Sloppy Joes
Please excuse the photo. I don't think it's possible to take a beautiful photo of Sloppy Joes. That said, this family favorite is sweet and savory and perfect for Halloween, especially when made in the slow cooker, because you can get it going in the morning and have it ready for before, during, and after Trick-or-Treating! A hint of vanilla rounds out the flavors perfectly!
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 TBSP mustard
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 TBSP worcestershire sauce
- 2 TBSP brown sugar
- 1 TBSP vanilla paste
- 1 tsp beef boullion
- 1 tsp ground pepper (we like Madagascar Wild Peppercorns)
- 1/2 cup water
- OPTIONAL: 1 grated carrot, 1/2 cup dry lentils plus an additional 2 cups water, 1 onion, finely chopped
Put everything into a slow cooker, and cook on low for 6-12 hours or high for 3-5 hours. Mix thoroughly, breaking up the ground beef, before serving on hamburger buns. You can also make this in a pan on the stove--just brown the ground beef and vegetables first and then add the remaining ingredients. If adding lentils, boil them in 2 cups of water for 20 minutes before adding them to the browned ground beef. We like to serve ours with corn chips right on the sandwich, and a slice of pepperjack cheese!