What's for Supper: Italian Sloppy Joes

Every year we go to the local fairs and carnivals. This kids are there for the rides and fun with the friends. We are there for the tractor pulls andthe food. My children are toothpicks. I am the large oak they were whittled from. I like my food. I especially like fair food. Those greasy fries with the vinegar are to die for. Funnel cakes are todays manna. Elephant ears just aren't big enough. But the Italian Sausage Sandwich is the coup de gras of all fair foods.

I have known people who go to the fair, pay the admission, walk to the nearest Italian food stand, buy two or three sandwiches and leave. That is true dedication to your food. Or is that addiction?

Either way, everyone loves the sandwich. Some people just find it hard to duplicate the recipe at home. Here is a simplified version. You can use this for parties as well. The teens in my house love these sloppy joes. The more sloppy the better. So let me tell you how I make them.

Start with 3 lbs Italian sausage........I use bulk sausage. This is for sloppy joes, not link sandwiches. Brown it with 1 chopped onion and 1 chopped green pepper. I usually add one minced clove of garlic as well. Stir in 2 cups Tomato and Basil spaghetti sauce. I find that the chunky sauce is the best. I add 1 cup of water and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.

You can use any type of bun with this recipe. I use just plain hamburger buns. I place them open faced on a cookie sheet and stick them under the broiler for about a minute. Just to toast them up a bit. Pull them out of the oven, place mozzarella cheese on the top face. Place the sloppy joe mixture on the bottom. Close and serve. That is all there is to it. You can complete the meal with chips and macaroni salad or cole slaw. We usually make the greasy fair fries to compliment the theme. It sure does nothing to compliment my waist!

Again, this is a versatile dish. Changing which sauce you use can make a world of difference in the taste. If you don't like the tomato sauce as much, reduce the sauce to one cup and increase the water by 1/2 cup. I believe one can experiment in the kitchen. In doing so, you will find that even the simplest recipe can become a great favorite.