Sloppy Joe Cups

Submitted by Yolanda Evans

Here’s a Banded twist on an American childhood classic.  I borrowed the idea from an Asian food called sang choi bao.  If your kids demand it you can always keep the buns on hand but this is a way of adapting Sloppy Joe’s for the whole family.  You will note there are a few hidden veggies that don't exist in the real thing.  They make it go further and add fiber.

Ingredients:

• 1 carrot
• 2 sticks of celery
• 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
• 1 onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 pound of lean ground beef - recipe based on using extra lean 95%
• Ketchup (estimating ¼ cup or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon of mustard powder
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• Worcestershire sauce
• Iceberg lettuce
• (optional hamburger buns)

Directions:

1. Throw the carrot, celery, mushroom, onion and garlic into a food processor until it is a paste.
2. Add some olive oil spray to a pan and fry the veggie mixture.
3. Add the ground beef and brown while mixing in with the veggies.
4. Add the mustard powder, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce and a hearty squirt of the ketchup. 
5. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
6. Wash the lettuce and dry it nicely. 
7. Shape it into a pretty "cup" on the plate and when it is ready place the browned mixture in the cup.
8. If your kids whine forget the lettuce cup for them and give then the darn white bread bun.  After all, they are unaware of the veggies you snuck into it and you can eat a healthy meal without getting "stuck". 

This makes 4 servings - each around:

• 220 calories
• 31 grams protein