Sandra Lee's Money Saving Meals

A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to take part in a telephone conference call with Sandra Lee, the Food Network host of Sandra's Money Saving Meals and Semi-Homemade. The conference was to promote Sandra Lee's Fourth of July show on her Sandra's Money Saving Meals which aired on June 28th.

My bad.

Okay, so it's too late for you to watch the special but it's not too late to try out her recipes or you could even check out her show which airs on Sunday's at 12 pm/11 central or Mondays at 2 pm/1 central. The premise of her show is that she makes a budget meal one day and saves part of the prepared ingredients for the next days' budget meal. Her 4th of July recipes were for Ale House Burgers with a Red Onion Compote. Her Round 2 meal, made with ground beef from the Ale House Burgers, is for a Ale and Onion Meatloaf. I am proud to say I made them BOTH. On the actual 4th of July, no less. I'm here to tell you that those burgers were delicious. No joke. In fact, they were so good I've made them 2 times since then. The meatloaf was okay, but half of my kids turn their noses up at meatloaf anyway. I try to tell them it's just a giant rectangular hamburger but to no avail. Oh well, you can't win them all.

Speaking of you can't win them all, during the conference call there was no sign of Tyler Florence at all. Again. I keep hoping that some day I'll get invited to participate in one featuring Tyler.

Sorry but if I'm going to talk about my man Tyler, I've got to include a picture. Can that man handle a pepper grinder!

Then again, if Food Network really reads this post and any previous posts about my crush on him then they might be scared to let me talk to him. I promise to be good. I'd probably be too busy hyperventilating to do anything embarrassing anyway.

If I Only Had a Press Badge

I'm very tardy in telling you about my Food Network telephone press conference with Keegan Gerhard on Monday. Let me just give you a sample transcript:

Host: I want to welcome you all to the conference and you can go around and introduce yourselves. We'll start with Keegan.

Keegan: Hi everyone.

Me: Oh my goodness! I'm talking to Keegan Gerhard!!! Is it you? Is it really you? Is Tyler Florence there with you?

Keegan: {Nervous laughter}

Host: Could you please state your name and tell us your website?

Me: Oh my goodness!! I'm Denise from There's Always Room For One More. Do I get to ask my questions now?

Host: Let's go around and get everyone else's name and then you can ask your questions.

Other people: Blah, blah, blah, blah.

Host: Okay, we'll start off with Denise. You may ask Keegan your question.

Me: Do you know Tyler Florence? You have to because you both work there. I bet he's there in the building with you right now! How many times a day do you get to see him?

Keegan: {Clearing throat} Um, you do realize that I'm the host of Food Network Challenge and this press conference is about our new 4 week series Last Cake Standing? It's a first for us because it combines challenges with elimination. It was a very intense series and we're excited for people to see it.

Me: Yada, yada, yada. Cakes. Competition. People eliminated. Do you know Tyler?

Keegan: {laughing} Yes, Tyler and I have met a few times.

Me: Is he there right now? What was he wearing when you saw him? Did he smell good?

Host: Denise you are only allowed to ask two questions and you've gone over your limit.

Me: But he didn't even answer them! Besides at White House press conferences they always ask multiple questions and call it part of one question. Mine's all about Tyler: one question. Is Tyler there in the Food Network building right now?

Keegan: {laughing} Actually he's down the hall taping a segment of Tyler's Ultimate right now. I think he's cooking Veal Parmesan.

Me: He's there? Right now? Are you on speaker phone? {yelling} TYLER! TYLER! CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN!

Host: Thank you, Denise. Moving on.

Me: I'm not done yet!

Host: Yes you are.

{Dial tone}

I bet they are so totally asking me to do that again.

Okay, not really. Not the the not asking me again part, the transcript part. It really wasn't anything like that. We did start off stating who we were and what site we were from. I must say, I was a bit humbled. Out of six people asking questions, 3 were REALLY big sites. Moms Salon (Mom Bloggers Club), The Deadbolt.com, Deal Seeking Mom. I was really wondering if they had made some kind of mistake when they asked me. "There's Always Room For One More? We thought you were with May We Have Some More!" Click. Dial tone. Thankfully, they didn't figure that out while we were on the call.

Keegan was a really nice guy, very personable. We were each allowed three questions and none of mine were about Tyler Florence or Crack Bars. Shocking, I know! My first question was "Do you have any say in what the challenges are? Do you all sit around and brain storm ideas?" Keegan said that he does suggest things and some suggestions even come from contestants themselves but ultimately it's decided by the powers that be at Food Network.

