Buffalo Joes & BFFs

This recipe combines two of our favorite things - buffalo chicken and sloppy joes!  The first time I made it for Michael, he was very skeptical of a sloppy joe made with chicken and vegetables.  I had doubled the recipe and intended to freeze half of it, but after tasting it, he insisted that he would eat it as leftovers until it was gone (and he did).  

A few weeks later, we made it for our friends Dan & Shawna when we went down to visit their new baby girl, Remy Ann.  You see, Remy is Annalyn's first BFF.  Not because she came home and said, "Mommy, I met a new friend and her name is Remy!" but because we are so close to Remy's parents that the two of them will grow up like sisters.  Remy's daddy and Annalyn's daddy grew up in the same neighborhood and have known each other their entire lives (somewhere, there is even a pic of them in a crib together!).  Shawna and I are pretty sure it was part of an elaborate plan that brought us together.  We are about as different yet the same as two people can be.  She completes me in a way only a BFF can. 

Dan & Michael

sometime around 1987-88, I think

friends

July 2007



friends   family
July 2012

So of course, when we both came up pregnant at the same time, we were elated!  We took bump pics, made registries, planned showers, and dreamed of our kids playing together (or getting married since we didn't know Remy was a Remy until she was born).  Now, we have beautiful baby girls just 4 months apart and we already can't resist dressing them up and taking pictures together.  I am so excited to see their little friendship develop over the years.  They will certainly love each other because our families love each other.

this one's worth more than a thousand words



1 week old and 17 weeks old

& they already have matching outfits!

2 months and 6 months old

both smiley, happy girls!

Here is the buffalo joes recipe - ironically, D & S & R stopped by for dinner the night I made this batch. It's an easy, healthy recipe that goes great with good friends.

Buffalo Joes

(buffalo chicken sloppy joes)

Ingredients: (8 servings)

-1 T. olive oil
-1 lb. ground chicken
-3/4 c. carrots, chopped or shredded
-1 medium onion, diced
-1/2 c. celery, chopped
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-salt and black pepper, to taste
-1 T. brown sugar
-1/4 c. cider vinegar
-3/4 c. ketchup
-1/2 c. chicken stock
-1/2-1 c. Frank's Red Hot buffalo sauce (my personal favorite, it's fairly mild; start with 1/2 c. and add from there based on how spicy you want it)
-2 T. Worcestershire sauce
-8 Healthy Life Wheat Buns
-lettuce, for serving, if desired
-blue cheese crumbles/dressing or low fat ranch dressing, if desired
**As an added bonus, it's only 7 points per sandwich when served on a light hamburger bun with blea cheese crumbles! 

Directions:

1.  Heat oil in large pan over medium-high heat.  Add chicken and cook until lightly browned and no longer pink. 

2.  Add carrot, onion, celery, garlic, and salt/pepper and cook for 5-7 min, until onion is translucent and veggies are slightly soft.

3.  In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, chicken stock, buffalo sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.  Add to chicken and vegetables and bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes until sauce thickens and vegetables are soft.

this 4 c. measuring cup is perfect for sauces

 

4.  Serve warm on a whole wheat bun with lettuce and blue cheese crumbles or low-fat ranch dressing.  (I find that there are two kinds of people - those that put blue cheese on buffalo chicken or those that prefer ranch.  I won't judge, but just so you know, there is a right answer.) 

printable recipe

I also threw together a quick salad with

cucumber, tomato, carrots, and parmesan