"better Than A Can" Homemade Sloppy Joes

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup minced yellow onion, packed
• 1/2 cup minced green bell pepper, packed and seeds removed
• 1/4 cup minced red bell pepper, seeded removed
• 2 tablespoons minced celery
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups canned tomato puree
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup unsulphured molasses
• 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup chopped button mushroom (or portobello mushrooms)
• 1 1/2 cups chopped plum tomatoes (or canned plum tomatoes. if using fresh, use ripe, peeled and seeded)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon beef bouillon (better than bouillonn brand. i use knorr, crumbled)
• fresh ground black pepper
• 8 -10 hamburger buns

Recipe

• 1 to start the sauce: heat a 2 1/2-quart nonreactive saucepan over medium heat and, when hot, add the oil.
• 2 when the oil is hot, stir in the onion, green and red pepper, celery and garlic. cook until the vegetables are softened and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes.
• 3 stir in the tomato puree, tomato paste, ketchup, vinegar, molasses and worcestershire sauce. bring the mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to very low and simmer with the cover ajar for 1 hour.
• 4 to sauté the mushrooms: heat an 8 - 10 inch skillet over high heat and, when hot, add the olive oil. when the oil is hot, add the chopped mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms are golden, 2 to 3 minutes. remove from the heat and set aside.
• 5 to finish the sauce: after the sauce has simmered 1 hour, add the sautéed mushrooms, chopped plum tomatoes, oregano, “better than bouillon” seasoning and some freshly ground black pepper. return to a simmer and cook with the cover ajar for 30 minutes more. (refer to note below).
• 6 to brown ground meat: heat a 10-inch non-reactive deep-sided skillet over medium heat. when hot, add the ground meat and break it up with a wooden spatula. cook the meat until separated and no longer pink, about 4 minutes. then remove from the stove and drain out any excess fat from skillet. return skillet to the stove, over low heat. stir in the sauce and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, uncovered. cook gently until the flavors mingle and the mixture is piping hot throughout, about 10 minutes. add some more freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.
• 7 to assemble sloppy joes and serve: while the sauce is simmering, open the hamburger buns and spread both opened sides lightly with butter. lay the buns, buttered sides up, on a shallow baking sheet. broil the buns until the buttered sides are nicely toasted. spoon the ground beef mixture lavishly over buns and serve hot.
• 8 note: if serving for 8 [could serve 10 for skimpier sandwiches], you will need 2 cups of sauce and 2 lbs of ground beef. if serving 4, you will need 1 cup of sauce and 1 lb. of ground beef. the remaining sauce can be frozen for later use and ease. freeze cooled sauce in tightly sealed containers.