All-American Cheeseburger

When you visit a new restaurant what is the first thing you try on the menu? I can tell you what I pick most of the time- A good ol’ cheeseburger and french fries. If that restaurant can give me a juicy, cheesy, delightfully charred burger on a fresh sturdy bun then they have my stamp of approval.

What do you picture when you think of a classic cheese burger? A hearty sized burger, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, red onion, bacon (if I’m lucky enough to find a restaurant with turkey bacon) and pickles. Simple and perfect.

Barbecue Sloppy Joes with Horseradish Coleslaw

Growing up, I recall my mom making slopping joes by basically dumping in mustard, ketchup, and other seasonings until she liked the way it tasted. If we were lucky, there was a can of Manwich that made it extra special. Thankfully, I have my own kitchen to experiment in and now I have hit the nail on the head with these lil’ joes.

One of my favorite memories from when I was little was going to Ryan’s buffet and making a “Messy Jessi” this was my genius creation: tortilla, taco meat, nacho cheese, tortilla, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, and olives. So messy that I needed to use a fork. I thought of a brilliant plan to open a restaurant called “Messy Jessi’s” and serve the messiest foods possible. I was a brilliant 8 year old.

Making these sloppy joes today took me on a trip down memory lane because I would have definitely included these bad boys on the menu. My dear husband mows them down without a fork but I don’t dare attempt it without one.