The Most Special Secret Ingredient

Big K's Sloppy Joes

from Missy Tippens

Missy, here. And I'm going to share a very special recipe that includes a secret ingredient. But first...let me back up just a bit...

My oldest son and his friends from the church youth group spent their high school years hanging out at his friend Kerri Ann's house. Hers was the house where everyone loved to gather on weekends and all summer long. And the parents (good friends of ours; the mom Alice works with my husband at the church) always fed them and loved on them like a second set of parents. Everyone calls her dad Big K (his name is Kerry), and they LOVE Big K's sloppy Joes.

Since my son loved those sloppy Joes so much, they always sent the leftovers home with him. So I got to enjoy them as well (within limits, since my eldest would threaten me not to eat more than one!). I have to say, there really is something special about Kerry's recipe!

I finally got the recipe (approximate amounts since he usually makes a huge batch and since I was getting this by phone from Alice) and made them last week. I'm going to share.

Big K's Sloppy Joe's

1/2 small onion, diced
1 pound ground beef
approx. 1/2 can evaporated milk
approx. 1/3 cup ketchup ("enough to get rid of the white look from the milk") :)

Cook onion in a little oil until transluscent. Add beef and cook until browned. Drain off fat. Add the evaporated milk ("pour in enough that it's milky colored but not too wet.")
Stir in the ketchup until you get rid of the whiteness.

I love recipes like those, almost like painting or doing some sort of craft. :)

Serve on very fresh, soft buns.

You may be thinking that the evaporated milk is the secret ingredient. It's certainly surprising, and is what makes these unique. But read on to find the secret...

So I made these for dinner last week. I was so excited to finally try this recipe. My kids were excited, too, since my two younger kids have also enjoyed Big K's famous sloppy Joes at youth suppers at the church. Yet, I have to admit they were skeptical that mine could possibly be as good as Big K's.

So we sat down at the table and had the big tasting. My middle child didn't look impressed. So I asked, "Don't they taste like Kerry's?"

He shrugs and says, "I think he puts good memories in his."

:)

There you have it. The secret ingredient is GOOD MEMORIES. The fun times at Kerry and Alice's house or at the lake. The fun times at youth suppers, cookouts and retreats. The love that goes into each batch Kerry makes.

So what about you? What recipes do you have that include good memories?