Picadillo Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes make regular dinner appearances around here.  Mainly because they are quick and easy...but they really are one of my favorite foods.  They remind me of being a kid.  So tonight instead of the usual Manwich, I made Sloppy Joes with picadillo.  Picadillo is a traditional Latin American dish made with ground beef, olives, raisins, and capers in a tomato sauce.

Picadillo Sloppy Joes

1 tbs olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

1 & 1/2 lbs lean ground beef

2 tbs cumin

1 tbs chile powder

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup sliced green olives

1/2 cup golden raisins

1 tbs capers, drained

8 oz can tomato sauce

1 cup ketchup

1 cup water

1 tbs worchestshire sauce

salt and pepper

4 hamburger buns, toasted

shredded lettuce, for serving.

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onion and garlic, saute until softened.  Add the ground beef and cook breaking into small pieces.  Season with salt and pepper.  Stir in the cumin, chile powder, and cinnamon.  Add the olives, raisins, and capers.  Then stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, water, and worchestshire sauce.  Simmer for about 10 minutes, until thickened.  Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.  Serve on toasted buns with shredded lettuce.

I served these with some roasted sweet potato fries seasoned with cumin, chile powder, and sea salt.  This is a quick meal your whole family will enjoy.

Chocolate Buttermilk Pie

For the past month I have been in a blogging slump.  My intentions were good, but things just kept getting in the way...family, work, a couple ice storms, even a few technical difficulties...but I'm back and the slump is long gone.

If you too have been trapped in a slump, I'm sure a slice of this very rich and chocolatey pie will help you get your footing.  Buttermilk pie is a southern classic.  Adding chocolate is a fairly new addition, but it's always good to put a little twist on a classic.

Chocolate Buttermilk Pie

8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 & 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

3 large eggs

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 tbs vanilla extract

9 inch pie crust

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and position the rack to the center of the oven.  Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate is melted.  Then remove the chocolate from the heat.  Add the sugar, flour, and salt.  Then add the eggs one at a time and mix until smooth.  Stir in the buttermilk and vanilla extract.  Then pour into an unbaked pie crust and bake for 45-50 minutes, just until the center is set.  Serve with sweetened whipped cream if desired.

You might also be interested in Alabama Cookies and Old-fashioned Strawberry Skillet Cobbler.