Recipe: Sloppy Joes / Venetian Sandwiches

Sloppy Joes / Venetian Sandwiches
Source: Milwaukee (1950's)
Serves 4 to 8

8 hamburger buns
1 pound ground beef
1 large onion -- diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup chopped celery -- or more

BBQ Sauce
8 ounces tomato sauce
1/2 cup catsup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon prepared mustard -- or less by half
2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
water -- as needed

Crumble and fry burger with the onion in deep fry pan. Drain fat. Add remaining ingredients. (Please measure, especially the BBQ sauce.) Add water as needed, now and while cooking. Simmer (slight bubble) for 15 minutes.

Healthier Variation:
To make more of a chili, but still serve as a sandwich add more celery, a chopped carrot, a can of spicy, cooked small red beans. Substitute ground turkey for the beef, go half-ies on the meat, or omit it all together.

Serving Ideas : Coleslaw, potato salad, relish tray, jello

NOTES : This recipe was popular in the "Beaver Cleaver" days. Popular meant at least twice a month, if not weekly! -patH, 1996