Sloppy Joes

I was worried after yesterday's beautiful strawberry recipe that you might, maybe, get the wrong idea about me.  I'm really NOT one of "those" cooks.  I live in a house full of boys.  Graceful recipes like the strawberries are usually brought out at holidays and for things like girls night, where people might actually appreciate the appearance of something I cook.  Hoity-toity cooking is not something that is tolerated around here for long.

This is more like regular, everyday cooking at our house.  As a matter of fact, when I announced we would be having sloppy joes for dinner, cheers went up in the back seat of my car.  It's a standard favorite around here--right up there with macaroni and cheese.  Actually, mac and cheese would make a good complement to this.  Keep that in mind. :)

For this super simple and quick recipe, here's your list:

Ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar.

You know, for the longest time I bought the little jars of premade sloppy joe sauce.  Then one day I realized how cheap, quick, and easy it is to make it from scratch.  It was a life changing experience.  Okay, not really, but it's quite helpful to be able to whip it up at the last minute from stuff I always have on hand!

First, give your onion a coarse chop.

Then do the same to your green pepper.

Throw them into a skillet with your ground beef...

and cook until there is no more pink left in your beef.

Be nutritionally responsible for a minute and actually drain the fat off.  (But I won't insist that you wipe the leftover grease from your skillet.  Some fat is necessary, right?)

Back in the pan add your meat, ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar.

Stir to combine over medium heat until warmed throughout.  (Just a few extra minutes...be careful not to scorch the bottom.  If your stove runs warm, you can do this over medium low.) 

There you have it...high class cooking from my kitchen.  Try this the next time you need a super quick and cheap meal.  You can play with the amounts of mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar too.  Some people enjoy a sweeter sloppy joe; others like it with more tang.  You decide.

Oh, and this recipe makes a good amount of sloppies.  You can half everything if you aren't feeding bottomless pit tween boys and their friends. Enjoy! :)


Sloppy Joes
2 pounds ground beef
1 green pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1-2 Tablespoons mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar

In a large skillet, brown ground beef, onion, and pepper.  Drain.  Return meat to pan and add ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar.  Stir to combine and heat through.  Serve on buns.