High School Sloppy Joes [Moved from L.A.]

[malibumike]

When I was in high school in West Los Angeles, years ago, the school cafiteria had the most wonderfully tasting Sloppy Joes, some sweetness and some vinegar but I cant duplicate or even come close, did anyone else have the same experience and if so any recipes? TIA
Mike

[mochi mochi]

Did you happen to go a high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District? I used to love their Sloppy Joe's. If it was like a sweet, smoky, chili saucy, ground beef mixture, then I too would like the recipe! That takes me back quite a long time.

[malibumike]

Yes, as a matter of fact it was University High School in West Los Angeles about 1960. They were the best Sloppy Joes ever.

[ChinoWayne]

We still like these at home ocassionally:

Start with one of the dry mixes for Sloppy Joes, Lawry's, McCormick, store brand, what ever, they all are similar and usually call for the same ingredients, which is the mix, ground beef, tomato paste and water.

But then what you do is you add chopped green peppers to the pot and a can of pitted black olives, and some cayenne.

The family loves this stuff, I do too, I just augment my portion a little, over two halfs of a toasted hamburger bun I spoon a healthy portion of Sloppy Joe, and then liberally add some Tabasco Hanabero sauce.

[chocolatetartguy]

Hey Mike,
If I wasn't ctg, I would be berkeleymike. My lifelong love affair with sloppy joes began at Washington Elementary School in Berkeley.

Short of a recipe, I like the Lawry's seasoning packages and I use a good ground chuck (probably wasted here) and add chopped pickled jalapeno. It's a fair approximation of what I remember from school.