Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade

I'm pretty much of a Food Network junkie, especially Sunday mornings when there's not much on the TV and we're enjoying a lazy breakfast.Sandra Lee's Semi Homemade is one program I watch to see what she's making from ordinary ingredients into extraordinary meals that are easy to do, don't cost an arm or a leg, and don't take a whole lot of time but makes me look like I spent hours in the kitchen.

While on our Saturday Costco trip I always stop to see what new magazines have been put out as they are marked off 30% everyday.Last month they had the February-March, 2009 Premier Issue of Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade magazine.On the cover it stated it contained 181 fast recipes and easy ideas, enough to convince me to buy it after a quick flip through the contents.

With this magazine Sandra Lee pretty much follows through on what I learn from her cooking show but I get to have it all in hard copy to refer back to with pictures, a must have for me.This issue emphasizes Valentines and St. Patrick's Day.

There's a section on shortcuts from food to plants and home dcor.Learning to make food faster from simple ingredients is Sandra Lee's specialty and something I am always looking for.

**Page 23...check out 5 for 5 quick meals for each day of the week from burrito casserole, lemon chicken, or ground beef stroganoff.Included are pull out cards for your recipe file with pictures of the finished dish.

**Page 34...starts a great section on slow cooker meals(always looking for easy meals I can start before I leave for work)

**Page 49...secret semi-homade recipe for Cinnabon Rolls (I can smell them already!!)

**Page 52...Sandra's favorite supermarket finds of 7 ingredients to have in your pantry which will save you money and which are used in recipes throughout the magazine.

**Page 64...a great article on how to make herb gardens from a muffin pan, soup cans, cookie sheet or loaf pan.

**Page 105...a lovely Irish meal for St. Patrick's day.

**Page 114...a dolled-up deli sandwich (see picture) which I've made and can tell you is out of this world.

Of course this issue would not be complete without a Sandra Lee "tablescape" on page 92 for Valentine's.If you are a fan of her Food Network show you know what I'm referring to, right?Along with the color themed kitchen where everything matches, even her clothing, you'll find the same great Sandra Lee in print as on her show.

I plan to check out the upcoming issues and if you have are a Sandra Lee fanI give this magazine a thumbs up!!