Sloppy Joes and Blondies

Last night I tried my hand at my Dad's sloppy joes. I lived with my mom growing up, and would visit my dad on occasion I always loved when he made his sloppy joes. They were not even comparable to my mom's manwich can! I finally got the secret recipe from my dad, I don't think there was anything secret about it, just something he never really measured. This recipe is great!! I forgot to take a picture, will try to get one of the leftovers.

Dad's Sloppy Joes (My Dad)

• 2 lbs mid grade hamburger (you want some fat to hold in the flavor)
• 1 small yellow onion diced
• 1 1/2 c. ketchup
• 1 T. yellow mustard
• 1 t. french brown mustard
• 1/4 tsp. Dill
• 1/4 t. Tarragon
• 1/4 t. Basil
• 1/4 McCormick Cajun seasoning
• 2 T. Parsley

Fry hamburger and onion together. Place in slow cooker with seasoning, cook for 3-4 hrs at least, but for best taste cook for 6-8.

***Tips: I didn't have an cajun seasoning so used steak seasoning, I also added about a tablespoon more of the brown mustard. I mixed it up let it cook for 2 or so hours and tasted and adjusted. This is also not a really BBQ sauce recipe, more of a spice flavored one. My dad adds different seasonings, sometimes Worshershire sauce, etc.

Basic Blondies (Nestie: Bakingblonde)

• 8 T. butter, melted
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla or 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• pinch salt
• 1 c. flour

Butter an 8x8" pan. Mix melted butter with brown sugar-beat until smooth. Beat in egg and then vanilla. Add salt, stir in flour. Mix in any additions (some ideas below). Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until set in the middle. Cool on rack before cutting.

Add in ideas:

• 1/2 to 1 c. chocolate chips or butterscotch chips
• 1/2 tsp mint extract in addition to, or in the place of vanilla extract
• 1/2 c. chopped nuts, chopped up candy bars

I also made this sauce for on top...

Maple butter sauce (Copy Cat Recipes)

• 3/8 cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup butter
• 3/8 cup brown sugar
• 1 package cream cheese - (8 oz), softened
• ¼ - ½ tsp maple extract or flavoring

Combine syrup and butter, cook over low heat until butter is melted. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Remove from heat and beat in cream cheese and maple extract until smooth. Heat again either over low heat or in the microwave at short intervals to reach desired sauce consistency. Serve over blondies topped with vanilla ice cream. (Should be enough sauce to generously top a 9- by 13-inch pan recipe)

***Tips: I halved this recipe, and didn't have any maple extract so added about a Tablespoon more of maple syrup.