INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 small yellow onion diced
• 1 small green bell pepper diced
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 cup low sodium beef broth
• 1 1/2 cups grated provolone cheese
• 6 hamburger buns

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet and break apart with a fork. Cook the ground beef until brown and a deep crust begins to form.
2. Continue cooking until no longer pink.
3. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a bowl and drain off all but two tablespoons fat.
4. Add the onions and bell peppers to the skillet.
5. Cook for 1-2 minutes before stirring, then toss the vegetables and continue cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until softened and beginning to caramelize.
6. Return the beef back to the skillet.
7. In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth and cornstarch.
8. Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, beef broth/cornstarch mixture to the skillet and stir.
9. Simmer the sloppy joe mixture for 5-8 minutes or until beginning to thicken.
10. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the provolone cheese.
11. Served on hamburger buns.

Dearest Boo,  working at Trader Joe’s has been a blessing and a curse.  Their foods are amazing to look at, amazing to try and it has my brain in overdrive just thinking about how I can combine/change/morph one dish into another.  This is my latest “creation”.   Inside Out Strawberry Shortcakes Deluxe.

Right now TJ’s has some amazing Organic Strawberries that have to be on steroids.  They are super huge and super sweet.  I saw a blog online where she wrapped the strawberry in cake crumbs (as if you were making a cake pop), dipped it in chocolate and then added sprinkles.  At first I was thinking that it might make a cute idea for a high school graduation.  You could use some of the colored chocolate disks in one of the graduate’s school colors and then add the sprinkles for the other school color.    Then my mind when in a different direction.  Why not use Angel Food Cake and add the whipped cream and call it “Inside Out Strawberry Shortcake Deluxe”?

Dearest Boo,  when I found out that today is the future birthday of one of your favorite fictional characters, I could not let it pass.  James Tiberius Kirk from the Star Trek series.