Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Tuesday’s Cupful: History of Sloppy Joe

A classic American sandwich

There’s nothing quite like it. A sloppy joe sandwich or just “sloppy joe” has been a favorite among American families for generations. Several stories abound regarding the origin of this food item, which usually consists of cooked ground beef that’s seasoned with onion, garlic, tomato sauce and other sweet sauces. One story asserts that Floyd Angell of Iowa invented a loose meat sandwich (with no sauce) in the mid 1920s. Ketchup and other spices were added on to Floyd Angell’s sandwiches. The usual tomato seasoned sauce gradually evolved later. Meanwhile, the Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West, Florida is famous for the semisweet tomato seasoned sandwiches. Still others simply believe that the sandwiches grew in popularity during war times as a way to stretch meals on a few dimes. Today, look for many different variations and meat recipes for this yummy sandwich. One new trend is making sloppy joes with chicken or other main ingredients besides ground beef. Remember that recipes also may vary from one region to another.

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