A Mello Monday Supper

Do you have “Themes” for the days of the week? I do – it helps with meal planning. Mondays in our house are known as Mello Monday. It means, unless something really special is happening like a birthday or anniversary, Monday night our supper is simple.

I don’t know about you, but our weekends tend to be fairly packed. There are the chores that need to be done – grocery shopping and any other errand that requires transportation. In the spring, early summer and fall, there are easily a half a dozen small events nearby. Everything from Country Music under the stars to flea markets and street fairs. Come July, with the exception of the 4th it’s just too dang hot to do much.

It’s also too dang hot to cook much. In the winter, if we sit down to supper at six o’clock, I feel like we’re eating at midnight. In the summer, seven or eight seems the appropriate time to eat. The sun is still up and it just doesn’t feel as late as it would in the winter. Hum, wonder why that is.

Sloppy Joes, or at least the idea of Sloppy Joes has been around for a while. But it wasn’t until the late 1960s, when Hunts decided to mass produce the sauce under the name Manwich that Sloppy Joes became something Americans made at home. The idea of Manwich was easy enough, with just three ingredients. The sauce, the ground beef and the hamburger buns. That was it. Brown the meat, add the sauce, then slap it on the buns.

Hubby has always been a fan of the Manwich Sloppy Joe. For me, it was okay. As a loving wife, I would whip up Sloppy Joes maybe once a year or so. To me, it was more a matter of convenience. And over the years, I’ve played around with the whole Manwich concept. Their sauce lacked something. Just what, I don’t know, but something. Finally, I think I’ve got it – convenient, keeping close to the original Manwich, but with that something extra. The peppers and onions give more texture. The chili sauce and seasoning more flavor. And the smoked cheese just that hint of “gourmet” needed.

Thus far, this is my favorite Manwich recipe. Hope you enjoy.

Doctored Chili-Barbecue Manwich Sloppy Joes
1/2 Red Bell Pepper, minced
1/2 small Red Onion, minced
1-1/4 lb Ground Beef
1 (15 oz) can Manwich Original Sloppy Joe
2 tablespoons Chili Sauce
2 tablespoons Barbecue Seasoning
1/4 cup Beef Stock
6 Hamburger Buns
1/2 cup Smoked Gouda, shredded

Core, seed and mince the bell pepper, set aside. Peel and finely mince the red onion, set aside.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, break up the ground beef, begin to brown. Add the bell pepper and onion, cook until meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.

Drain the meat mixture well, return to skillet. Add the Manwich Sauce, Chili Sauce, seasoning and beef stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, let simmer for about 15 minutes or so for the mixture to thicken and the flavors to develop.

While the sauce thickens, shred the cheese. Split hamburger buns, divide half of the shredded cheese among desired bottom buns (the cheese is purely optional).

Once the Sloppy Joe filling has thickened, divide the meat mixture among the buns, piled up on top of the cheese if using. Top with remaining cheese, close with the top bun, serve and enjoy.

Be sure to have plenty of napkins on hand, as this is one sloppy good sandwich!

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He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord