Turkey Sloppy Joes

I got this recipe from "Once a Month Mom"'s dairy free gluten free menu---I LIVED on this site when I was on the elimination diet with Little Asher and a lot since then because he dairy intolerant....still.  The original recipe makes 8 servings and its just too much so I halved it to see if it still worked well and it does--I had to alter the cooking times a bit too, so here is my version!

I also LOVE slow cooker meals because I can get it in there before the kids are up or when they are busy :)

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 3 carrots, finely minced
• 1 pounds ground turkey
• 1/2 cup gluten free ketchup, fruit juice sweetened preferred
• 1 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons gluten free yellow mustard
• pinch of salt, optional
• pinch of ground pepper

Steps:

1. Heat oil in skillet over medium to medium-high heat.  Sauté onion and carrots until onion is translucent, then add ground turkey.
2. Using a heat safe spatula, break up meat in skillet until turkey is completely cooked about 5 more minutes.
3. Transfer to crock and add rest of the ingredients.
4. Mix well, cover then cook on high for an hour and lower to low for about 4-6 hours until flavors are combined and  vegetables are softened.  
5. Check about 1/2 hour before eating and see if the sloppy joes look too “juicy”.  If they are, I remove the lid of the crock and cook on high, stirring periodically until the right consistency is reached.  When the recipe is halved it is usually the right consistency when ready to eat.

Difficulty 3 out of 5; I only give it a 3 vs 2 because it is not a dump into the crock pot and go---you have to brown the meat and cook the veggies first.

Tip:  This is a GREAT freezer meal.  Do steps one and two, allow to cool, place in a freezer bag along with all other ingredients--FREEZE!  When you are ready to use it, thaw over night, place in crock pot and cook on low for about 7 hours and ENJOY!  I am thinking of all you working moms out there!

Timing:  Unless this is pureed, I would recommend waiting until around 14 months or so.  It can be strange to eat and difficult unless you have a palete used to these things or VERY good chewing skills.

Serve:  We serve this over a piece of homemade bread (also easy to do before you leave for work) along with another veggie!  Double veggies is always good in my book!

Epicutie Ratings:  (see left side of page for rating descriptions)

Little Joy:  Somewhat Yummy; when we first had this about a year ago she went crazy over it but now she eats it just without huge zesto--which is fine.  Cant love EVERY food, but tolerate every food is the goal!

Little Asher:  Yummy in the Tummy; it took him a little while to grow into liking this, but he is ON BOARD!

Meat and veggies sauteed 

Everything mixed and ready to cook in the crock pot

4-6 hours later!

Served with potaoes and lima beans (we were in desperate need of a grocery store run!)