Food--Fast

I didn't get home until 9:00 last night after a committee meeting. Mommy had a different meeting last night. Granddady kept the baby while we were gone. That meant that all of us ate supper at a different time. I needed something I could make ahead and have ready for everyone to eat whenever it suited.

So it was time to fall back on an old favorite--Sloppy Joes. I've been making this since my girls were little. It was a favorite of theirs and their picky eater friends would even eat it. I've fed it to UMYF kids at church--it's easy to multiply the recipe. And Granddaddy likes it. Plus, the recipe is easy to remember and uses thing you have on hand. That's a real winner.

Sloppy Joes

1 to 1-1/2 lb. lean ground beef

1 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon cider vinegar  

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon French's mustard

Brown ground beef and spoon off excess liquid. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes. 

I made this in the afternoon and left it ready to heat. I set out chips, buns and paper plates. And there was a bowl of cucumber salad in the refrigerator.  It only took a minute to fix a plate---REAL fast food! Not sure about the rest of them, but I was starved when I got home and happy it was ready.

Mommy, a non-meat eater, does this with ground turkey and calls it "Sloppy Jims." (That's what I did yesterday and that's what is in the photo.) If you choose to use turkey, saute some chopped onion and a little minced garlic in olive oil before adding the turkey to the skillet. I do that for anything using ground turkey to add more flavor.

Make a double batch and freeze some for later. You'll be glad you did.