My new waffle maker came today so of course I have to immediately try it out.  I knew I wanted something unique and savory to try so this is what I created.  The meat of the day was the ground beef my daughter chose from the freezer and I immediately thought of Sloppy Joes like my mother used to make.

My mother would cook four different meals most nights of my childhood.  One for her, one for my father, one for me and one for my brother.  Very rarely would we all eat the same dish.  Sloppy Joes was one of them.  She never used a can and it was always had that great combination of sweet and sour in the sauce.

Verdict:

This was a HUGE hit.  I loved that both kids helped me make dinner.  My daughter worked on the waffles with me and my son helped cook the Sloppy Joes while I moved back and forth between the two.  I want both of my children to be able to cook before they leave for college – not just opening cans and pushing a button on a microwave, but really be able to follow a recipe or make substitutions if necessary.

I served this meal with a side of green beans.

For my mostly gluten-free son I served his Sloppy Joes over Udi’s hamburger rolls.

Ingredients:

Sloppy Joes:

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 3 TBSP apple cider vinegar
• 2 TBSP brown sugar
• 3 1/2 cups ketchup
• 3 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 TBSP dry mustard

Cheesy Cornmeal Waffles:

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cup milk
• 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2   large eggs
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated

Directions:

Sloppy Joes:

1. Brown ground beef until almost done in a large skillet over medium heat.  Break ground beef into small pieces as it is cooking.
2. Drain off any fat from the pan and add onion and peppers to the pan.  Cook stirring occasionally until peppers are softened and onions start to turn translucent.
3. Add rest of ingredients to the pan and stir.  Cook for 15 -20 minutes until all ingredients are well combined and heated through.

Cheesy Cornmeal Waffles:

1. n a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
2. Add milk, oil, and eggs stir until smooth.
3. Pour batter onto hot waffle iron and bake in batches. Set aside in a 170 degree oven until ready to use.

Serve waffles topped with Sloppy Joe and a garnish of extra cheese if desired.