Sloppy Joes

Note:  one recipe makes freezer meals for 2 families in our group (4 sandwiches per family)

2 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 large onion, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cup ketchup
1 cup water
2 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp dry mustard
Worcestershire sauce, to taste
2 tbsp. tomato paste
Salt and pepper, to taste
8 Kaiser rolls

Cook ground beef in large skillet or dutch oven until brown.  Drain off most of the fat and discard.  Add onion, green pepper, and garlic.  Cook until vegetables begin to soften.

Add ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, dry mustard, and water.  Stir to combine and simmer for 15 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste.  Add tomato paste and Worcestershire.  At this point you can add additional chili powder, red pepper flakes, and/or Tabasco sauce if you want yours more spicy.

Freeze rolls in a Ziploc bag.  Let sloppy joes cool and place in plastic container or Ziploc and freeze.  To serve, thaw rolls and sloppy joes.  Heat sloppy joes on stove until warmed through.  Serve on Kaiser rolls.  You may also toast the Kaiser rolls before serving if desired.

Adapted from The Pioneer Woman