While everyone is spending more time at home this week, maybe grab the kids, wash your hands and pull out the ingredients for Sloppy Joes to celebrate National Sloppy Joe Day. No matter how you make this hot sandwich, celebrate!

According to the National Day Calendar website, the Sloppy Joe is one of America’s all-time favorite hot sandwiches. Its base ingredient is often ground beef. However, others use turkey and buffalo, too. I hear venison makes a tasty Sloppy Joe as well. The other elements give it its flavor, though. Onions, tomato sauce, brown sugar, cola or maple syrup to sweeten it and seasonings to spice it-and of course, any secret ingredient families may add over the years. All of it is served up on a hamburger bun or roll. And is it ever sloppy! Be sure to grab more than one napkin!

I’ve gathered several recipes to meet everyone’s basic Sloppy Joe needs.

Recipes wanted! Submitted recipes will be accepted at [email protected], or you can stop by the Albion office and drop a copy off up front. If you don’t have a recipe to submit right now, but there is a recipe you’re desperately seeking, feel free to email or drop off a note for a “Recipe Request.” I’m still requesting recipes that highlight local agriculture for next week as well as your favorite apple pie recipes!

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Pioneer Woman Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter

2-1/2 lbs. ground beef

1/2 large onion, diced

1 large green bell pepper, diced

5 cloves garlic, minced

1-1/2C ketchup

1C water

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp dry mustard

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Worcestershire sauce, to taste

2 Tbsp tomato paste (optional)

Tabasco sauce, optional, to taste

salt to taste

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Kaiser rolls

Butter

Directions:

Add butter to a large skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Drain most of the fat and discard.

Add onions, green pepper, and garlic. Cook for a few minutes, or until vegetables begin to get soft.

Add ketchup, brown sugar, chili pepper, dry mustard, and water. Stir to combine and simmer for 15 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste. Also add tomato paste, Worcestershire, and Tabasco if desired. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Spread rolls with butter and brown on a griddle or skillet. Spoon meat mixture over the rolls.

Note: top with a slice of cheese if it makes your skirt fly up. Serve hot with kettle cooked chips!

***Recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman***

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Healthier Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean ground beef

1/4C onion, diced

1/4C green pepper, diced

2 carrots, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp yellow mustard

3/4C ketchup

1 Tbsp brown sugar

salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Heat skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir beef, onion, green bell pepper, carrots and garlic until beef is browned, about 10 minutes. Drain off liquids.

Stir in mustard, ketchup and brown sugar and mix thoroughly. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce has thickened, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

***Recipe courtesy of MakeItHealthy, allrecipes.com***

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Big Daddy's Sloppy Joe Burgers

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp grapeseed oil

1lb. beef tenderloin, diced

1 tsp cracked black pepper

1 tsp salt

1/4C Vidalia onion, minced

1/4C green pepper, minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 Tbsp steak sauce (A1 steak sauce preferred)

2 Tbsp dark brown sugar

dash hot sauce

1 tsp dry mustard

6 brioche buns, toasted

Directions:

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add oil. Add beef tenderloin, pepper and salt. Mix together. Allow to cook for a few minutes. Add onions, peppers and garlic and stir. Mix in steak sauce, brown sugar, hot sauce and dry mustard. Cook until browned.

Serve on toasted brioche.

***Recipe courtesy of Aaron McCargo Jr., The Food Network website***

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Sloppy Joe Burgers

Ingredients:

1 1/2lb. lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1/4C ketchup

1 pkg. sloppy Joe seasoning mix

6 slices American cheese

6 burger buns, split

Directions:

Heat gas or charcoal grill. In large bowl, combine ground beef, ketchup and sloppy Joe seasoning mix; mix gently. Shape mixture into 6 patties, 1/2 inch thick.

When grill is heated, carefully oil grill rack. Place patties on gas grill over medium heat or on charcoal grill 4-6 inches from medium coals. Cover grill; cook 13-15 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160°F., turning once. During last 1-2 minutes of cooking time, place cheese on patties; cook until melted. Serve patties in buns.

Note: to broil patties, place on broiler pan; broil 3-4 inches from heat for 10-12 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160°F., turning once. During last 30-60 seconds of broiling time, place cheese on patties; broil until melted.

***Recipe courtesy of the Pillsbury Kitchens, Pillsbury website***