An Attitude of Gratitude

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Six years into this experiment that we call Jumbo’s Sloppy Joe Sauce, we thought it was time to start communicating on a regular basis with our growing base of customers, friends and fans. The only thing we can possibly think of to start our blog is to tell you all how thankful we are.

We have come to the end of our food truck season – one that was a bit truncated and a bit less busy than we are accustomed to, but one where we did get the chance to see and feed many of you nonetheless. Normally, at this point in the year, we would be gearing up for the promotion of our sauces at the annual Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcases in Fargo, Grand Forks, and Bismarck, followed up by our customary appearances at the Boat Show, Sportsmen’s Show and Home Show. Alas, this year is different in many ways for all of us, but it has afforded us an opportunity to take a deep breath and appreciate how far you have all taken us in the last six years.

First off, six years? It seems like just yesterday we packed our SUV up with tables, tablecloths, and the first ever run of our sauce to the Grand Forks Pride of Dakota show. How we packed our two kids and all that gear into our car will forever be a mystery. We were in exactly zero stores, and we put the purchase of our sauce on a credit card, wondering if we would sell enough to even pay for what we had produced. Turns out you loved us. Local stores put us on their shelves and we sold out of everything we brought to the Alerus Center. Ditto that November for the Fargo and Bismarck shows, and thanks to you, we were off and running.

Next came some free publicity courtesy of Forum Communications in both the West Fargo Pioneer and Fargo Forum, and later an interview on the Jay Thomas Show on 970 WDAY in Fargo. In the blink of an eye, we became something that many people were asking for on a regular basis. We have since been fortunate enough to call many of you friends.

Today, thanks to the help of others promoting our little company, and those of you continuing to loyally buy our sauce when you’re in the mood for Sloppy Joes, we are in a over a couple hundred stores across North Dakota and Minnesota, and the future continues to look bright. There are some big things on the horizon, and as soon as we can tell you about them, we will. In the meantime, be thankful for those little things in your life, as we have learned to be thankful in ours. Yes, there are challenges. We all have them. But if you stop and take the time to look around, you will see the many gifts in your life. We here at Jumbo’s are thankful for each and every one of you!

Jumbo’s Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes

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cheese-steak

The Jumbo’s Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joe.  How did we come up with this idea?  Well, when you think about it, it’s kind of a natural.

Did you know that the Sloppy Joe is the official sandwich of Jumbo’s home state of North Dakota?  Did you know that Jumbo’s was voted the best sandwich in North Dakota?  You might say we’re the world champion Sloppy Joe!

Philadelphia is famous for their delectable sandwich, the Philly Cheese Steak.  Along with Rocky, it might be their most famous export.  When in Philly, go to a place like Pat’s, and you can taste for yourself the artistry of the perfect mixture of beef, sautéed onions, green peppers, mushrooms and melted cheese all on a roll.  Bring your appetite and ask for extra napkins, because you’ll need them!

Like Rocky, we’re an “Underdog” mom-and-pop business, but we have eyes on the championship belt.  And when you take the hardscrabble, workman like attitude of the famous Philly Cheesesteak, and marry it with Jumbo’s famous Sloppy Joes, well…we call that a knockout!  It seems that when Philadelphia and North Dakota get together, great things can happen!  Try this recipe, and we think you’ll agree.

What you’ll need:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 green pepper, diced
  • 4 button mushrooms, diced
  • 1 14 oz jar Jumbo’s Original or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce
  • 8 Slices provolone cheese
  • 8 Hamburger Buns

How to make it:

  1. Brown ground beef in a large skillet.  Drain and set aside.  In the same pan, heat the olive oil.  Saute the onion, green pepper and mushroom until the onion and green pepper start to soften, and the mushrooms turn slightly brown.  Return the beef to the vegetables and stir together.  In Philly, they call the combination of onion, mushroom and green pepper “Wit”.  You can choose to omit any of these delicious veggies and have yours “Widdout”, but we think you’re missing something special if you do!
  2. Pour in your jar of Jumbo’s Original or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce and stir until all meat and vegetables are coated.  Simmer, stirring occasionally until the sauce is warmed through and bubbling.
  3. Toast your hamburger buns if you choose (who wouldn’t choose this?), add the Sloppy Joe mixture, and then top with a slice of cheese.  You can choose to put your sandwich under a warmer or in the microwave for a few seconds if you’d like the cheese to get melty and gooey.

