Homemade Sloppy Joes

It's a bit chilly out today but not cold enough to warrant a stew or something extremely hearty. I was glancing through my America's Text Kitchen cookbooks since the BEA- Book Expo America is coming up this week in NYC & ATK will be there. I love stopping by their table. And I love even more that they  have given out free food & cookbooks, signed right there. Sloppy Joes sort of stuck in my mind & I decided to make them tonight. They are a comforting food & home made, not full of all of the sodium, salt & sugar the canned stuff comes chock full of... These are so tasty. I have some leftover which I may even mix with a little pasta for a lunch for me. Make these- your kids will love them & you'll be happy because it is good for them. We had potato salad & fresh dill pickles on the side.

Sloppy Joes
Adapted from America's Test Kitchen
Serves 4

• 2-3 TBSp veg oil
• 1 med onion, finely diced
• 2 Garlic cloves, minced 
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 lb 85 % ground beef, I use Angus
• S & P1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup water
• 4 Kaiser Rolls

Heat oil over medium-high heat, about 1 minute. Add onion, stir until covered in the oil. Cover & allow to soften but not brown (about 10 minutes). If it begins to brown, lower the heat.  Add the garlic & chili powder and saute for 30 seconds. Add beef, S & P, brown sugar & reduce heat to medium. Cook, breaking up meat into small pieces, using a wooden spoon, until meat is almost no longer pink, about 3 min.


Add the puree, ketchup, & water. Cook until slightly thickened, about 4-8 minutes.


Serve on Kaiser buns. 

*Lishie tip- use a good, sturdy bread or bun (like a kaiser- I had plain, my hubby chose with poppy seed. Have  told you all that he goes grocery shopping with me EVERY week! Yep!) a regular hamburger bun will absorb any of the sauce like a sponge, become soggy & fall apart. Yuck.)