The Lowly Sloppy Joe

Last night I made sloppy joes for dinner (gourmet, I know). It's a fast standby on a busy night (dance class, a Brownie meeting and grocery shopping).

I'm assuming everyone in America knows how to make sloppy joes, but just in case I thought I'd share the unofficial down-home recipe here:

• Dice half of a big sweet onion and half of a green pepper.
• Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in a pan on medium-high.
• Sauté the onion and green pepper pieces in the oil for three minutes or until they begin to soften.
• Throw in a diced clove of garlic and sauté for 30 seconds more.
• Add one pound of lean ground beef.
• Break the beef apart as you brown it (drain the beef if it's fatty).
• After the beef is browned, stir in ketchup to taste (usually five ounces).
• Stir in a tablespoon of spicy brown mustard.
• Cover and simmer for at least fifteen minutes (longer is better if you have time)

Serve on Pennsylvania Dutch potato rolls.

Side dish? Chips, of course.

The best part? Hearing Adam Sandler's Lunch Lady Land in your head as you cook!

"Sloppy Joe, Slop Sloppy Joe..."