Sweet N' Spicy Sloppy Joes

Home made Sloppy Joes. Yum. I feel like I don't really have to say anything else. We didn't do Sloppy Joes a lot when I was a kid, but man are they delicious. When you add some veggies, and make the sauce home made, you can even pretend they're vaguely healthy. David even made some more home made whole wheat buns, so we're sitting pretty. But anyway, recipe!

 Sweet N' Spicy Sloppy Joes


1 lb. lean ground beef
1 large onion
3 large garlic cloves
2 tsp. chili flakes

1 small can tomato paste
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 heaping Tbsp. ginger
1 heaping Tbsp. Cayenne Pepper
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. pepper

Chop your onions, chili flakes, and garlic and sautee over medium heat in a little bit of oil until translucent. Add your ground beef, and stir until completely brown and broken up. Press the ground beef with a paper towel to soak up the excess grease. Add the water, paste, sugar, and spices and mix until completely incorporated. Turn the heat to low, and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes until the sauce thickens. Spoon over buns, added whatever accoutrement you prefer (we like cheese and baby spinach.)

I really enjoy the spice and hint of sweetness in this. But you know, this dish can be so easily personalized. Add a bell pepper, leave out the ginger, whatever you like. And it is so, so cheap. It made about 4 big sandwiches, which I think would normally easily feed 4, but my husband really really liked them, so....he had about 3 1/3. But regardless, it streches that 1 lb. of ground beef a little further than say, hamburgers would. And when you add all the veggies, you end up hitting all your food groups. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!