What’s in the cupboard?

One of the things I just love to do: At the end of the month when the budget is tight, I go into the cupboard and fridge to see what kind of a yummy concoction can be made for dinner.  Sometimes the selected ingredients work and sometimes they don't.  Today was a good day.

Try my Jalopy of Sloppy Joe mixture on toasted buns or with grilled corn bread.  My end of the month stockpile including the mish mash of ingredients listed.

JALOPY OF SLOPPY JOE

 

1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 stalks of chopped celery hearts (Don’t throw out those smaller celery bits and leaves in the center of the stalk. Just chopped them up and throw them into your favorite dish. They are good!)

1 medium shallot, sliced

1 medium red pepper, chopped

 

½ pound of ground turkey (not lean)

1 large clove of garlic, minced (I use a micro plane for this.)

A sprinkling of onion powder

One 15-ounce can of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

One jar of your favorite sloppy joe sauce (I can’t name the brand I used, but it is made in a facility in York, Maine.)

In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the celery, shallot, and red pepper in the olive oil until softened.  Add the ground turkey and cook until meat is browned and no longer pink.

Stir in the garlic and cook for one minute.  Sprinkle the mixture with the onion powder (I just give it a good dusting over the surface of the meat mixture.)

Add the cannellini beans and stir to incorporate.

Pour the sloppy joe sauce into the pan.  (Now there will be some sauce clinging to the inside of the jar.  Don’t let it get away.  Add about ¼ cup of water to the jar, screw the lid back on and give it a good shake.  Pour this into the pan of ingredients.)

Give the whole mixture a good stir and lower the heat to simmer and cook for 10 minutes.

Makes about 4 generous servings!  A side salad would be great with this!