Sloppy Jacks

This past week has been crazy!All week I have been getting ready for the semi-annual kids consignment sale that my Moms of Multiples club puts on twice a year. I spent a very large portion of my time getting all of my kids old clothes, toys, and other child paraphernalia together, cleaned, put on hangers and tagged so that it could be sold all in one day.

I also have been preparing to buy everything they need for the next 6 months, all in one day. For the bargain basement price of $210 I bought; 15 pairs of pants, 42 shirts/dresses, 8 pairs of pajamas, 4 pairs of shoes, 2 coats, 2 backpacks ( Tinkerbell and Thomas the Train), a Fairy lunchbox w/thermos, 6 Thomas train stations, a Princess Ballerina thing, Thomas puzzle, Playdough center, Clifford computer game, 2 movies, Tinkerbell suitcase, and…um…another Thomas thing. I think I left something out, but I can’t think of it at the moment. So Christmas/birthday is mostly done for me. I won’t need to buy them another thing until sometime in March.

On top of all that, our meet-the teacher day was on Friday ( finally!). The kids love it already. Jack bawled is eyes out when we left, I don’t want to go home I want to stay HERE! 

After sitting through the most boring hour of my life, listening to the parent orientation, our new teacher handed me the “snack basket” for the classroom. WooHoo.  So, not only did I just hand you $60 ( as an enrichment fee), agree to buy paper towels and sandwich bags, and sign up for not one but two parties ( because I have twins), I also get to go spend money on filling up a bucket with all the pre-packaged expensive crap I normally avoid buying. Thanks.

So, anyway, as an homage to getting back to a crazy, hectic lifestyle where dinner is a time-sensitive issue, I thought I would make Sloppy Joes, or Sloppy Jacks in my case. Feel free to insert your child’s name after “sloppy” in order to encourage them to actually eat their dinner. This pairs really well with a side of mashed sweet potatoes, or some sweet potato fries. And since you have successfully hidden 4 types of vegetables inside one happy package, you can pat yourself on the back.

Great job Mom. Keep fighting the good fight.

Sloppy Joe/Jacks

1 pound of ground beef, turkey, chicken, or pork
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 bell pepper, finely chopped
1 grated carrot
1 can of diced tomatoes
2 T quick cooking rolled oats
2 t chili powder
1 t cumin
1 t oregano
1/2 t. garlic salt
2 t. Worcestershire
6 slices of american cheese ( or other cheese of your choice)
6 hamburger buns
Lots of napkins

In a large skillet cook onion, carrot, bell pepper,

and meat until meat is nearly cooked all the way through.

Drain. Return to pan and add seasonings

and cook for 30 seconds. Add Worcestershire, tomatoes and half a can of water to the skillet. Bring to boiling and reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until desired thickness.

Meanwhile toast your buns.
Top each bun with a healthy scoop of meat and top with a slice of cheese. Serve and enjoy!