SLOW COOKER SLOPPY JOES

Do you often wish you had a super easy "go to" dinner recipe for those hectic days when you know you won't be home until minutes before dinner??

Here's a recipe/meal plan I use OFTEN on summer days when I know I'll be away at one of the lakes we enjoy or on busy weekend days of extra-curricular activities, errands, housework, etc.  It works on busy work days too if you give the tips a try (tips following the recipe).

You will never buy canned sloppy joe mix again!!  Even my picky daughters gobble this up....and one is VERY choosy!!

SLOW COOKER, MADE FROM SCRATCH SLOPPY JOES

1-1 1/2 lbs of ground beef or turkey

1/2 c. chopped celery

1/2 c chopped onion

1 bottle (12 oz) chili sauce

2 Tbl brown sugar

2 Tbl sweet pickle relish

1 Tbl Worchestershire sauce

dash of pepper

Hamburger buns, split

• In a large skillet, brown the meat, celery and onion until meat is no longer pink.  Drain.  Transfer to a crockpot (slow cooker).
• Stir in the rest of the ingredients (minus the buns!) and stir well.
• Cover and cook on a low setting for 4-5 hours.  If you plan on being out of the house longer than that, cook on low but stir it well once you arrive home and  then turn down to "warm" setting until serving.
• Spoon the meat mixture onto buns.
• This makes 6-8 servings.

TIPS:  I defrost the meat (if frozen) by placing in fridge the evening before OR by using the defrost setting on the microwave.  While preparing/eating breakfast, I brown the meat. 

MEAL PLAN

Sloppy Joes

Tossed Salad or Raw Veggie platter of green, red, yellow peppers, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes or tomato slices, chunks of cheddar cheese, carrot sticks.

Pita chips or corn chips

Fruit cup or fresh fruit salad like melon, honeydew, bananas, berries

sometimes we just have the sloppy joes, raw carrots and ranch dressing dip and ice cream/frozen yogurt for dessert......

Any leftovers?? serve for lunch the next day and use up the extras within 3 days......

ENJOY!!