Sloppy Joe’s are a regular menu item for anyone with teenagers…at least, they should be.

When my kids were in college we regularly hosted a couple dozen of their friends on Sunday nights, when the school cafeteria was closed and their money didn’t stretch too far. I’d fill several crockpots, lay out fresh bakery buns, open a few bags of chips, add some crunchy celery and carrots as a side dish, and they’d help themselves from there.

The recipe I used was one I’d gotten from a Mennonite friend in Pennsylvania. She knew how to cook, and how to make food stretch. I still think of her every time I make this recipe. It’s easy to double (or triple…or more) to feed your own crowd of hungry teens of any age!