Simply Mindful Sloppy Jose

I used to make this a lot when the kids were little. The recipe has morphed a little since then, becoming more mindful of calories and sweetness and gaining a bit more heat. This is so simple to make, there is no reason to buy that High Fructose Corn Syrup added can of sloppy mix.

Simply Mindful Sloppy Jose'

nutrition facts

Mindful shopping list:

1 pound very lean hamburger (preferably organic hormone free grass fed beef)
1 t olive oil
1/4 cup onion
1/2 cup portobello mushroom
1 1/2 T chili powder (your favorite blend)
1 t paprika
1 t garlic powder
1/4 t fresh cracked black pepper (to taste)

6 ounces of tomato paste
a little water

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
juice of one lemon
1 T packed brown sugar
1 t spicy brown mustard

Prepare and measuring before cooking:

finely chop the onion and mushroom.

Open the can or puncture the lid on the tube of tomato paste and set it near the stove.

Measure the chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper into a small bowl.

Juice the lemon and place in another small bowl with the brown sugar and mustard.

The actual cookery:

Put the oil in a medium sized pot and heat over a burner set to medium. Dump in the hamburger, onion, and mushroom. Saute until the hamburger is well browned and the mushroom and onion soften a bit. Drain very well.

Keep the pot over medium heat. Dump in the chili powder mixture and stir well. Top that with the tomato paste and stir well. Add just enough water to make a very thick sauce. Add Tabasco Sauce to taste. Cover and let simmer 15 minutes. Stir every now and then.

Remove the cover from the dish, add the mustard mixture, and stir well. Continue to simmer 5-10 minutes. Allow any excess water to evaporate. Stir as needed. Taste and adjust seasonings to suit you.

Serve on a bun with cheese or onion slices or potato chips (my son's favorite topping).

Enjoy this as mindfully as you made it and never buy one of those cans of sloppy joe mix again.