Sloppy Joes

What is the history of the 'Sloppy Joe?' This featured recipe is a basic and great way to cook ground beef.

The story has it back in 1930 a cook named Joe was cooking up some food in a cafe in Sioux City Iowa. He was cooking meat and decided to add some tomato sauce to the 'loose meat' sandwich, and the Sloppy Joe was born. This is one version; another version is there is a place called Sloppy Joe's Bar in Key West Florida. Still one more story says that the concept of the Sloppy Joe can from Sloppy Joe's Saloon in Havana.

Stories are fun, but it doesn't really matter how it came to be. The main thing is that it did happen and this mixture of meat with tomatoes, bread and cheese caught on in the American culture. Some people call this a Manwich. There are many versions that have taken off from the classic. Sloppy Joes can have vegetables, spices, herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, and there is even a vegetarian version switching out the meat!

To access the recipe we are featuring from Janet's Appalacian Kitchen, please just visit the website link below.