery store than other TV chefs. I'm not buying that at all.
Reply
10-25-2009 @ 10:26AM
chef Louie said...
Sorry, but string beans are string beans! Name brands might have the center cut only, as compared to the dollar store type using the ends, but it"s all good! The major portion of the dollar you are paying the name brands, and Sandra I might add, is the amount that goes to ADVERTISING, not to growing and processing. Besides, if all you are doing is openning a can and heating them up, you're missing out on so much flavor. Try a frypan with seasonings like salt pepper and cumin for canned corn, or fresh mushrooms and garlic (always fresh) with those greenbeans!
Salute!
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 12:07PM
Ang said...
What difference does it make?
Most of the time the labels are hidden on TV anyway...with some sort of silly "Prince of Peas" or "Tempting Tomatoes".
Ya know?
If it's a good deal I don't care what the brand is!!
...I do enjoy Sandra's shows though :)
Reply
11-05-2009 @ 2:51AM
AV said...
The advice she dispenses on Money Saving Meals is the exact opposite of what she has advised on SemiHo. Frozen chopped onions good one day, bad the next. You can't believe anything she says. Plus she talks weird and her recipes are beyond ludicrous. Search youtube for Kwanzaa Cake for more info.
Oh, and I love the recipe for soup that starts with a can of soup.
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