sloppy joes…

I’m looking for easy, flavorful meals that can go with the fresh, prepped fruits and veggies that I try to keep on hand in the fridge in the summer. So tonight we had sloppy joes, apple slices, and green peas… (Pickings were a little slim around here after a long weekend away. I had to borrow an onion from a friend down the street. =)

I found a great recipe on AllRecipes and made some modifications. I think this is going to become a family standby…

Sloppy Joes

1 lb. ground beef

1 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped green bell pepper (or omit and double the onion)

1 T. brown sugar (less if your sauces are plenty sweet)

1 T. vinegar

½ c. ketchup (we like Trader Joe’s organic)

½ c. bbq sauce (we like T.J’s smoky sauce)

2 tablespoons mustard, ground or prepared

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large skillet over medium heat, combine the ground beef, onion, and green pepper. Cook until beef is browned, and drain off excess grease. Stir in the brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup and mustard, and season with cloves and salt. Simmer for 20-30 minutes on low. Serve on hamburger buns or pitas.