Sloppy Dinner...

Yep. Sloppy Joe's. Remember them? When I was kid (just a couple of years ago), my mom would brown some ground beef and mix in a can of Manwich sauce and voila! Happy kids. I grew up. Manwich didn't. So it's time to reinvent a classic. I made a version of a Sloppy Joe last year from Ellie Krieger and really liked it, but thought it was a bit too complicated and had a bit too many ingredients for a quick, school night meal.

So, I did what I love to do.

What I wasn't allowed to do as a kid.

I played with my food! (Shhhhhh! Don't tell my Dad or I'll end up in trouble!)

Into my cast iron skillet - did I tell you that I got one FINALLY? It was a Christmas gift from my parents and I love, love, love it! - I tossed about 1/2 cup of chopped bell pepper and 1/2 cup chopped onions and 1 pound of lean ground beef. They all swam around nicely together until the beef was good and brown. Then I drained. I used to not drain my ground beef, but I figure my arse has enough fat...the excess can go down the drain!

Next, I added a can of Rotel tomatoes (with green chiles), a can of red kidney beans, 1 cup of defrosted frozen corn kernels and about a 1/2 cup of ketchup. And I stirred. And I stirred again. I let it all get comfy and cozy together and make friends in the pan. It's important for ingredients to hang out and get to know each other in the pan.

Finally, I piled about 1 cup of the mixture onto a Whole Wheat Hamburger Bun (I like the Sara Lee ones because they're not so big) and added some baked barbecue potato chips to the plate and sat down to sit and giggle while the weeone tried to eat her Sloppy Joe without making a mess. This might be the best.entertainment.ever!!!

By the way, while she was struggling to eat her "sandwich" the weeone mentioned that this filling would be good in a tortilla too! I think she's right.

Sloppy Dinner

Serves 6 (1 cup of filling on a whole wheat bun)

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped

1 pound ground beef, lean

1 cup frozen corn kernels, defrosted

1 can red kidney beans, drained

1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chiles, drained

1/2 cup ketchup

6 whole wheat hamburger buns

Over medium high heat add the onion, bell pepper and ground beef to a skillet. Cook until the ground beef is brown, about 5 minutes. Add corn, beans, tomatoes and ketchup and mix well. Continue to mix until well heated. Serve about 1 cup of filling on each bun.

Nutritional Information per Serving

• Calories 248, Carbohydrates 37 grams,Total Fat4 grams, Saturated Fat 1.1 gram, Protein 18 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Sodium 535 milligrams