Loose meat sandwiches

I make no claims that this is like Maid Rite or even the loose meat sandwiches on Roseanne. I just wanted something that was like a sloppy joe, but not a sloppy joe, so I trolled many different recipes and picked ingredients and methods that I thought I would like.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon solid vegetable shortening
2 teaspoons salt
1 ½  pounds ground beef (chuck works nicely)
½ cup onion, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup regular cola (not diet)
3 cups beef broth

Squishy white buns (straight from the bag, steamed or toasted, whatever you like) and pickles for serving

Directions:

In a large skillet, melt the shortening with the salt over medium heat. Add in the beef, breaking it up as you go. Cook the beef, mashing very fine with a potato masher or wooden spoon until it starts to brown. Add in the onion and cook until the onions are soft and fragrant and the beef is well browned. Drain the fat off the beef and return it to the skillet, cooking and mashing for another 5 minutes.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar, cola and beef broth. Add the liquid to the beef and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low to medium heat and cook uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring and mashing along the way. Most of the liquid should be evaporated at this point. If it hasn’t, continue to cook until it has or there is just the amount of juice that you like (I like a little bit left in to soak into the bun, but that’s just me).

Scoop onto buns and top with pickles.