January is a difficult month to get through sometimes. There is the let down from the excitments of the holidays and the weather that can be dreary, cold, and unpreditable. Now we don’t even have the Super Bowl and the attendant parties to look forward to. This year’s Super Bowl will be played February 7th in Miami at the Dolphins Stadium. But that does give you time for planning a party. Super Bowl food runs the gamut from chips and dips to pizza and subs. It is not the time to pull out the good china and the Coq Au Vin. One of my favorite easy comfort foods is a good sloppy joe. It is such a convenient choice for a crowd. You can put it in a crock pot to keep it warm. Serving from the crock pot is very convenient. A basket of good bakery rolls lightly toasted and a condiment bar can also be included. Condiments might include sliced pickles, pickled jalapenos, coleslaw, and shredded cheese. Another idea would be to offer the new slider size hamburger buns for those who want to exercise portion control. With some special potato chips and paper plates and napkins, you don’t even need silverware.
This recipe for sloppy joes is a little unusual. I adapted it from a recipe I saw on a website for Lindauer Family Farms. They raise natural, antibiotic free beef and their website includes recipes for beef. What I liked about the recipe was the inclusion of jellied cranberry sauce. I have used this before in making meatballs and it sounded perfect for sloppy joes. I love this recipe and it doubles easily for a crowd.
SLOPPY JOES
2 lbs ground beef round
1 medium onion, chopped
3 Tbls brown sugar
1 Tbls dry mustard
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup ketchup
1 8 0z can jellied cranberry sauce
1 Tbls Worcestershire sauce
Brown ground beef and onions in a large sauce pan. Drain off fat. Add dry ingredients and stir and cook for a few minutes. Add ketchup, cranberry sauce and worcestershire sauce. Cover and simmer on low-medium heat for 30 to 45 minutes.
Ooh…the cranberry sauce sounds like a nice addition! And I do love making Sloppy Joe’s to stretch the meal and budget and to be able to use paper & plastic products.
Thanks, Penny!! 🙂
xoxo
Jane
This sauce is a little like the one used for miniature hot dogs or meatballs. This is a great way to feed a crowd. Are you doing the bowl party this year?
What a good idea – I’ve also used the cranberry in mini meatballs but this sounds so much better! Can’t wait to give it a try – thanks for sharing.
Susan
Penny, you’ve done it again: offered the perfect recipe at the perfect time. I have a group coming Thursday night and wanted to serve sloppy joes but am tired of my old recipe. I’m going to the meal it just as you propose, with cherry pie for dessert. You don’t happen to have a great cole slaw recipe, do you? Thanks so much.
I love the jelly in this… a little slaw and it is perfect!
Penny, I would love one of your Sloppy Joe’s anytime. That recipe is perfect for a causal lunch or busy weeknight dinner. All one needs is a few minutes and lots of napkins to wipe the fingers between bites.
Thanks for posting this great comfort classic…
That does sound like an interesting addition!
Looks yummy, a real crowd pleaser.
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I’ve been craving sloppy joes! Love the idea of the cranberry jelly/relish in the mix, and I also like that idea for the meatballs as Blackberry Jam Cafe mentioned. YUMMY! Will add to the menu for next week.
Hope your weather has gotten better in FL!
Love – K
Thanks! We entertained last night, sick (?) of cooking, and sloppy joes it is tonight. I have some good grass-fed hamburger (from a little heifer who would not breed — that’ll teach her!), but no cranberry sauce… bet i could use… hmmm, wah… ??
Penny seems to have a new-found Chinese follower. I used the built-in Bing Translator (highlight the passage, right click, and click translate) to read it and was highly amused at the comment. Penny must have side interests I didn’t know about.
David
Penny, this sounds so doggone good. Sometimes a Sloppy Joe is just the right thing to have. And love the addition of the cranberry sauce. DEELISH!!
i can’t even see the words “sloppy joe” without adam sandler’s lunch lady song going off in my head. they’re so tasty, and i’m intrigued by the cranberry sauce component. great addition!
What a super idea, adding the cranberry sauce! I can’t wait to make this for a group. Looks delish and I bet tastes divine!
Cranberry sauce? Very interesting and a great idea! My mom used to make sloppy Joes a bunch when we were kid. Love them!
What a pretty blog! I’m trying this sloppy joe.