I grew up eating Pat Vaughn’s Sloppy Joe’s. My mother made them whenever we had a big gathering, be that family or friends. It was one of her favorite easy go to meals. Pat Vaughn was our next door neighbor when I was a young girl. Her oldest daughter and I would play in our adjoining yards, in the winter sledding down my terrific hill in the side and front yard, climbing trees – well mainly I would climb tree’s I was the tom boy, Laura was more of a girly girl. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
To this day, Pat will always have a special place in my heart. Both her and her husband Joe were a great influence on me and a wonderful support. They loved and treasured me just like I was there daughter and I appreciate that today.
Well I must give up my memory lane and put pen to paper or shall I saw fingers to key board and document this recipe. Because tomorrow I will be making it for our first ever Pumpkin Carving Party. I am hoping we can carve pumpkins outside in the driveway. Hurricane Sandy is threatening to give us rain shows, but maybe they will only go as far as the Triangle area. Keep your fingers crossed.
Sloppy Joe’s ala Pat Vaugh
1 lb of ground beef
3/4 C ketchup
1/2 C water
1/4 Vinegar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp minced onion
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp dry mustard
2 T sweet relish (maybe 3 to taste)
Brown the beef in the pan, then combine with ketchup, water, vinegar, sugar and spices. It can be kept warm in a crock pot for easy serving.
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