Welcome to the First Thursday in November

First off, don’t you just love the featured photo – now that’s what I call a warm and inviting kitchen! The wood beams, the brick, the tile floors – all so natural and earthy. Makes me want to bake apple pies after the harvest. Yeah, dream on!

Sometimes National Days just come together beautifully. The third day in November is both National Housewife’s Day and National Sandwich Day. National Housewife’s Day was designed to recognize the millions of hardworking housewives. The term housewife is old, stemming from bygone days when most families were supported by a single income. That income earner was typically the man since equal pay didn’t make sense. At least not in the eyes of men, and they were the ones in charge. Men had more financial responsibilities, and therefore needed to earn more money. Women were paid less because the CEOs believed men had families to support while women were in the workforce until they became someone’s wife. And old maids lived at home anyway, so she didn’t need to make much, right? It’s also an antiquated male notion that being a housewife is somehow easy. In reality, to run a home smoothly takes a magician of sorts. She balances the household budget, raises the children, cooks, cleans, is supportive of her husband, volunteers at the PTA, Church and an assortment of other community projects all with a smile. Hers is a 24/7 job with no vacation time and no retirement plan. So yeah, housewives (or househusbands whatever the case may be) deserve recognition and praise.

National Sandwich Day is a day set aside to sing the praises of a sandwich. Sandwiches could be hot or cold, simple or complexed. I find it interesting that Housewife’s Day and Sandwich Day are celebrated together. After all, Sandwiches would give the little lady of the house an evening off, so it would make sense to pair the two together. Oh, but it gets even better. Today is the first Thursday in November – National Men Make Dinner Day. Yeah, all you men out there are suppose to get in the kitchen and cook. Grilling does not count. National Men Make Dinner Day was created to let men get out of their comfort zone and do a little cooking in the kitchen.

That got me to thinking – National Sandwich Day and Men in the Kitchen – sounds like the perfect night for a real Man Pleasing Meal – Sloppy Joes. So let the housewives all across the land put their feet up. The men have this.

Spicy Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes
1 1/4 lb Ground Beef
1/4 lb Ground Chorizo
1 Chipotle Chile in Adobo Sauce
1 medium Yellow Onion, divided
1/2 Red Bell Pepper
1 Garlic Clove, minced
1/2 cup Cilantro, divided
15 oz can Tomato Sauce
2 teaspoons Cumin
1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
Pinch of Cayenne
12 oz Mexican Beer
2 tablespoons Ketchup
1 tablespoon Lime Juice
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste

Dice Chipotle Chili, set aside. Peel and dice onion. Divide diced onions in half, set each half aside. Stem bell pepper. Cut pepper in half, reserve half for another purpose. Seed remaining half, dice and set aside. Peel and finely mince garlic, set aside. Snip cilantro, set aside.

In a blender mix the tomato sauce, chipotle chile, cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Set aside until ready to use.

In a large skillet over medium-low heat, brown ground beef with chorizo, breaking meat apart as it cook. Drain well, return cooked meats to the skillet.

Add the onions and diced bell pepper and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.

To the meat mixture, pour tomato salsa, beer, ketchup and half of the cilantro. Stir until well combined.

Cook uncovered on medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Stir in the remaining cilantro and lime juice. Adjust seasonings; add salt and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat, cover to keep warm until ready to serve.

For Serving
1 fresh Jalepeño Pepper
Handful Cilantro
4 large Buns
4 tablespoons Butter
1 cup Guacamole
1 cup Cotija Cheese

Stem jalapeño, slice and set aside. Mince cilantro, set aside.

Split buns, brush cut sides with butter. Warm buns on a griddle to lightly toast. Place buns on individual plates.

Spread a generous amount of guacamole on top buns. Pile the Sloppy Joe meat to bottom buns. Garnish with cilantro, onion, jalapeño slices and Cotija Cheese. Serve and enjoy.