Sloppy Joe Casserole

I adored Sloppy Joe Casserole when I was growing up - it was a recipe from my grandma, and I thought it was the best thing ever.  I made it all the time when my husband and I were first married, but somehow it fell out of the rotation over time.  I made it for my kids the other night, and Abby devoured her bowl and asked for seconds - a rare event!  Time for this recipe to make a comeback!

The original recipe (which is such a 1950's kind of recipe) calls for a packet of sloppy joe mix, but I season the sauce myself.  This allows me to adjust the spice level for my kids and avoid whatever oddities are lurking in those packets!

Sloppy Joe Casserole

1 lb ground turkey
1 small onion, diced
8 oz small pastas (elbows or shells), cooked
16 oz small curd low-fat cottage cheese
1 large can tomato sauce (15 oz, I think?)
2 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 tsp dry mustard
1 Tbsp white vinegar
onion & garlic powder
pepper
Optional:  shredded cheddar cheese for topping

Cook the turkey and the onion together.  Toss in a large bowl with the pasta and the cottage cheese.  Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, worcestershire sauce, mustard, and vinegar.  Add onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper to taste (and more worcestershire or mustard - or add some Tabasco to give it kick!).  Don't add any salt - the cottage cheese is pretty salty already.  Pour the sauce over the pasta mix and stir well.

Pour the pasta mix into a 2-qt casserole dish.  (Optional:  top with shredded cheddar cheese)  Bake until heated through, about 25-30 minutes.  This dish can be prepared early in the day and baked at dinner time.

Sloppy Joe Pie

I don't know why I'm always trying to turn things into pie but I seem to attempt it alot. This was a great attempt if I do say so myself. It is basically a turkey sloppy joe mixture with a whole wheat biscuit on top.

Sloppy Joe Pie

(makes 6 servings)

Turkey Sloppy Joes
1 pound ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 c. ketchup
1/2 c. BBQ sauce (Check your labels because a lot of BBQ sauce is mostly HFCS. I found something in the natural foods section.)
2 Tbsp. packed brown sugar or turbanino sugar
3 Tbsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. dijon mustard
ground black pepper to taste

1. In a large saute pan brown ground turkey over medium heat with the onions and garlic.
2. When meat is browned add the ketchup, BBQ sauce, sugar, vinegar, mustard and pepper.
3. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes over med heat.

While sloppy joes are simmering move on to biscuit makin' -

Whole Wheat Biscuits

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1-1/4 c. whole wheat flour

4 tsp. baking powder

1 Tbsp. honey

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 c. butter

1 c. milk

1 Tbsp. butter, melted (optional to brush on top)

1. In a medium bowl combine all of the dry ingredients.

2. Cut in the butter with a pastry knife until coarse crumbs form.

3. Stir in milk and honey until JUST moistened. (You will still see chunks of butter which I think you can see in my picture below).

4. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 seconds.

5. Roll to 3/4" thick.

6. If you are just making biscuits: use a biscuit cutter to cut out biscuits. Bake in a 45o degree oven until lightly browned (about 10-12 minutes). Brush tops with melted butter. Serve!

7. If you are using in Sloppy Joe Pie: Using the dish you will be baking your pie in cut out your biscuit shape. I used individual pyrex ramekins.

8. Fill ramekins half full with sloppy joe mixture.
Top with biscuit and bake in 450 degree oven until biscuit is lightly browned (about 10-12 minutes). Remove from oven, brush tops with melted butter (optional) and serve!