** I need to add a disclaimer! I love taking pictures and think I normally do a good job. These had to be taken with my phone with no light. I am sorry.

*** Second disclaimer… don’t judge me because of the paper plate! I swear I love the environment, just not on Tuesday nights 🙂 We have a TON of activities and I knew I did not have the time to wash anything. Phew! Had to get that out of the way! Onto the recipe!

I had the most amazing opportunity to be in a short segment on the Rachel Ray show. I have watched her for years. Myself and another woman from Extreme Couponing were given the recipe she was making that day and we had to each purchase the ingredients at home and bring the receipt with us to NY. It was a little bit of a competition. In my mad and frantic last days before I left, I begged some help from Paul and sent him to the store. Love that guy, but he is fired 🙂 Just kidding honey! Anyway, I will leave the “suspense” for you to watch the show, but I didn’t do so good! Here is the recipe:

Cincinnati Sliders

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 lbs. ground turkey (85% or 93% lean)
• 1 Fresno or jalapeño chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 onion chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder (palmful)
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons sweet smoked paprika (half palmful)
• 1 teaspoon allspice (1/3 palmful)
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 healthy pinch ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, lightly crushed (about 1/3 palmful)
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (eyeball it)
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 can (14 oz) red kidney beans, drained (optional)
• 1 cup broken spaghetti pieces, cooked
• 16 slider rolls
• Toppings:
• Finely chopped red or white onions
• Shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese
• Pickled jalapeño slices
• Cilantro or parsley leaves
• Chopped giardiniera
• Lightly crushed tortilla chips

Now for the review: Not our favorite. I hated to say that, I really wanted to like them. We love sloppy Joes here, I have a great recipe that I have made for years and got from my Grandma. I think they should be simple. There were so many spices that the color was so dark, I knew that even if they were delicious the kids would be turned off because of the appearance. We also didn’t use all the salt, and it was way too salty. For adults who are adventuresome these would be an option, if you are feeding any kids, I would try something a little more plain.

Do you have a slider or sloppy Joe recipe?