Sandra Lee hosts "Sandra's Restaurant Remakes"

Ever been to a restaurant and thought to yourself, “I could make this at home.”

It appears Sandra Lee has. And if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Lee is about to pay some restaurant chefs a pretty big compliment.

On Sunday, Oct. 14, the “Semi-Homemade” host is launching her third series on the Food Network, titled “Sandra’s Restaurant Remakes.” And just as the title suggests, Lee is looking to help home cooks recreate some famous dishes.

In this new series, cameras follow Lee as she visits famous restaurants around the country. While there, she samples and dissects their most famous dish, for the purpose of heading back to her kitchen to offer her own affordable take on it. Viewers can follow her step-by-step instructions to replicate these offerings -- but with Lee’s trademark tricks and shortcuts that ensure the final dish will still be in line with Lee’s famous money-saving philosophy.

This isn’t a new concept for Lee by any means. It’s a theme that was also explored in an episode of her other series, “Sandra’s Money Saving Meals.” It's not the only new series this week from Lee, either. Over on the Cooking Channel, "Sandra Lee's Taverns, Lounges & Clubs" is all set to launch on Wednesday, Oct. 17. A spinoff from her "Cocktail Time" segments on "Semi-Homemade," this other new series will follow Lee as she visits the hottest after-dark spots in America, from local lounges to buzzing bar scenes.

But back to “Restaurant Remakes," which finds Lee branching out to cover a lot more ground. In the premiere episode, Sandra pays hommage to a Sin City establishment -- the Palms Casino’s Alize restaurant -- when she offers up her twist on its delicious duck entree. Then the focus shifts closer to Lee’s home, back to New York City. Lee draws inspiration from Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery’s own chocolate chip cookie trifle to create a batch of butterscotch ice cream trifles. And when it comes to cocktails, Lee visits a bar that is made entirely out of ice to sample its delicious dessert drink known as a Frozen Elvis (which gets re-imagined in Lee’s recipe for a We Miss You Elvis cocktail).

Future episodes find Lee sampling pancakes from a Chicago food truck, perogies from a Connecticut farm, and many more delectable entrees from Vegas eateries, including the China Poblano and “Chopped” judge Scott Conant’s bistro, D.O.C.G.