Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes

Do you love Sloppy Joes? Don't buy those expensive mixes and cans of pre-made sauce --- they're full of salt and preservatives and other things that aren't so good for you. This recipe for Sloppy Joes is fast, easy, and delicious. I made them last night for dinner, and fifteen minutes after I started, I was sitting at the table, eating my sandwich. Serve them on a whole grain bun with a salad, and you've even got a healthy meal. You can make this a vegetarian meal by substituting soy crumbles for the ground beef. If you do so, just dump the soy crumbles in at the end and heat them up, no extra cooking time required.


Homemade Sloppy Joes

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 red or green pepper, chopped fine or one roasted red pepper, chopped fine
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 small can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Brown ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain in the sink in a 3 qt Colander and run hot water over it for a minute to get rid of the grease, if you desire. Put onions in the pan over medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes, until almost soft. Add pepper and garlic and cook two minutes more. Stir in remaining ingredients and heat all the way through. Add ground beef or soy crumbles and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Slicebuns in half and top with meat and sauce. Enjoy.

And here's a funny Adam Sandler lunch lady video for you about--you guessed it--Sloppy Joes.

Breakfast Sandwich

This wonderful grilled cheese and bacon sandwich has a lovely twist, and it's perfect for breakfast. You can leave out the walnuts if you like; often I add thin tomato slices or spinach leaves. Quick and easy, it tastes like you slaved over the stove.

Breakfast Grilled Cheese

3 large eggs,beaten
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
8 thick slices egg bread
12 slices cheddar cheese
1/2 tablespoon chopped walnuts
4 slices of cooked bacon

1. In a shallow dish, combine the eggs and milk; mix well.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet or griddle over low heat.
3. Dip 1 side of bread in the egg mixture, making sure it does not soak through to the other side. Place the bread slices coated side down in the skillet. Top each with 3 slices of cheese, walnuts and a sprinkle of bacon.
4. Place remaining 4 slices of bread coated side up over the cheese and bacon bits. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until golden and the cheese is melted.

Pulled Pork with Mustard BBQ sauce

Cook a pork shoulder or pork roast in slow cooker on Low or smoker until internal temperature reaches 190 (or it falls off the bone). Let rest and cool for approx 1/2 hour, then pull apart and cook with mustard sauce to taste on low for another 30 minutes.

Serve on toasted buns with coleslaw, either on the side or on the bun. Excellent.
Mustard Sauce


* 1 cup prepared yellow or any other type mustard
* 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
* 1/3 cup brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1 teaspoon cayenne

Mix all ingredients together and simmer over a low heat for 30 minutes. Cool and store in refrigerator until pork is done.

Ham and Gruyere Panini

A panini is a sandwich made on a grill. I have a regular panini grill, but it can be any kind of grill. Panini is also a brand of grill made specifically for grilling these sandwiches.

This sandwich can be made with any kind of cheese. Gruyere is a rich and smooth type of Swiss cheese that is delicious with ham. I make these on the panini grill listed below, and they're great. Be creative; you can mix and match ingredients for these sandwiches, but I love the ham and cheese. I prefer prosciutto, but deli ham works just as well.

Ham and Gruyere Panini

• 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
• 8 slices Ciabatta bread, sourdough bread, or any whole grain bread
  
• 4 (1/4" thick) slices deli smoked ham
• 4 slices Gruyere or any other type of cheese
• 1/2 cup roasted red pepper strips, drained
• 1/2 cup spinach leaves
• fresh tomato slices
  
• 2 Tbsp. butter or olive oil
• Sprinkle of dried or fresh basil
  

In small bowl combine mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese and mix well. Spread on one side of each piece of bread. Assemble sandwiches with the coated bread, Gruyere cheese, ham, the red pepper strips, tomato, and spinach.

Butter the outside of the sandwiches, or brush with olive oil. I like it with the olive oil, and then I like to sprinkle it with a little dried or fresh chopped basil right before I grill it. Mmm.

Grill sandwiches on indoor grill or panini grill or griddle until toasted and crisp. Serves 4

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