The launch site of the ground beef sandwich called Sloppy Joe is hotly contested. Some say it originated in Iowa, some argue for a tavern in Havana, Cuba, and others insist upon a bar in Key West, Florida, which opened its doors on the same day Prohibition was repealed—December 5, 1933. Ernest Hemingway himself urged the proprietor of the latter to rename the bar Sloppy Joe’s. At any rate, the satisfying spicy ground beef and tomato sauce concoction on a bun grew in popularity from the 1930’s on. By the 1950’s it had become a staple on school lunch menus. Here’s where my story starts.
As a child I was prone to sore throats and tonsillitis. I remember once in elementary school being very sick, when my mother—desiring to please me—asked what I wanted to eat. I said I would like to have a Sloppy Joe, like we had at school. Something about the spiciness of the sandwich, combined with the sheer comfort it provided, appealed to me in my distress. My mother, being a skillful, talented southern cook—creating such delights as fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cornbread, and sumptuous pies—had never made a Sloppy Joe in her life. She called the school cafeteria lady, Miss Eunice, to find out how to make it. Miss Eunice provided her with the directions, and I got my Sloppy Joe that night. It did make me feel better.
When my son—the original Snickerdoodle—was little, I made him Sloppy Joes too. Sometimes I made them from scratch, sometimes from packets of dry sauce, and later on from canned manwich sauce. Until looking up the history of Sloppy Joes, I didn’t realize manwich sauce has been around since 1969. In our family, we didn’t start using it that early. For my husband I loved to make a version of Sloppy Joes substituting half a toasted English muffin, with the Sloppy Joe sauce and melted cheese on top. Delicious! Nowadays the little Snickerdoodles also enjoy Sloppy Joes. What’s not to like? They are easy to make, they fill you up, and best of all—they taste yummy.
Do you go for messy creations like Sloppy Joes? What are your special comfort foods?
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
I haven’t thought about Sloppy Joe’s in a while, but I do enjoy them. I especially loved them as a kid. My mother-in-law makes hers with brown sugar, ketchup and mustard instead of tomato sauce. I’d never had a “sweet” Sloppy Joe until I met my husband.
I think my absolute go-to comfort food, especially when I don’t feel well, is still chicken noodle soup. Comfort in a bowl, LOL!
Mae, I used to make them with ketchup, brown sugar, and dry mustard as well. I just call that a type of tomato sauce lol. Chicken noodle soup, eh? I know what cyber pic I’ll send you if you’re ever under the weather.
I will have to read your posts on a full belly next time! HA-HA! Just seeing it makes me hungry! We don’t have this kind of sauce you mention around here. Sloppy Joe sounds and looks delicious. Isn’t it a kind of grandfather of the American present-day hamburger? It seems it had a great psychological effect on you as you got better but, I wonder, wasn’t it difficult for you to swallow the food because of the spice, if you had a sore throat?
I have such a favorite dish, traditional around here, called “mititei” ( little ones- approximate translation). Minced pork and beef, strongly garlic spiced. They are made into small, sausages like form that are grilled and are eaten either with mustard or garlic sauce. Heaven. Only writing about it my mouth waters. Comfort food only to raise your spirit..
I don’t remember the sloppy joe being hard to swallow. The spiciness of it must have soothed me somehow. Or maybe my throat wasn’t as sore that time. I read your comment this morning before any food or coffee, and guess what? Your description of the little sausages made my mouth water. We love garlic around here. Do you make those yourself or are they in the store where you are? I remember as a kid butchers used to make their own sausages.
Good thing I read this _before_ going to the supermarket! As I AM currently on a sodium-and-fluid-reduced regimen, I shall look at tailoring this piece of Divine Deliciousness to my needs, but I know what I AM eating for dinner tonight! Thanks, again, Flossie.
I hope it works out for you, especially if it’s cold where you are, Robert! Thanks so much for stopping by.
Fascinating. I recall tonsillitis very well, painful and horrid. I can understand why the spicy flavour would work for you. What a wonderful Mom to make a new dish from scratch to help you. We don’t have Sloppy Joe’s in the UK. A pity.
Do you have any type of what is sometimes called a “loose meat” sandwich there, Daisy?