Rindy's Sloppy Joes

The other day I went to my fridge - only to be met by the package of hamburger I had bought days earlier! I didn't have the foggiest idea what to do with it but knew I had to make it THAT day! I went to my old stand-by - Allrecipes.com - and browsed. I finally decided to do a sloppy joe. I pulled a recipe off the net - only to find I only had about half the ingredients I needed. This is what I pulled out of my fridge and pantry to make one pretty good sloppy joe!

Rindy's Sloppy Joe's
1 pound ground beef
1 small sweet onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
4 Tablespoons salsa
3/4 cup ketchup
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
6 hamburger buns

In a skillet, cook beef, onions and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in tomato paste, ketchup, brown sugar, salsa and soy sauce; mix well. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon about 1/2 cup meat mixture onto each bun.

I served with deviled eggs and got high fives from all my family!

Slow Cooker Thai Wraps

I had the extra tortilla shells left over from my "Best Ever Taco" night and looked through my cookbooks for a recipe to use them. I was so excited when I stumbled across this recipe that my family loves and I haven't made in a million years!



Thai Chicken Wrap
1 pound raw chicken tenders
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 Tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon curry powder

Place all ingredients in slow cooker for 6 hours on low. Take out and shred. Serve on soft tortilla with broccoli slaw.
My hubby loves this and the great part is - my kids do too!!

B.L.T. or Bust!

The older I get the younger I feel sometimes - let me explain. I look at my children when I tell them they can't have something, and you can just see those wheels a turning. They are concocting plans, and thinking of schemes to attain whatever it is I have told them they can't have. Well - I feel the same way. When that tomato scare was happening, and all you heard on the news was "you shouldn't eat tomatoes" - all I wanted were TOMATOES! Let's face it, I had been patiently waiting all winter to have my first summer B.L.T.! Oh I know I could make one with one of the plastic like red things the stores try to pass off in the winter - but I'm talking about a REAL tomato! You know the ones - even their skin smells of the garden. Well the scare was not quite over, but I had reached my boiling point. I couldn't wait any longer. Rindy's Inverse rule of Desirability had run its course. I was done!



My hubby had just been to San Fransico and had brought me back the biggest loaf of Sour Dough I have ever seen. I went down to my local farmers market and bought the yummiest bunch of tomotoes, grabbed my jar of Hellmann's and the rest was history. My itch was scratched, my tummy full and my heart was happy! Long live the B.L.T.! What food do you fix to get your fix?

Gumpa's Chili Choice

When my mom and dad come for a visit the ladies oft times have many errands and lots of shopping to do. We need to accomplish this during school hours which leaves my dad to fend for himself. It is NOT a problem. Direct him to the Hormel Chili - No beans and a box of cheese crackers and he is one happy camper. Of course, he needs to be near a computer too, but at least lunch is covered!



We either have it over angel hair pasta topped with shredded cheddar or straight up with Cheez It crackers. I usually ask him "Would you like a little chili with your Cheez Its? The best part of the meal is him just being here!

Long live canned meat!!!! What is your favorite FAST lunch?