Sloppy Savino Bros and Oven Roasted Herb Potatoes

As a kid, when I went to other peoples houses we would have Sloppy Joe's.  THEY WERE THE MOST AMAZING THINGS EVER!!!  The mom would cook up the ground beef and then add this magical can of yumminess, serve it on a hamburger bun and VOILA!  Sloppy Joe's!  After watching a chef make Sloppy Joe's on a cooking show on Food Network, I figured there was a healthier way to make them than what was in the can.   Since there are no Joe's in my house, and there are plenty of sloppy boys, I call these Sloppy Savino Bros:

1 tbsp cottonseed oil

1 orange bell pepper 1/4" dice

1 yellow onion 1/4" dice

1 carrot peeled and 1/4" dice

2-4 garlic cloves minced

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp turmeric

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 lbs ground beef

1 6 oz can of tomato paste

1/2 c ketchup

1 c water

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp fresh parsley minced

1.  Start with saute'ing carrots in the oil, salt and pepper and turmeric.  approx 5 minutes

2.  Add onion, pepper and garlic

3.  When the vegetables are soft and translucent add the Worcestershire sauce and ground beef.

4.  Saute' for 5-7 minutes 

5.  add the ketchup, water, balsamic vinegar and tomato paste.  Stir well 

6.  Saute' for 20-30 minutes on low then just before you serve, add the parsley.  

This will make your house smell amazing!  Along with the Sloppy Savino Bros I made oven roasted herb potatoes and this is how I did it:

3 tbsp cottonseed (or grape seed) oil PLUS 1 TBSP for the baking sheet

1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary

1 tsp minced fresh thyme

1 tsp minced fresh parsley

2 lbs fingerling potatoes that have been cut in half longways

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1.  Combine in a small mason jar (or a bowl and whisk) the oil, rosemary, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper, and the red pepper flakes (if you wish).  Shake well (or whisk if that's what you are doing.

2.  Cut all of the potatoes and put into a bowl.  Cover them with water and let sit for at least 30 minutes.  It makes the potatoes more crispy

3.  Drain the potatoes and let air dry on a towel while the oven is preheating to 400 degrees.  While the oven is preheating, put a baking sheet in the oven.  This will prevent your potatoes from sticking to the sheet pan.

4.  When the oven is to temp, remove the baking sheet, pour about 1 tbsp oil onto the baking sheet.  pour the potatoes onto the baking sheet, making sure they are in a single layer.

5.  Drizzle with the herb and oil and make sure the potatoes are coated on all sides, BUT BE CAREFUL, THE BAKING SHEET IS HOT!  

6.  Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees for 1 hour (without convection) and they will be perfectly cooked, crispy and they taste amazing!  No need for frozen fries ever again!

I hope you enjoy these recipes!  I am making a pretty ridiculous pasta dish tonight, so stay tuned!  Have a beautiful day!  Cheers!