Redbook
November, 2006

The queen of everyday shortcuts and host of Semi-Homemade Cooking tells you how to spend less time doing and more time living.
by Penny Wrenn

"You don't need to take every little step. Why would you? With any time left over, you can do Something nice for yourself or someone else."

What shortcuts can't you live without?
Shout Wipes are the best inventions in the cleaning aisle. I use them on all of my fabrics – upholstery, rugs, and clothes. I always have them on hand to remove spills and little fingerprints when any of my nine nieces and nephews come over. I'm not the kind of aunt who runs around going, "Don't eat in the living room!"

What's the one thing you never skip?
Sleep. Lack of sleep makes me less productive. I need a good seven or eight hours a night.

Any semi-homemade Thanksgiving secrets?
I use my slow-cooker for everything from the turkey and side dishes (scalloped ham and potatoes, vegetable potpie) to dessert. Indian pudding is an adorable, "tastes like it's from scratch" Thanksgiving dessert. Start with a corn muffin mix, then pour in butterscotch pudding, eggs, milk, molasses, ginger, and cinnamon, and crumble sugar cookies over the top.

How can we embrace the semi-homemade philosophy in other areas of our life – without guilt?
Give yourself permission to get the most out of your life. If you're spending all your time scrubbing corners with a toothbrush, you're kind of missing the point. Taking shortcuts doesn't mean shortcutting the end result. Sure, you can mix the flour, baking soda, salt, shortening, and the whole nine yards, but why wouldn't you just pull out a box of Bisquick^®?

Lee is the host of Semi-Homemade Cooking With Sandra Lee on the Food Network and the author of four cookbooks. Her Thanksgiving special, Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade Thanksgiving Special, airs several times this month on the Food Network.

Log onto redbookmag.com/sandralee for an exclusive recipe from Sandra Lee's book Semi-Homemade Slow Cooker Recipes.