Dinner tonight: Any way you slice it

You know what’s a sure fire way to find meal inspiration?

The manager’s special section of the meat department.

I had been planning to make a Greek frittata for dinner one night this week but when I saw a package of Perdue Italian Turkey Sausage for less than $3, I knew I couldn’t pass it up.

Typically, I’d make a simple pasta dish with the turkey sausage or maybe even peppers and onions but I dared to be different. Or sort of different. I decided to make sloppy Joes.

Not just any sloppy Joes but Sloppy Pizza Joes. They have all your favorite pizza flavors but on a bun and with fewer calories.

Start by removing the sausage from the casings and cooking in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink.

Meanwhile, chop a green pepper and half a red onion. If you are ambitious, chop 8 ounces of baby bella mushrooms. If you are not ambitious, buy the pre-sliced and open up the package.

When the sausage is finished cooking, remove from the skillet and drain on a paper towel. Add the onion, pepper and mushroom to the skillet and sauté until the onion is translucent and the mushrooms are soft. You might need to add a teaspoon of oil or a quarter-cup water to help things along.

When the veggies are soft, add the meat back to the skillet along with a  a 15-ounce jar of your favorite pizza sauce or 2 cups of homemade pizza sauce. Stir with a wooden spoon to incorporate all ingredients.

At this point, it is safe to pick up your toddler who is getting molars and perfecting the art of throwing a tantrum.

Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes. At the 5-minute mark, add a handful or three of mini turkey pepperoni slices. Stir to incorporate and cook a minute longer to warm the pepperoni.

Serve on half a sandwich thin with mozzarella cheese as desired. Makes 5 servings.

Note: This would also be good with some sliced black olives but some people in my house (ahem, Mark) don’t like them.

Nutrition per serving: 338 calories, 16 grams fat, 19 grams carbs, 30 grams protein.

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Sloppy Pizza Joes

1 package Italian Turkey Sausage (about a pound)

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 red onion, chopped

8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, chopped

Water or oil as needed

1 (15-ounce) jar pizza sauce

2 ounces mini turkey pepperoni slices

2.5 slices mozzarella cheese

2.5 sandwich thins

Remove sausage from casings. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink; remove from pan and drain on paper towel. Add chopped pepper, onion and mushrooms to skillet; cook until mushrooms are soft and onions are translucent – about 5 minutes. You may need to add water or oil to help the process. When the vegetables are finished cooking, add cooked sausage back to pan as well as jar of pizza sauce. Allow mixture to simmer for 5 minutes. Add pepperoni, stirring gently to heat through – about 1 minute. Serve meat, open-faced, on a sandwich thin and top with a half-slice cheese. Makes 5 servings.