Are your Sloppy Joes Sloppy?

To make Sloppy Joes you can go to the grocery store and buy either a dry mix or a sauce in a can. You brown ground beef and add the mix or sauce. To make Sloppy Joes from scratch you brown ground beef and add ketchup and mustard. Whether you use the mix or make them from scratch, you still have to brown the meat so the time, work and clean up is identical. It is amazing how many people do not know, or do not remember, that what is now in a box, bag or can was at one time only made from scratch. You have been purchasing ready-made mixes for so long you have forgotten how simple it is too cook.

When was the last time you read the ingredients’ label of ready-made mixes? In order to keep the contents safe to eat the food manufacturers add preservatives and chemicals. In order to make the mix palatable they add artificial colors, flavors, sugars and salt. All of those chemicals may have been tested to be safe, but why must you ingest them? When you make your own, you have complete control over what you are eating. You determine how much sugar and salt is added, what kind of fat is used and how it tastes; you will add herbs and spices not artificial flavors and colors.

Start paying attention to what you buy and instead of reaching for things automatically take a moment to read the label. It is not necessary to buy everything out of a mix, box or can and once you start cooking more foods from scratch you will be amazed how much better everything tastes, how much money you will save and how much better you will feel just knowing you did not eat anything artificial

Cooking is easier than you think and you are worth the time and effort it takes.

Simple cooking idea: When using a box grater, grate on top of wax paper. The grated food will be easier to pick up and you will have one less dish to wash.

Copyright ©2010 by Gigi Centaro. All Rights Reserved.