Last night, as I was starting to think about what I could make for dinner my children started asking me, “Mom, what’s for dinner?! I’m hungry! Can we have sloppy joes mom?”

Sloppy Joes.  I couldn’t tell you the last time that I made them.  It just isn’t something that I normally make.  I don’t know why, it is a pretty quick, easy and brainless meal so you would think with having 4 kids that would be a go-to meal, but for whatever reason it just normally isn’t.

I did know we had hamburger in the freezer.  Also, not too long ago someone had given us a couple of huge bags of hamburger buns that they had left over from an event that they wanted to get rid of.  Hamburger…check.  Buns…check.  Now, I just needed one of those sloppy joe seasoning packets.  I thought I remembered seeing one a few years ago.  As I rummaged through the top shelf where we keep those kind of seasoning packets that have been there for who knows how long (because we don’t actually use them), alas…there was no sloppy joe seasoning.    Sidenote: I am not even sure why we have them because we don’t use them.  Honestly, when we were first married 10 years ago some lovely people at church gave us a spice and paper shower.  I think that is what it is called anyway.  It was great!  We had spices and saran wrap…and foil…and ziplocks…and paper towels…etc. for years! It just may be that some of those packets on the top shelf are remnants of said shower.  Kind of scary, but true none the less.  It may be time for a little cabinet clean out soon.  ANYWAYS, I was not deterred!  I was going to make sloppy joes anyway!  So, I whipped up a recipe and I think it is a keeper!  James and the kids thought it was great, and I had absolutely no problem eating a couple of sandwiches as well.

So, if you ever find yourself in my situation where you just don’t have “one of those packets” when you are trying to throw some homemade sloppy joes together, don’t be afraid to just whip something up!  You can use my recipe as a guide.  Don’t be afraid to experiment.  That is what is great about food…there is so much that can be done with it!  If you have all of these ingredients, great!  If not use something that is close to it.  This recipe turned out wonderful and I am sure you will think it is tasty as well! -Shelley.

My Sloppy Joe Recipe:

3 pounds hamburger

1 stalk celery, chopped fine

1 green pepper, chopped fine

3 T Bragg Liquid Aminos All-Purpose Seasoing (this is like a really great soy sauce alternative that I get at the health food store.  It is a wonderful seasoning for just about anything!!)

3 t Cowboy Rub seasoning

2 t Chicago Steak seasoning

2 t onion powder

1/2 c brown sugar

1 small can tomato paste

2 small cans water (use the empty tomato paste can)

*Brown the hamburger with the celery and green pepper.

*Once hamburger is completely brown and celery and peppers are soft, add everything else.  Bring to boil and let some of the water cook off and tomato sauce thicken up.  Enjoy!