It’s been a hard year at Storkbite’s house.  We added another member to the family and now that small human will have his first birthday in three weeks time.  Getting dinner on the table is always difficult.  Someone usually moves a stool up to the stove to “help” while the other pulls everything out of my cabinets.

We’ve had two moves, one significant home renovation and well two kids under the age of three.  I have several obstacles and by the end of the day frivolous food blogging isn’t something I’ve got the patience for.  That explains the hiatus.  On the other hand, today turned out to be a good day.

Sloppy Joe’s

My Canadian mom friend was chatting me up this morning while the kids were playing in a church basement and she mentioned Sloppy Joe’s.   The hot topic was how to hide vegetables and make them unidentifiable.  My almost three year old will not eat it if it’s green.  Meals are a challenge for me, actually they are excruciating.  Meal time went from my favorite to least favorite time of day.  It’s so despised that I try to avoid it all together and make beans + rice, scrambled eggs or peanut butter + jelly.

Tonight I was inspired to make Sloppy Joe’s.  You’ll have to use your imagination on how to prepare it.  I’ll just disclose what I put in it:

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 lb. ground venison
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 bunch Toscana kale, chopped
  • 1 box Pomi crushed tomato
  • 3 carrots, shredded
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. coarse mustard (Maille)
  • 1 jigger of rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp. molasses
  • 1 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 or 2 shakes of Tiger Sauce (hot pepper sauce)

If you must “hide” the vegetables, puree them with an immersion blender after they are cooked down a bit and before you add the browned meat. Serve with toasted potato rolls.

Outcome:  The toddler tried one bite and decided she wanted peanut butter + jelly on her potato roll.  The baby decided that it was great and ate one very large serving plus a roll on the side.   He likes anything though, really.

Advertisement