There you have it!  The Jumbo’s Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joe!  Enjoy!

Jumbo’s Barbecue Little Smokies

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little-smokies

Barbecue Cocktail Weenies.  What party doesn’t have a version of this classic?  With Jumbo’s Everything Sauce, it’s as easy as can be to have a delicious crockpot full of these delectable little goodies.  Put it out for guests, family, or heck, just treat yourself to a crock full of this sweet and tangy, meaty goodness.  You will only need three ingredients, a good crock pot, and some electricity to make this dish work.

What you’ll need:

  • 1 Package Hillshire Farms Li’l Smokies
  • 2 Jars of Jumbo’s Original or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce.  Make it two jalapeno, two original, or one of each, the choice is yours!
  • 1 1/2 Cup Welch’s Grape Jelly

How to make it:

Follow these instructions closely!  Empty the entire contents of the Hillshire Farms Li’l Smokies into your crock pot.  Pour in the two jars of Jumbo’s Original or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce.  Add the 1 1/2 Cup Welch’s Grape Jelly.  Cover the crock pot.  Turn on the crock pot to the Low setting.  Stir the contents of the crock pot occasionally until heated completely through.  Enjoy.

Sound easy?  It is! Bruce Ellington Jersey

Jumbo’s Sloppy Joe Meat Loaf

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meat-loaf

Meat Loaf.  Two words that warm your heart and fill your tummy.  Whether it’s served fresh from the oven with your favorite vegetable and a side of mashed potatoes on a rainy or snowy day, or you enjoy the leftovers hot or cold in a sandwich the next day, nothing says comfort food quite like a Meat Loaf that’s made just right.  With Jumbo’s Original or Jumbo’s Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce, you can take your Meat Loaf to the next level, and get your family hoping for that next rainy day.  Check out the tasty recipe below:

What you’ll need:

  • 2 ½ lbs ground beef
  • 1 ½ cups breadcrumbs, crushed crackers or oatmeal, depending on your choice of filler
  • 2eggs (beaten)
  • 1 jar Jumbo’s Original or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce
  • 1large yellow onion (minced)

How to make it:

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, filler, eggs and onion with 2/3 of the container of Jumbo’s Original or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce. Be careful not to overwork the mixture. You want to have a nice, tender meat loaf!

Form your creation into a loaf and place into a meatloaf pan or other deep baking dish.

Pour the remaining 1/3 jar over the top of your meatloaf.

Place your meatloaf on the center rack of the oven, and bake for 60-90 minutes, making sure that the center of the loaf reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the meat loaf is done, remove from the oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Enjoy! Max Pacioretty Authentic Jersey

Jumbo’s Grilled Sloppy Joe and Cheese Sandwich

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The Grilled Sloppy Joe and Cheese Sandwich.  The creamy, crunchy taste of a perfectly toasted grilled cheese sandwich.  The sweet and tangy flavor of a Jumbo’s Sloppy Joe.  These two tasty treats joined together?  Quite simply, pure culinary perfection!

