It’s time to step up your sloppy Joe game! Michelle Dudash, author of Clean Eating for Busy Families, shows how to make delicious from-scratch sloppy Joe’s that are ready in 30 minutes.

1. Yes, it is possible to make sloppy Joe’s without the can of sloppy Joe mix.

Michelle replaces the high fructose corn syrup and added sugar with naturally sweet and nutrient-rich dates, plus some tomato paste.

2. Finely minced onion and bell pepper bulk up this dish and add flavor.
Simply pulse these ingredients in a food processor and they add moistness to the dish.
Spices like smoked paprika and chili powder add depth.

3. Michelle has a book signing event at Turn the Page bookstore in downtown Westfield this Saturday, March 23 from 11 am- 1 pm. 
This is a family-friendly event with Michelle’s daughters, who are also on the book cover, who will also be available to sign books.

Meet Michelle and her family, sample a recipe from the book, and get your copy signed. Books will be available for purchase.

RSVP for the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/561840697642787/

Turn the Page 
149 N. Walnut Street 
Westfield, Indiana 46074

For more recipes, go to DishwithDudash.com.

Simple Sloppy Joes with Naturally Sweet and Tangy Sauce

The canned sloppy Joe mix that a lot of us grew up on contains 1 ½ teaspoons (6 g) of added sugar per serving from high fructose corn syrup and sugar. We can do better than that, yes? I created this version that is ready in 30 minutes, and you’ll feel a lot better about it, too. The secret natural sweetener is Medjool dates—a no-added-sugar fruit—which you’ve probably tasted in restaurant appetizers stuffed with cheese or wrapped in bacon. They blend right into the meat because they’re the same color. 

2 teaspoons (10 ml) high-heat oil, such as avocado, rice bran, or canola
1 pound (455 g) (93 percent lean) ground beef
1 garlic clove
1/2 small yellow or white onion, quartered
1/2 large green or red bell pepper, cut into 
6 pieces
5 Medjool dates*, pits removed and torn in half 
1 cup (235 ml) beef or chicken bone broth
1/4 cup (66 g) tomato paste
1 teaspoon (3 g) chili powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
Accompaniments: 100% whole-grain buns, lettuce, and pickles

Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is shimmering, break the beef into small pieces and into the pan in a single layer. Allow the beef to brown on one side without stirring, about 5 minutes, breaking up pieces with a flat-edged wooden spoon. Stir after the beef is browned on the bottom.

Mince the garlic in a food processor. Add the onion and bell pepper, and pulse until finely chopped. Push the beef to the side of the pan and add the vegetables, cooking until tender on medium-low heat. Finely chop the dates in the food processor and add to the beef.

When the vegetables are tender, add the broth, tomato paste, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well and simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors. Stir in the apple cider vinegar. Serve with buns, lettuce, and pickles.

Recipe Notes
•    For the biggest bang for your buck, buy the largest bell peppers because they’re typically sold by the piece, not the pound. Slice whatever you don’t need in the recipe and munch on as a snack while you cook, or pair with your lunch the next day.
•    Use fewer dates if you prefer a more savory sloppy Joe, rather than sweet. Use 6 dates if you love sweet barbecue sauce.

Go Clean
Not only do dates replace sugar in recipes, just one Medjool date supplies 1.5 grams fiber, 5 percent of the Daily Value for potassium, and a variety of trace minerals such as magnesium and manganese.

Total prep and cook time: 30 minutes • yield: 6 servings, ½ cup (100 g) meat

Per serving: 260 calories; 11 g total fat; 4 g saturated fat; 20 g protein; 21 g carbohydrate; 2 g dietary fiber; 63 mg cholesterol