Mealtime Magic: Sloppy Joes

Recipe reprinted from United We Eat

Dave Loebsack recently announced he would be retiring as the representative from Iowa’s 2nd congressional district at the end of his term. When he made the announcement, he received an equal amount of well wishes from both Democratic and Republican colleagues—he jokes it’s because “they all want him out.” But truth be told, he credits having such strong relationships on both sides of the aisle to his many years of dining and spending time at the gym with fellow legislators. As an Iowan, Loebsack often makes beef dishes. His favorite is his signature Sloppy Joe recipe. He originally shared his recipe in the Meals on Wheels family cookbook, Made With Love.

SERVES 4

1 pound ground beef

2 cups water, divided

1⁄4 cup chopped onion

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1⁄4 cup ketchup

1⁄4 cup mustard

1 teaspoon minced garlic

4 hamburger buns

1 Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef. Cook while stirring occasionally until meat is browned, approximately 10 minutes, then drain excess oil from pan.

2 Add 1 cup water to the saucepan with ground beef. Stir in onion, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mustard, and garlic.

3 Simmer mixture for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add more water as needed to keep the mixture from drying out.

4 When done cooking, serve on buns.

Please enjoy this interview with United We Eat author Capri Cafaro.

Why did you create this cookbook?

I have cooked and baked most of my life.  As a state Senator, I would usually bring in a pie to share with lawmakers from across the aisle when we achieved bipartisan legislative victories.  It was from this experience that I thought I decided to embark on putting together a cookbook that aimed to show that food can bridge political divides and set the table for compromise.  

How did you choose recipes from each area?

There are recipes from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Almost half of them were submitted from current and former elected officials and political leaders.  These recipes were chosen by each individual participant and usually held a personal significance either as a family recipe or representing the flavors of their home state.  I developed/adapted the remaining 26 recipes myself by researching the characteristics of each state, focusing on their agricultural products, well-known food brands from the state, folklore as well as official state foods.  I tried to combine these elements into a unique recipe that captured the culinary landscape and flavors of that state. 

How can we use something as basic as food to unite us, even when we have differences?

Food is something we all need. We all have to eat, and most of us like to eat too. Sharing a family recipe can humanize someone that we may not agree with because we can likely relate to the concept of passing down traditions.  At a time when our nation is so divided, food is something through which we can find common ground.  You may not like someones politics, but you may like their recipe, and that's a start.