What you’ll need:

  • 1 – 1.5 lbs ground beef
  • Optional:  1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 14 oz jar Jumbo’s Original or Jumbo’s Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce
  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • 8 slices of your favorite sandwich bread
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar or 4 slices of your favorite cheese

How to make it:

  • In a medium size pan, brown the ground beef over medium high heat and, if desired, the onion, stirring constantly, approximately 6-8 minutes
  • Drain the meat and return to pan
  • Add Jumbo’s Original or Jumbo’s Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce.  Simmer until the sauce is warmed through
  • Transfer to a bowl and clean the pan
  • Butter one side of each piece of bread
  • Place one slice of bread butter side down in the pan and spoon over the Sloppy Joe mixture
  • Top with cheese and one more slice of bread, butter side up
  • Cook over medium heat until bread is golden and cheese is melty, about 3 minutes per side
  • Repeat steps with remaining ingredients

Enjoy! Cam Talbot Authentic Jersey

Jumbo’s Pulled Pork

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pulled-pork

When you think barbecue, Pulled Pork automatically comes to mind.  The classic American method of low and slow makes this delectable treat well worth the time and patience you need for this dish to turn out just right.  Jumbo’s Original and Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce will help you take your pulled pork to the next level!

What you’ll need:

  • One pork shoulder – approximately 8 lbs.
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • One half-gallon container Jumbo’s Original or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce

For the Grill or Smoker:

  • Wood chips – We recommend a sweeter wood like hickory, oak, maple or apple if you plan to use our Original Sloppy Joe Sauce.  If you want a spicier Pulled Pork, Jumbo’s Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce pairs very well with mesquite.

For the Oven:

  • Liquid Smoke – A little of this goes a long way.  Combine 1/2 tsp with 1/2 cup or more in the bottom of your pan

What to do:

Pulled Pork is a labor of love.  A day before you plan to cook your pork shoulder, give it a generous rub.  We like to keep it simple, with a 50/50 blend of salt and pepper, but you are welcome to use your favorite rub in place of this.  Put on a pair of surgical gloves.  You’ll want to massage your rub into every contour of your cut of meat.  Cover with foil, and return for 12 to 24 hours to your refrigerator.

The day of cooking, pull your shoulder back out of the fridge, and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes while you prep your oven, grill or smoker.

In the Oven:

In a roasting pan, place a rack to prevent your shoulder from sitting in the very bottom of the pan.  Add 1/2 cup of water to the pan.  Optional, add 1/2 tsp of liquid smoke of your preferred flavor to the pan.

For the Grill/Smoker:

In a mixing bowl, place 1-2 cups of wood chips with an equal amount of warm water.  Let sit for at least 30 minutes as you are warming up your cooking device.

In the Grill:

Place 1/2 of your chips in a foil packet.  Poke the packet with a fork to allow for ventilation.  Place over the heat source on the grill.

In the Smoker:

Place your soaked wood chips into the smoking pan of your device.

All cooking devices:

Bring your Oven, Grill or Smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.  Place your meat into your cooking device, and allow to roast, uncovered, for 3-4 hours.  After this time, pull your shoulder out from cooking to wrap in foil.  This will allow you to keep moisture in for the remainder of the cook.  Place the other half of wood chips into your grill or smoker, and return the shoulder to your cooking device.  Allow to cook another 6-8 hours.

At 10 hours, use a meat thermometer to test the internal temperature of your shoulder.  It should be at 190 degrees Fahrenheit before you pull off of your heat source.  If you have reached this magical temp, pull your meat off to let rest for 30 minutes.  If not, crack open your favorite beverage, return the meat to its heat source, and relax!

The pulling:

After your meat has rested, place it in a container for pulling.  We suggest a disposable foil pan.  Grab the shoulder blade bone, and gently pull.  It should come out cleanly with little to no effort.  The next step depends on whether you like doing things cleanly, or if you like getting your hands dirty.  For those cleaner folks out there, grab a couple of forks, and start to gently pull apart your roast.  If you’re like us, pull on a pair of surgical gloves, and go to town!

Once your meat is pulled apart, it’s time to sauce.  Open up your container of Jumbo’s and pour in until the mixture of meat and sauce is to you and your family’s liking.  If there’s any sauce left, put it in the refrigerator.  There are a lot of other ideas on our website for you to use the rest!