My second question was "I'm sure you get asked what your favorite part of hosting the show is but I want to know what your least favorite part is." Keegan said that his least favorite part was probably when contestants showed up for a competition unprepared. Here they were putting their reputation on the line, not to mention the prize money, and then they show up unprepared. And then he added that sometimes he wished he could compete himself.

My third and final question was "I would imagine that you would have favorites in a competition and maybe some people you didn't like. Do you have a hard time not letting that show while you are hosting?" Keegan said that he rarely had people he didn't like, although he might be aggravated they weren't prepared, but he does have favorites sometimes and it was hard to hide that sometimes. But then there's the beauty of editing.

I have to admit, although I've seen Food Network Challenges, I hadn't necessarily given Keegan much thought before (sorry Keegan!) but I found him to be a really nice guy. He seems really excited about his upcoming series and Julia and I are planning on watching it. My only problem is that it starts Sunday night, April 5, and airs at 8:00 PM ET and PT /7:00 CT. Guess when The Amazing Race is on? Good thing my DVR can record 2 shows at a time!

Food Network Calling

I got an email today. Yeah, I know, I get about a hundred emails a day, but this one was special.

This email came from The Food Network and it wasn't a mass email advertising the latest season of The Next Food Network Star. It was a personal email and it even began: Hi Denise.

So the question that begs to be answered is why on earth is The Food Network is emailing me?

I have several theories. The first is because of the multiple times I have bandied Tyler Florence's name around on my blog.

{Helloooo, Stranger.}

Maybe they've decided to resurrect Tyler's old show Food 911 and he's coming to my house to cook with me. Could I actually survive the filming? I might have to get one of those crystal deodorants to make sure I don't get all stinky while he's here. We all know heat and nerves don't work out so well together.

Not to worry, no need to find any crystals. It's not about Tyler.

Maybe it's about my now World Famous Crack Bars.

{Hello, stranger.}

This seems so likely. But what they be interested in? If they put me on one of those shows like Chopped where they give you a picnic basket full of secret ingredients and my basket contains marshmallows, butter and rice crispies then I'm golden. If they give me Cocoa Crispies... dare to dream. If they give me squid, edamame and parsnips--I'm done.

But that wasn't it either. And I never would have guessed what it was. EVER.

The Food Network has invited me to take part in a telephone press conference next Monday afternoon with the host of Food Network Challenge--

Keegan Gerhard.
{Hello... stranger.}

He's going to be hosting a special series of Food Network Challenges titled Last Cake Standing. This will be a 4 week series that not only has pastry chefs competing to see who makes the best cakes but also eliminates chefs along the way. Totally cut throat. Totally cool.

This is like the perfect series for us. Julia and I have watched so much Ace of Cakes and other Food Network Challenge shows featuring cake decorating that Julia asked for fondant for Christmas. Seriously. It was on her list. And she got some. (What a great mom.)

So now I'm trying to figure out what in the world I'll ask Mr. Gerhard because I can't stick to boring questions like "What's your favorite cake flavor?" Please... No it will have to be something like "Surely, you've heard about my World Famous Crack Bars? No? What kind of chef are you?"

But while I'm thinking of questions, I'm going to play this for all it's worth. This is totally my first press conference and I'm going to bask in it. I'll ask my sister-in-law Janne' if she wants me to pick up her kids from school next Monday afternoon and then stop myself and say "I'm sooo sorry! I completely forgot! I've got a press conference to attend!" I'll make an appointment with the dentist and say "My week is pretty open except for Monday afternoon. What's this? Oh yes, I have a press conference."

So stop in next Monday afternoon and I'll tell you all about-- oh wait, I totally forgot! I've got a press conference.

Now if I can just figure out what to wear...

Today's Post Brought to You by the Letter "R"

My new BFF Brandy at I'm Not Your Average Soccer Mom -- oh wait, Brandy did I tell you that we were BFF's now? Anyway, Brandy had a tag of sorts. She had to list 10 of her favorite things that started with the letter "L". I was quite impressed with her list. She made it look entirely too easy so when she asked if anyone else wanted to play I naively jumped up and down waving my arms yelling "Me! Pick me!" And she did and gave me the letter "R."

