Recipe: Spenser's Sloppy Toms

This one comes from the Neely's on Food Network, and is a family favorite.  I usually add a little extra spice cos that's the way my family likes it, but it is an excellent recipe just the way it is, so I will give it to you exactly how it is written on Food Network.

This picture is from the Food Network website (all others are mine)

Spenser's Sloppy Joes

Recipe courtesy The Neelys

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 25 min

Level: Easy

Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
• 4 hamburger buns, split
• Barbecue sauce, for topping

Directions

Heat oil in a large skillet with straight sides. Add the bell peppers and garlic. Saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the ground beef to the vegetables. Stir and cook about 8 minutes, until the meat is no longer pink and fully cooked.

Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire, and hot sauce into the skillet. Stir. Simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Serve on hamburger bun with extra sauce.

My Apologies

Sorry y'all, I'm not trying to neglect my blog, but things have been quite hectic lately.  My mom is moving in, we have family coming to visit from out of town, Big Sister's Birthday is this week, and we have a friend who will be staying with us while he recovers from surgery!  So, after we turned the house upside down to prepare for The Great Sale of 2011, we now have to try to put things back together before everyone invades! 

To make matters worse, we decided to paint the Living Room before putting in our temporary (read: belongs in the Sun Room) furniture!  I expect things to get back to normal in a week 10 days, so keep on the look out for great tutorials, useful printables, and cute ideas!

If you have any questions you can always post a comment on the blog or on my facebook page.

Recipe: Blackened Barbecue Pork Chops

This recipe uses the same Blackening Spice Mix I made for my Blackened Tilapia, so if you like this, make up some more and try the Tilapia!  I usually double or triple this recipe whenever I need to make up some more, and fill a jar in my Spice Cabinet!

 First, here's the ingredients for the Blackening Mix- just mix it all up in a small bowl, or an empty spice shaker.

Blackening Mix:
3 tablespoons smoked paprika

1 tablespoon red chilli powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 teaspoons Tony's spice mix

1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 

Ingredients: 

Blackening Mix, to taste

1 lb thin sliced boneless Pork Chops (about 8 chops)

2-3 Tbs Oil

1 cup BBQ Sauce (my favorite is Sweet Baby Ray's, but I used a different one this time)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Sprinkle Pork Chops liberally with Blackening Mix on both sides, coating well

3.  Heat oil on High heat in cast iron skillet

4.  Cook 2-3 Minutes on each side (I usually blacken 3 at a time, and put them to the side until I have done them all, and then put them back in the skillet once they have all been done)

5.  Pour BBQ sauce over pork chops in skillet, and bake in oven 20-25 minutes.

Serves: 4