Sloppy Joes

When we returned home from vacation, our friend Patty had left sloppy joe mixture and buns in our fridge for our supper that night. It was so nice to come home to a ready to eat meal! I had saved the Pioneer Woman's sloppy joe recipe, but hadn't gotten around to making them. After eating Patty's delicious joes, I finally tried these and they were delicious as well.

Pioneer Woman's Sloppy Joes

2 T butter

2 and 1/2 pounds ground beef

1/2 large onion, diced

1 whole green bell pepper, diced

5 cloves garlic, minced (I used the ready-to-use minced garlic in a jar. I'm lazy like that.)

1 and 1/2 cup ketchup

1 cup water

2 T brown sugar

2 t chili powder

1 t dry mustard

1/2 t red pepper flakes

Worcestershire sauce to taste

2 T tomato paste (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Kaiser rolls

Butter

Add butter to large skillet. Add ground beef and brown, drain off most of the fat.

Add onions, green pepper, and garlic. Cook until vegetables begin to soften.

Add ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder and pepper, dry mustard, and water. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes.

Butter rolls or buns and brown on griddle or skillet.

I cut the recipe in half the first time, but will make up the whole recipe (or more) next time. It would be nice to have the meat in the freezer waiting to thaw for a cold winter evening.