R seems like an easy letter. Its pretty common, right? But just try coming up with your favorite things that start with R. I received my assignment on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, so I put it off for a few days. I was so arrogant about my abilities to complete this task that I only gave it momentary thoughts as I cooked my turkey and ate until I had to let my pants out and then half passed out from the postprandial alkaline tide after my large feast. (Heads up, that was my moment of brilliance in this post so if your searching for another you might as well quit reading and wait for tomorrow's post.)

The first is Ridiculously easy. #1) is Ross and Ryan. (Do I get extra points for using the word Ridiculous?)


Two of my 3 favorite boys. Aren't they cute? I could have split them up and made them #1 and #2 but they seemed like a pair to me.

After this I was stumped. Trace showed up and helped me brain storm. Unfortunately he kept coming up with things I didn't like, let alone be my favorite things. But he was somewhat useful. He stated one that should have been totally obvious.

#2) Reading. Duh! Why didn't I think of that? It's so obvious, maybe too obvious. I love to read and wish I had more time to do it. But its to the determent of my family when I get too absorbed.
I haven't made my obsession with this series a secret. Enough said.

Trace's next suggestion left me somewhat Righteously offended but then I saw he spoke the truth.

#3) Rambling. I admit, with Relish, that I tend to Ramble at times. But if I didn't Ramble my posts would be much shorter and much more boring. Rambling's a good thing. If I keep telling myself that then I'll keep believing it.

So that was the end of Trace's usefulness. Great, I was only at #3. Was it too late to split up the boys? Hey, who needs Trace? Moving on to #4

#4) Ring. My wedding Ring which I now wear on my right hand. I love this Ring!

My fingers are kind of shiny because my hands were freakishly dry so I put lotion on, hence the shiny moisture laden skin.

Confession: This is not my original wedding Ring. My original Ring had tons of bagette diamonds. When it was cleaned at the jewelry store, it was shiny and beautiful, but 1 hour later it looked grimy. It drove me crazy. About 8 years after we were married Darrell decided to stop the whining make his wife happy and we spent about a year looking for the perfect Ring, my need for perfection, not his. Did I mention that I love this Ring? No, I didn't think so.

#5) wRiting. I freely Resign myself to the fact that writing does not really start with an R but it sounds like it does, right? You know the 3 "R's"-- Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmatic? Not to worry, 'Rithmatic won't be # 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

Here I am hard at work at my laptop with my staRbucks cup in hand.

#6) Range, as in GAS Range. When I moved I left behind my beautiful semi professional gas Range. Now I cook on a glass top electric cook top. In my dream of dreams I would have one of these:

If I had one of these bad boys I would probably cook a LOT more. And it would be good, like Food Network, good. If only it came with a Sous Chef.

Which brings me to #7

#7) Restaurant. I love to eat out! I could eat out and eat out all the time. I'm not talking Golden Arches here, nor any other establishment that has a drive thru.

Wait, staRbucks has a drive thru! But I only get breakfast there. Okay, never mind. Olive Garden is one of my favorite places. Yeah, its a chain restaurant but it doesn't have a drive thru so it qualifies!

Unfortunately with all of my children, and my ever shrinking budget, eating in a Real Restaurant doesn't happen very often. Oh well.

With all that cooking and cleaning could it be any surprise that my next favorite thing is:

#8) 'Rita, as in maRgaRita.

I love Margaritas. I love the lime and the salt. I like them so much I could drink them without the tequila, which I did at times when I was pregnant.

Which now leads me to my next item:

#9) Riesling, my new favorite wine. And not just any Riesling, my favorite is by Relax.

Not only does it taste extraordinarily good, but it comes in a totally cool blue bottle AND it has a metal screw top, no messing with a cork with this bottle. It totally Reeks quality and class.

I'm looking like a total lush here. Time to redeem myself. On to the Big Finish.

Only, heRe's where I get stumped and want to go back and split up my babies. No, be strong, don't split up the kids. You can do this.

Okay, maybe I can't but my next item really is a favorite of mine.

#10) TyleR FloRence. So his name doesn't start with an R but he has an R in both of his names, so that has to account for something, right? I know, you're thinking "What is she talking about? Tyler Florence?"
Just look at him! Not only can this guy cook, but he looks hot while doing it. Hey, maybe he's the Sous Chef that comes with that Range in #6. Or maybe I could be his Sous Chef. Did it just get warm in here??? Its too bad he's married because apparently I'm not anymore. Hmmm....

Wasn't I trying to improve upon my reputation after #8 and 9?

Soooooo, if anyone wants to play this game let me know in the comments and I'll send you a letter.

Sorry, I've got to get back to Tyler.