When you think about your favorite “Lee” in cooking, does Sara or Sandra come to mind? While they’ve both created delicious foods, La Crosse native Sandra Lee is so much more than just a celebrity chef.
Did you know Sandra didn’t even plan on making cooking a career? After attending high school in Onalaska, she briefly attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and being a DIY diva and chef wasn’t the plan. It seems the change of pace was meant to be.
Today, we celebrate Sandra and all she’s accomplished. From her cooking and home decor to her philanthropy and advocacy, enjoy a few fun facts about Sandra Lee.
Fact #1
You might know Sandra Lee from the Food Network’s show “Semi-Homemade With Sandra Lee”. But before being a chef, she dabbled in DIY — well, more than just dabbled. Focusing on home decor, she created Kurtian Kraft, and it was a huge hit! Her products would be featured at big box stores and QVC in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany.
Fact #2
Sandra attended a Cordon Bleu cooking school. While the experience gave her incredible cooking skills, it also birthed her Semi-Homemade® philosophy. Essentially, it takes some of the complexity out of cooking, allowing even the busiest person to find time to cook at home. The philosophy follows the 70/30 rule — 70% of the food is packaged, and the other 30% are fresh ingredients.
Fact #3
Sandra is truly a jill of all trades: an entrepreneur, a chef, a TV personality, and also a writer. She’s put out over 20 books since she began writing, including several cookbooks. However, she’s also dabbled in fiction with a romance novel “The Recipe Box”, and a touching memoir called “Made From Scratch.”
Fact #4
Even though she’s risen to fame through the Food Network and other endeavors, Sandra came from humble beginnings. She is the oldest of five children, born to a young mom who struggled to care for them. Stepping up as the big sister, she relied on public assistance and charitable donations to help provide for herself and her siblings.
Fact #5
Sandra’s childhood contributed to Sandra being passionate about philanthropy. She was involved with Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale — which focused on ending childhood hunger, donating 25% of the proceeds from her book, “Semi-Homemade Bake Sale.” Additionally, she’s received many recognitions for her involvement in various charities including the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2009.
Fact #6
In 2015, Sandra was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. As a result, she became a fierce advocate for other people living with cancer and for early detection efforts. She even shared her journey with HBO through a documentary, “Rx: Early Detection, A Cancer Journey with Sandra Lee.”
Fact #7
Sandra’s show on the Food Network ran for an impressive 15 seasons, earning her one Emmy nomination and another win. But this wasn’t the only place on TV she was featured. She’s also been on Good Morning America, the Cooking Channel, HGTV, and more.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Politics
Opinion: It’s time for Congress to fight for small businesses instead of big corporations
May is National Small Business Month. Our elected leaders need to show leadership all year long. For the past 27 years I’ve been fortunate to pursue...
Here’s what you need to know about medical debt in Wisconsin
Medical debt—a financial burden for tens of millions of Americans facing hundreds of billions of dollars in health care costs—affects everyone,...
Local News
Sip, sit, stay: 7 dog-friendly businesses in Eau Claire
When the sun’s out, everyone wants to be outside drinking and dining — including dogs! But not all establishments allow four-legged, furry visitors....
The 8 most convincing UFO sightings in Wisconsin history
If you’ve ever seen something light up in the sky and wondered what it could be, there’s a chance it’s a UFO, especially if you’re in Wisconsin. The...