That was my reaction to this dish - tastes like America. You can really taste the settle ketchup, mustard, and the Cayenne hits the back of your throat like BBQ. The sloppy joe’s by themselves are really easy, and a great crowd pleaser. I saw Tyler Florence make these this weekend, and my taste buds were craving them since. He uses turkey which makes it a bit less fatty than using traditional beef. He also made bread and butter pickles to go with them, but that was a bit complicated for me, and I’d have to buy a bunch of extra stuff. I made the butternut squash chips instead. Double yum! I went out and bought a mandoline, for this, plus I really needed one - they’re super handy, and my unsteady hands can’t cut things evenly. If you do the chips, make sure you leave them in the oil long enough - some of our were a bit soggy, but they get so sweet and crunch if they’re done right. Make sure to sprinkle with salt and parm and the herbs before serving. This was a great twist on an American classic. Enjoy the new America!

I’m not going so Martha as to do a whole week of patriotic dishes, but I am trying to make things easy and comforting during this busy week. I am making a special election night dish, which will hopefully soak up the champagne as the election results roll in and we celebrate with our friends. I also went back to my Farm to Table cookbook and found some great seasonal dishes to match what’s at the farmer’s market. I also saw an episode of Tyler’s Ultimate this weekend, and the whole half hour I was glued to the TV, salivating, so his Sloppy Joe’s are on the menu this week. Here’s how the week looks:

Monday - Twice Baked Irish Potatoes with Stout Onions and Kale

Tuesday - Four Cheese and Tomato Bake

Wednesday - Zuppa di Faro - a hearty fall soup

Thursday - Tyler Florence’s Sloppy Joe’s with Butternut Squash Chips

Friday - Hot Wings with Butternut Squash Slaw

OK, I’m going to admit it - the mac&cheese is from a box - gasp! We all do it - and it was a Whole Foods $.99 special from my pantry - so definitely a step up from Easy Mac. It was also tasty, I might add….. The ribs were divine - my first local pork experience, and I’ll be going back for more. I was reading in the Food&Wine article about local butchers that when you have fresh organic meat, not to dress it up too much, or drench it with sauce. Here’s how I did these Pork Spare Ribs:

Preheat oven to 350F

1. trim off excess fat from the meat. Generously salt and pepper both sides of the ribs. I used a great Grey salt that’s super fragrant and great on meat.

2. Add about 2 tablespoons olive oil to an oven proof sauté pan. Let the pan heat up to medium-high and add your ribs. Let it sear on both sides, about 5 minutes each side. Put the pan in the oven for about 25-35 minutes or until the meat starts to pull away from the bone.

As you can see from the pic, I also made an Arugula salad. I went right to Tyler Florence for a dressing idea - I really feel he’s one of the best at making and dressing salads, at least for my taste. This dressing was sweet and you could still taste the shallots, a great flavor combo. Another homey fall meal - Johnathan is loving this week!