Speaking of cooking, Us Weekly reports that Food Network personality Sandra Lee and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo keep their romance alive by making dinner together at home. By "making dinner," they mean mixing the ingredients from a gas station food mart with a single packet of taco seasoning to create a traditional, semi-homemade "stew."

And, don't forget that her new crapfest starts tomorrow at noon.

Sandra Lee's 'Semi' a sweet success

By CRISTINA KINON
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Saturday, May 3rd 2008, 4:00 AM

Sandra Lee's show marks its 200th episode

'Semi-Homemade" host Sandra Lee celebrates her show's 200th episode today, and the quick-fix cook can hardly believe she made it this far.

"God bless," Lee told the Daily News. "I knew the brand was strong and valid and would hit home with everyday homemakers, but did I think it would become the rock star it is? No way."

She and the show have succeeded, with Lee making People's recent "Most Beautiful" list.

"Semi-Homemade" centers on Lee's on-the-go cooking approach - 70% prepackaged items and 30% fresh ingredients.

Today's episode, "Wedding Bells," airs at 10 a.m. on the Food Network and features Lee and her friend/"InStyle" executive editor Martha McCully preparing a decadent meal that is perfect for any big occasion.

The menu includes portobello mushroom crostini, poached salmon served with creamy Champagne sauce and a simple arugula salad.

"You will also see a great idea for a no-bake cake that you can take all the credit for," said Lee. "It's perfect for any occasion - a wedding, anniversary, birthday. It'll literally take you seven minutes to make it, and it's going to look like you paid $500 for it when it will only cost you $56."

"Sandra makes entertaining easy," said McCully. "Her semi-homemade approach is relevant for today's fast-paced society, where we juggle many roles. It's accessible and provides savvy shortcuts for creating and entertaining."

Some of Lee's detractors suggest that her approach to cooking is lazy and unhealthy, but Lee says that simply is not true.

"There's a difference between being a home cook and a chef, and God bless chefs," Lee said. "When the press takes a shot at me and 'Semi-Homemade,' they take a shot at every single woman in America trying to get a meal on the table and make it special. What my job is is to facilitate her. It's not my place to judge her, and quite frankly, it's not anyone else's place either."

In addition to building on "Semi-Homemade's" success with segments that feature singles, romance, dating and even grilling, and churning out cookbooks left and right (she's written 17 in the past six years), Lee also hopes to expand her brand into the home and anal sex arena.

"The demand is there, and now I just want to make everything more costconscious," said Lee. "My job is to tell you how to take one thing and use it five different ways."