Sloppy Joes

Growing up, I kind of got tired of having the same meals over and over again.  Then I went to college and craved things like real homemade mashed potatoes, tacos, and my mom's sloppy joes. For my birthday one year I actually requested that we have sloppy joes because I missed homemade cooking. Andy used to eat Manwich sloppy joes (I despise Manwich) and I had to beg him to let me cook sloppy joes without Manwich and after I did, he's never wanted Manwich again.  I am going to preface this by saying this is not a healthy recipe...for me, it's comfort food that I craved when I couldn't be home, and for my picky boyfriend it's a meal he'll actually eat over and over again (because it's not healthy), and sometimes even requests it. We have sloppy joes about once a month and it's so simple. My mom actually found this recipe in the Star Tribune back in the 80's. It's a recipe that has stood the test of time and I've had other sloppy joes and they don't taste as good as these, in my opinion.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (we use 85/15 but obviously any kind will work)

1/2 cup chopped onion (optional if you don't like onion...we usually add more than 1/2 cup!)

1 cup ketchup

1 tsp yellow mustard

1 beef bouillon cube (or 1 tsp beef bouillon granules)

2 tsp sugar

1/4 cup water

1. Brown hamburger with onions in a fry pan and drain the fat. 

2. Add the ketchup, mustard, bouillon cube, sugar and water to the beef.  Stir well so all the beef is covered by the sauce. 

3. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until bouillon cube is dissolved and sauce has thickened. 

4. TA-DA! All done. I usually top my sloppy joes with pickles or banana peppers. Enjoy! 

I don't need to put this recipe in the fire-proof box because it's in my mind.  Until next-time, Fire away!