As I just mentioned in this post about the “Christmas on the Peninsula” Bazaar at Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church (tomorrow!), there will be a light lunch available, and Marge Long is making her mom Jo Brown’s famous Sloppy Joes, which Jo herself used to make for the church bazaar every year.
Other than the fact that these Sloppy Joes are delicious, I didn’t really piece together why I loved them so much until Marge mentioned on Facebook yesterday that this is the recipe that Jo made for our lunches at Old Mission Peninsula School back in the 1960s and 70s. You know, back when our school cooks like Jo Brown, Lucile Lindsey and Clarissa Boursaw made kids’ lunches from scratch. (Remember the cinnamon rolls?)
Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported.
Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.
Marge happened to post her mom’s Sloppy Joes recipe – in Jo’s own handwriting – on Facebook yesterday, so – ding! ding! ding! – a big lightbulb went off and I asked if I could post it on the Gazette and of course, Marge said yes, that her mom would be pleased that her recipe is still being shared and used.
In fact, I have a ton of vintage Old Mission Peninsula recipes, from church cookbooks, school cookbooks, handwritten slips of paper found in my mom’s cookbooks, a box I collected at the Ladd sisters’ estate sale eons ago, and so on and so forth. At some point, I’ll gather them all into a collection one way or another.
I sifted through my old church photos, but couldn’t find a photo of Jo Brown right off the bat (time to organize those boxes of photos, Jane), so I’ve included a photo of Ed and Jo Brown with son Eddie from the Ogdensburg United Methodist Church Directory, 1971. (The church is now named Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church.)
Here’s Jo Brown’s recipe for Sloppy Joes. If you click the “printer” icon at the top of this story, it’ll give you a printer-friendly page you can print off. And be sure and come by the church bazaar tomorrow and try the recipe in person.
JO BROWN’S SLOPPY JOES
2 c. onions
4 Tbsp. butter or oleo
8 lbs. ground beef
5 1/3 c. catsup
4 Tbsp. brown sugar
6 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
6 tsp. salt
6 tsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. dry mustard
Optional: Green pepper and celery may also be added.
Brown the meat and onions together in the butter, then add the other ingredients. Enjoy. (As Jo notes on the recipe below, this recipe will feed 35 people, so reduce or add measurements accordingly.)
May need to pull this recipe out next year
I have to save this. It’s a great meal for a crowd in the summer instead of the usual hot dogs/burgers. I have my mom’s recipe, but, I’ll give this a try!
Best Sloppy Joes ever!
They were great cooks!
I look like to having one at the bazaar tomorrow .
Thank you! Love my mom’s handwritten recipes too!
That was the best school lunch ever!!! I loved Mrs. Brown’s cooking in 1976 and 1977!!!
I made your mom’s Michigan Wonders this evening, Jane. I added dried cherries. I doubt your mom ever did that, but they’re really good. In my crazy life I forgot I needed cookies for tomorrow – your mom’s recipe to the rescue. 🙂
Yay! I bet they’re fantastic with dried cherries. Such awesome memories of my mom making those and scooping them out of the pan onto tin foil laid out on the kitchen counter. And you’re my hero for getting your Red Dresser space ready for the open house and then coming home to make cookies.
Would she sell it? My Mom (She passed years ago) made the best sloppy joes back in the day….
If she is interested please have her msg me.
Thank you in advance….
Well, if it’s the recipe you’re looking for, just click through the link above and you’ll be able to view and print it there.
Jane Louise Boursaw Thank you for responding….I can’t cook to save my life haha.
I am looking to purchase a totally cooked 5 lb container. Or whatever works on your end
Had one of the Sloppy Joes today. Was good!!