Article and Photos by Pam Vukelic

I grew up before Title IX provided girls equal access to sports. The only team sport available to me was baton twirling. I still have the white corduroy uniform with royal blue lining my mom sewed for me. We did, after all, march in a couple parades!

That’s my excuse for still not being much of an athlete. I enjoy a good ride on my bike and am firmly committed to 10,000 steps a day, but I am severely challenged in most any other athletic endeavor. My golf partner and I enjoy each other’s company on the course because we don’t worry that much about the rules of the game. My husband, Jim, try as he might, hasn’t been able to convince me that line dancing is so good for my brain that I should be doing it. I tried, but did not get positive feedback from those dancing near me.

As I write this I’m looking forward to a Super Bowl get-together at the home of friends. My contribution to this sporting event, since I know nothing about football, is to bring some food. The turkey sloppy joes on slider buns will provide a little low-fat sustenance.

Turkey Sloppy Joes

• 3 pounds ground turkey
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 14.5-ounce can petite
• diced tomatoes
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup bacon pieces, fried
• crisp and crumbled
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ½ teaspoon cayenne
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• salt and pepper to taste

Brown turkey; when partially browned, add onion and garlic. Stir in tomato sauce and scrape any bits (fond) from the pan. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer to blend flavors.

My other contribution to the party is pizza rolls made from ready-made refrigerated pie crust and formed in ice cube trays.

Pizza Rolls

• 1 pre-made pie crust
• mini pepperoni slices
• mozzarella cheese, grated
• pizza sauce
• egg wash
• sesame seed

Roll pie crust to square shape. Cut in half. Place half over ice cube tray and press to form indentations. Load each impression with pepperoni, cheese, and sauce. Brush ridges with egg wash and cover with remaining half of crust. Press, trim, and cut into pieces. Place on baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with sesame seed. Bake at 375 degrees for 18 minutes, or until golden.

Note: A 14-hole ice cube tray provides the best size. Be sure crust is cold or it will break easily.