Cooking Through Grief: Sloppy Joe's

Today makes exactly four months since I lost my best friend, my father....my favorite man on earth. In the midst of my grief, I have been doing all that I can to remember the lessons my father taught me, the love he bestowed upon me, and the moments we shared. These memories are precious and have at moments a source of comfort and inspiration.... most recently an inspiration to cook again. Leading to this blog title- Cooking through grief because that is exactly what I have been doing.

Speaking of memories, the memory of my father preparing the only culinary dish he ever put his name fully behind - "Sloppy Joe's" lead to my innate desire to prepare just that and outline a recipe for all of my blog readers that my father would be proud of as we never got his on paper.....

For me, speaking about grief can be emotionally challenging, so for anyone else going through a loss like I am- my recommendation is to take your time, and don't hesitate to seek support or counseling if you find it difficult to process your emotions I know I am four months in just now exploring those options of support.

My hope is that my blog has the potential to provide solace and inspiration to others who are also navigating the difficult journey of grief through cooking.

Daddy, this post is for you.....sloppy joes are forever & always in memory of you.

Daddy's Sloppy Joe's Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Sloppy Joe filling:

• 1 pound (450g) ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 cup ketchup

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste for spiciness- my father didn't like anything spicy so he often skipped this all together)

• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Hamburger buns

Instructions:

1. Brown the Meat: In a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Break it apart with a spatula and cook until it's no longer pink. Remove any excess fat if needed.

2. Add Vegetables: Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the cooked beef. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.

3. Add Flavor: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.

4. Sauce Time: Add the ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.

5. Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.

6. Toast the Buns: While the filling is simmering, you can toast the hamburger buns. Lightly butter the insides of the buns and toast them in a separate skillet or under the broiler until they're golden brown.

7. Assemble: Once the Sloppy Joe mixture has thickened to your liking, spoon it generously onto the bottom half of each hamburger bun. Top with the other half of the bun.

8. Serve: Serve your homemade Sloppy Joes hot, with nothing other than canned sweet kernel corn. For my family & I- this was the only satisfactory side for this dish, but feel free to add any side of your choice.

Enjoy your homemade Sloppy Joes! Feel free to adjust the seasonings to suit your taste.

The last time I had my fathers sloppy joes with my younger brother.....

They say that in time, the sharp edges of grief will soften, and the weight of sorrow will become more bearable. You will find moments of lightness, laughter, and even joy amidst the pain. Your loved one's spirit lives on in the love they gave and the memories you hold.