Now you’re ready to serve.  We recommend placing your pulled pork on a toasted bun, and topping with cole slaw, but it’s also delicious on a plate.  However you eat it, we’re sure you’ll enjoy! Reggie Ragland Womens Jersey

Jumbo’s Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Hotdish

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hotdish

Some call it casserole, some call it a throw-together.  In the Northland, where we’re from, we call them Hotdish.  In Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wisconsin and Iowa, you can find these delectable dishes in small-town church basements, homes, and even some high-end restaurants.  Each one contains a combination of some of your favorite items, and the Jumbo’s Tater Tot Hotdish is no exception.  Make it for your family tonight, and your family will have a new favorite.

What you’ll need:

1 – 14 oz container Jumbo’s Original or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce

1 – 1.5 lbs lean ground beef

(Optional) ¼ Cup Chopped onion

1 bag (32 oz) Ore-Ida Tater Tots

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz)

How to make it:

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray 9”X 13” glass baking dish with cooking spray
  2. In a medium skillet, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until brown. Drain meet and return to skillet. Pour in Jumbo’s Original or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce
  3. Place half of the tater tots in a single layer in the bottom of the baking dish. Pour Sloppy Joe Mixture on top. Top with 1 coup of cheddar cheese, then remaining tater tots, then remaining 1 cup of cheese.
  4. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until hotdish is bubbly and potatoes are lightly browned.

Enjoy! Robin Salo Jersey

Jumbo’s Cream Cheese Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

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Jumbo’s Cream Cheese Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers are the perfect party food. Great for appetizers, finger food, or just stuffing yourself.  These mouth-watering appetizers will be a must-have at all of your parties and get-togethers.

What you’ll need:

  • 1 14 oz. jar Jumbo’s Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce
  • Optional – 1/4 cup chopped onions
  • 1-1.5 lbs Ground Beef
  • 1/4 brick Philadelphia Cream Cheese
  • 10 Jalapeno peppers
  • 10 slices of bacon

How to Make:

  • In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with onions if you choose to add them
  • Drain, return the beef to the pan
  • Stir in Jumbo’s Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce to desired consistency
  • Add in 1/4 brick of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
  • Stir often while cream cheese melts
  • Remove from heat

Meanwhile:

  • Cut the slices of bacon to 1/2 length
  • Halve the jalapeno peppers lengthwise
  • Remove seeds from the peppers

Now that you have everything ready:

  • Spoon in the sloppy joe/cream cheese mixture so that it heaps over each pepper half
  • Wrap with 1/2 slice of bacon, secure with a toothpick
  • Place in 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 1 hour
  • Remove from oven
  • Enjoy!

Do you like this recipe?  Check out more like this at our recipes page:  www.jumbossloppyjoesauce.com/recipes.  Your mouth with thank you!

 

 

 

  Quandre Diggs Jersey

Jumbo’s Jalapeno Wings

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From Jumbo’s Kitchen:

This is a delicious twist on an old favorite – Buffalo Wings!  Jumbo’s Jalapeno Wings will soon become a family favorite for parties, get-togethers, quick meals, and delicious snacks.  After tasting these just once, you’ll want more…and more…and more!  Caution!  The sweet/spicy flavor of these wings are known to be addictive!

What you’ll need:

  • 20-25 Chicken Wing Pieces
  • 1 – 14 oz. jar Jumbo’s Regular or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce

How to make it:

  • Prepare wings by your preferred method (bake, deep fry, crock pot, grill, etc.)
  • Place fully cooked wings into a large mixing bowl
  • Add Jumbo’s Regular or Jalapeno Sloppy Joe Sauce
  • Toss wings until all wings are fully coated
  • Enjoy!

Optional serving options:

  • Serve with celery sticks
  • Serve with ranch or bleu cheese dressing

Do you like what you see here?  Check out more of our great recipes at:  https://jumbossloppyjoe.com/recipes.  Want to know where to buy?  Find the store closest to you at: https://jumbossloppyjoe.com/where-to-buy.  Keep on eating!  We’ll make more. Wayne Gallman Jersey