Growing up meal time was a "fend for yourself" time. Generally. We did have meals together. Sometimes. As a general rule if you were hungry, you found something to eat or went hungry. After getting were married, I remember my husband asking me what we were going to have for dinner. To me it seemed a funny question. I told him I was going to have cereal and asked him what he was planning to eat. It seemed a perfectly logical to me. (I should say here that my husband was one of six children and they ate nightly meals together). He asked in his very sweet way, “Don’t you think we should make something and eat together?” I was baffled. After all, it wasn’t a birthday, Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving. It was a regular
day. It wasn’t even Sunday. “Seriously?” was my response. Probably not what the poor guy wanted to hear. The next night we had meatloaf. I was very proud of myself. It was a regular day, and I had cooked dinner. Again my sweet husband asked (so kindly as to not offend), “Do you think we should have
something with the meatloaf…like potatoes, rice or corn?” “SERIOUSLY???” I had just cooked a main course, which to me was a big deal. The idea that he thought there should perhaps be more on the table was totally foreign. We’ve come along way since then. I now usually cook a nightly meal, not to mention making breakfast & lunches. Cooking has become something I usually enjoy. We are busy with 3 children so meals have to either be very simple and fast, or planned ahead of time. And yes, we do still have cereal for dinner every now and again.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Not-So-Sloppy Joes

Source: I got this recipe from a friend years ago, and she got it somewhere online but I couldn't find the link.  If I find it I'll add it!
1 TBSP olive oil
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 lb. ground beef
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 hamburger buns, toasted
½ cup grated Cheddar
½ cup sour cream

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and red pepper. Sauté until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the ground beef and brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, and salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 12 minutes. Spoon onto the buns, sprinkle with the Cheddar, and top each sandwich with a dollop of the sour cream.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

After giving birth to my second daughter a friend brought a meal over for us...and this was it!  I loved them so much.  I think these are so much more flavorful than regular boring sloppy joes.  Our children really love these too.  Its one of those fail safe meals we can put on the table and have them gobble up.  It is also an easy, quick meal.  I use my little food processor to chop up the onion, garlic and red pepper.

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