Ginger's Sloppy Joes

This recipe freezes well and a great go to meal to have on hand. All you have to do is pop it in the microwave to thaw and then heat thru!

In a large frying pan melt:

• ¼  cup coconut oil

Saute until translucent:

• ¾  cup finely chopped red or orange peppers
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 cup finely chopped onion

After vegetables have cooked, move to crock pot.

Brown in same frying pan:

• 3 to 4 pounds lean ground beef

Drain off fat and add to crock pot

While the beef is browning add the following ingredients together in a bowl and mix together:

• 3 cups ketchup
• ⅓ cup vinegar
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• ¾ cup water
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

Mix well and add to crock pot.

Make sure all ingredients are mixed together.

Cook in crockpot on low 3-4 hours.

This recipe was inspired by a recipe that I saw on Facebook that was attributed to Ingrid Wolf. I used her recipe as a guide and adjusted it to my family's taste.

Basic Slipper Pattern

Basic Slipper Pattern

First off, let me say, I’m writing this as simply as I can because I want my sister-in-law and niece to understand how make these and they are just learning how to crochet. I’m also not going to be using crochet shorthand because it confuses the daylights out of me.

Also, I know that I've taken ideas and techniques from other crocheters who have posted free patterns prior to me. I am not reinventing the wheel here, so please don't get all up in my face that I stole your copy written pattern.

For this pattern, I use Red Heart Super Saver yarn and a Bates “I” hook.

I am going to give you the pattern for the slipper that I make the most. It’s approximately a women’s size small/medium. At the end of the pattern, I explain how I change the size and two links that are helpful with this process.

I’m going to assume that you know how to do a few basic stitches. (If you need help learning any of them, there’s links at the bottom of the page.)

Here’s the stitches you’ll need to know for this pattern:

magic circle

double crochet

slip stitch

cluster stitch with three double crochet (see video below if unsure)

half double crochet

decrease half double crochet

Okay and to start the pattern:

Row 1: Using a magic circle, chain 2.

• Then crochet 11 double crochet
• Join with slip stitch to 2nd chain on chain 2

Row 2:

• Chain 2 and crochet another double crochet stitch in the same place that you used to join the last row
• Crochet 2 double crochet in the next 5 stitches
• Chain 1  
• Crochet Cluster stitches in the next 6 stitches
• Chain 1
• Join with slip stitch to 2nd chain on chain 2
• (You should have one chain 2, eleven double crochet, one chain, six cluster stitches and one chain one.) Join this to the second chain in the chain two  from previous row using a slip stitch.  NOTE: The slipper is going to have a funky shape. That’s okay, you’re starting to shape  the slipper already.

Now would be a good time to cinch up the magic circle and secure it. (I usually make a small knot and then weave in the end at least a couple times before cutting off the excess tail.)

Row 3:

• Chain 2.
• Crochet one double crochet in the next stitch
• Crochet two double crochet in the next stitch  
• Crochet two double crochet in the next stitch
• Crochet one double crochet in the next 6 stitches  
• Crochet two double crochet in the next stitch  
• Crochet one double crochet in the next two stitches
• Crochet do a cluster stitch on the chain 1 space  
• Crochet one cluster on the top of the  next three stitches
• Crochet one cluster between the next cluster stitches
• Join with slip stitch to 2nd chain on chain 2
• You should have one chain 2, thirteen double crochet stitches and nine cluster stitches.  Also, it’s going to start looking more like the tip of a slipper.

Row 4:

• Chain 2.
• Crochet one double crochet in the next thirteen stitches.
• Crochet one cluster  stitch in the next nine stitches.
• Join with slip stitch to 2nd chain on chain 2
• You should have one chain two, thirteen double crochet stitches and nine cluster stitches.

Row 5:

• This is going to be the same as Row 4 but if you’re planning on doing two colors, the cluster stitches on this row should be worked in the second color. Here’s a bunch of pictures to show how I work the second  color into the slipper.
• This is how I leave the last double crochet unfinished until I join the new color.
  
• Just a basic loop, slip it onto the crochet hook.
  
• Now ignoring the original color yarn, pull thru the loop.
  
• With second color, work cluster stitches, making sure to crochet over the main color and the tail of the second color.
  
• When you get to the last cluster, stop using the second color and yarn over with the original color
  
• Complete the stitch with the new color
  
• Complete row by joining with slip stitch to 2nd chain on chain 2
• With end of second color that you have just ignored, tie a small knot to back of slipper and weave in end. Weave in the other end also.
• NOTE: This row will be a little thicker than the rest, it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but if you’re OCD  (like my dear sweet husband), you’re on your own, fix it so you feel better about it.

Rows 6-8:

• These rows are the same as Row 4   
• At the end Row 8, tie off and weave in the end.

Row 9:

• Attach thread to second cluster back from where you tied off yarn  
  
• Chain two, and crochet two double crochet stitches in top of same cluster stitch
• Crochet three double crochet stitches in top of next cluster stitch
• Using the top of chain two space that you joined the last row, crochet one double crochet stitch
  
• Crochet double crochet in next stitch
• Continue crocheting around on double crochet stitches
• Crochet three double crochet in the top of the first two cluster stitches
• Turn work
• You should have one chain 2 and 25 double crochet stitches
• NOTE: This row is going to look funky (see photo below), that’s okay, it will fix itself when the trim is worked around the ankle
  

Rows 10-16:

• Chain 2
• Crochet double crochet stitch in all double crochet stitches across
• Crochet double crochet stitch in second chain of chain 2
• You should have one chain 2 and 25 double crochet stitches

At the end of row 16, chain one. Fold slipper bottom in half with outside folded in on itself.  Using slip stitch, sew together. DO NOT forget to use the top of the chain two stitch. Tie off and weave in end.

For the trim around the ankle:

Row 1:

• With second color (if using two colors) join near the back of slipper
• Two half double crochet in side of each double crochet around ankle.
• At corners, use a decrease half double crochet
• Join with slip stitch to top of first half double crochet

Row 2:

• Half double crochet in each stitch around, using decrease half double crochet in corners.
• Join with slip stitch to top of first half double crochet, tie off and weave in ends.

(On a side note: I accidentally made these bigger than the above pattern.  There are nine rows of the cluster stitches and nine of the side to side double crochet. AND I was thinking too much when I did the decrease half double crochet, so it's not the right stitch, but it works.)

Size is adjusted by add/decreasing rows to either the toe area (where the cluster and double crochet stitches are) or the heel area where there are only double crochet.   For children’s sizes, I decrease in the width also by not placing two double crochet stitches in the same stitch and omitting the cluster stitch between clusters 3 & 4 in  Row 2. Of course that is what I have to do for my tension, yours might be different and frogging might be involved.

Here are two links to help you determine out what size you want to make.

http://www.zappos.com/c/shoe-size-conversion

http://knittyblog.com/2012/07/foot-sizing-survey-results-contest/

Links for learning stitches for this pattern:

Magic Circle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLUaywX0-WE

Double Crochet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xKssKskNzo  For this pattern you only need to watch from 1:28 to 1:59.

Cluster Stitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9shtQKZ-SFw

Half Double Crochet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYBgdmsDs0E For this pattern you only need to watch from 1:50 to 1:59

Decrease Half Double Crochet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIREMJr6o-E