Sloppy Joes with Homemade Buns

Sloppy Joe recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
4 pounds ground beef
14 oz ketchup
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons vinegar
1 teaspoon Lawry’s Salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

Directions:

Saute onion in butter.  Add ground beef; brown lightly.  Drain off excess fat.  Add rest of ingredients and simmer covered 30 minutes.  Use to fill 30 to 40 hamburger buns.

Hamburger Bun Dough

1 egg plus enough water to equal 1 1/3 cups
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup sugar (Could use honey instead, but the dough will be more sticky)
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups bread flour (I used half organic white bread flour and half fresh ground hard white winter wheat.  You could use 100% whole wheat, but the dough will be heavier.)
2 teaspoons active dry yeast or 1 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast

Directions:

Place all ingredients in mixer or bread machine and mix for 6-8 minutes, until ingredients are well mixed and gluten has had a chance to develop.  If mixing by hand, blend all ingredients except flour.  Add flour one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.  (You may need to adjust the amount of flour based on humidity conditions.)  When dough is stiff enough to mix by hand, dump onto a well-floured counter and knead for 5-10 minutes.

Cover and let rise for 20 minutes.  Punch down dough, let rise until double in size. 

Divide dough into desired number of buns and loaves and shape accordingly.  Remember, the bread will rise again and double in size.  Cover with a clean dish cloth and place in a warm location until it doubles in size. 

Bake buns around 15 minutes at 350 degrees F, until lightly browned.  Bake bread at 350 degrees F for around 30 minutes.

Cool on wire rack before slicing (if you can wait that long).  Cutting hot bread will allow steam to escape and dry out the loaf of bread.

This dough can also be shaped into buns for hot dogs or brats.