Tuesday Night Supper Club--Sloppy Joe

I have to admit it

I am a little down in the dumps

Football season is ending

and it bums me out

I love football

even though they keep adding rules 

and making pansies out of these guys

I love football food

and

spending Sundays screaming go, Go, GO at the teli

at the top of my lungs

and talking about players 

as if they were my 3rd grade boyfriend

and watching Matt Leinart

crash and burn

but those days are numbered

for this year

so i turn to what i call comeback food

food that is making a comeback

and will probably be on the menu of a local applebees* near you soon 

or worse yet

some fancy restaurant

at $25 a plate

because it's made with wagyu beef

but

 for me it is a simple meal

that helps me forget

if only for a moment

that football season is remarkably short

Sloppy Joe
(printable recipe)

(this is more savory than sweet)

1 small onion--cut into fine dice

1/2 carrot-peeled and cut into fine dice

1/4 red pepper--cut into fine dice (optional)

2 garlic cloves--cut into fine dice

1 Tbs olive oil

1 lb ground beef, turkey or venison

3/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

3Tbs+1 tsp tomato paste

1 Tbs worcestershire sauce

1 Tbs brown sugar--packed (dark or light)

1 tsp vinegar (white or cider)

1 1/2 cups water

1 tsp prepared mustard (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

cheese for topping

Saute onions, pepper and carrot on low heat until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and stir until it begins to soften.  Add meat and kick up heat to medium.  Let cook until meat is completely cooked through.  Pour off excess fat then add salt, pepper, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce, and water.  Stir until it is all mixed in and begins to create a nice sauce. Add the brown sugar and vinegar and prepared mustard if using.  Cook for about 5 minutes allowing all the flavors to meld together.  Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

EAT UP!

I made mine as sliders--because I wanted to try out a bun recipe i had found. But the buns didn't turn out that great, so I am not passing it on. If you want to make small versions, just buy some dinner rolls and sandwich the meat in between.

*disclaimer---i do not represent nor intend to mis-represent applebees..or any other local food establishment that serves comeback food.

Tuesday Night Supper Club--Sloppy Joe