Recipe: Sloppy Joes

Sometimes you just want something comforting, simple and delicious for dinner and after Ellie or Jimmy had mentioned Sloppy Joes the a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't think of anything better. I used my mom's recipe which she thinks she got from her mother. It's simple and why mess with something that tastes this good? I like to use toasted wheat buns and serve the sandwich open-faced, and I added some sliced radishes for a little spicy crunch and topped with a bit of 'cheese.' Of course, I use burger crumbles instead of ground meat, but otherwise this is just how momma used to make it. Perfection!

Recipe: Barbara's Sloppy Joes
1 medium sized onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 12-oz package burger crumbles
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup vinegar (Use white if you like a pungent vinegar flavor, but you also use an apple cider like I did tonight.)
3 tbsp. brown sugar
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
2 tsp prepared mustard (I used a sweet and spicy)

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add the onion and cook until it begins to soften. Add the burger crumbles and cook for three more minutes until the crumbles begin to thaw. Meanwhile, in a two-cup measuring cup combine the rest of the ingredients and whisk to blend. Add to the onion-crumble mixture and simmer until it thickens, five to ten more minutes.

Serve on toasted buns (if you like) either sandwich style or open-faced. Add radish or cucumber for some crunch, or top with a little cheese. What goes with Sloppy Joes? BBQ beans, (sloppy) broccolini with cheese sauce or maybe even a little potato salad!