I decided to make something I haven’t made in quite a while and probably only make about once a year. I don’t know why I don’t make sloppy joe’s more often – they are so tasty and are always a hit with my family. It is a simple dinner, not a big production, so perfect for Monday night football.

I sauteed a medium onion in about a tablespoon of olive oil until it was starting to soften and caramelize just a bit. Once the onion was cooked to my liking, I added a red bell pepper that I diced. I then added a couple cloves of minced garlic. After all the vegetables were cooked together (this took about 5 minutes total), I added a pound of 96% lean ground beef. For my seasonings, I added a tablespoon of Italian seasoning, a teaspoon of kosher salt and a half teaspoon of pepper. Next, I added 1/4 cup of light brown sugar and a 15-1/2 ounce can of diced tomatoes with green chiles added. I then added 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, along with 2 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce. I added a 1/2 cup of diced carrots and last, but not least, I added a small jar of pimientos. This is something I learned from my mom. A friend of hers had made sloppy joe’s for dinner when my mom was visiting her home. She added a jar of pimientos and my mom said this was so tasty, I’ve done it ever since. It adds a real sweetness to the sloppy joe’s and really intensifies the flavor. This is a great addition!

Of course, I have leftovers, and this will be what Dennis is taking for lunch tomorrow. It’s a win-win. He loved the dinner and he now gets to have a repeat tomorrow for lunch. Plus, his lunch is already made, yippee!

Ingredients

• 1 pound 96% lean ground beef

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1/4 cup light brown sugar

• 1 15-1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

• 1 jar pimientos

• 1/2 cup diced carrots

• hamburger buns

Directions

Add one tablespoon olive oil to a sauté pan. Cook your diced onions for a couple minutes until they start to soften. Add the diced red bell pepper and sautè another couple minutes. Next, add the minced garlic. After the garlic has been cooked together with the onion and pepper for a minute or so, add the ground beef, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and pepper and cook until browned and crumbly. Once the meat has been cooked through add the brown sugar, can of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce, jar of pimientos and diced carrots. Let cook together until sauce has thickened.

Serve on a warm roll. Enjoy!

Until next time, Kris