Sloppy Turkey Joes

This recipe is fun, delicious and great to make if you have kids! I made this so much the first time I got the recipe that I kind of wore it out at my house! It's that good. This is a meal you can feel good about. It uses fresh ingredients and the sauce is from scratch - none of that Manwich stuff! Yuck! This will be a family favorite for sure!

My notes: Hence, the title, this is a ground turkey recipe. I suppose you could make it with ground beef, but why? The turkey is so much better for you and I can't even tell the difference between the two when I cook anymore. The recipe is from Rachael Ray and it's written for a kid to cook with their parents, so just keep that in mind! It also includes Cheese fries and veggie sticks. I usually serve it with some frozen fries or chips. Enjoy!

Sloppy Turkey Joes (from FoodNetwork.com)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1 package, 1 1/3 pounds, ground turkey breast or lean ground turkey
1/2 red onion
1/2 red bell pepper
1 tablespoon grill seasoning blend (recommended: McCormick Montreal Grill Seasoning or Mrs. Dash seasoning for poultry)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup tomato sauce,( 8- ounce) can
4 crusty sandwich rolls, split

Have a GH (grown helper) place a big skillet over medium high heat for you. Use some kitchen scissors to cut the turkey package open. Add some extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan in a nice, slow stream. Have the GH add the ground turkey to the pan, in case it spatters. Break the turkey up with a big wooden spoon as it starts to cook. If anyone touches the raw turkey, they should go wash their hands.

If you are a really good chopper, using a small, sharp knife chop up some red onion. Remember when you are chopping to keep the fingers that are not holding the knife all tucked in and curled under. Have a GH help you. You need half a red onion chopped up small. Pull the seeds and white membrane and the top out of a half red bell pepper and chop that up small too. Add the veggies to the cooking meat and stir it all together.

Next, mix in a small bowl: grill seasoning blend, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and the tomato sauce. This will make your special sauce. When all the ingredients are combined, pour the sauce evenly over the meat and stir everything together really well. Turn the heat down to simmer and cook the sloppy mixture for 10 minutes. Blow on a spoonful until cool and taste it to see if you need to adjust the seasoning.

Have the GH help you serve. Place a bun bottom on a plate. Use a big ice cream scoop to get a pile of sloppy meat onto the bun. Put bun top in place and serve with french fries or chips.