for Swestoyz

[washman]

In looking at my latest edition of Cooks Country, they have a recipe for Iowa loose meat sandwiches, otherwise knows as Maid Rite.

Can you shed any light on this? Looks pretty easy to make.

 

[danemodsandy]

Roseanne Nailed It:

On an episode of Roseanne, Roseanne Conner decided to go into the food business after discovering loose meat sandwiches in Iowa. She described them to hubby Dan as:

"Sloppy Joes, without the slop."

Maid-Rites are one of the few true Midwestern pleasures still readily available in this era of mega fast-food chains.

The real-life Roseanne actually opened a loose-meat sandwich place in Eldon, IA, which was very popular for a while, but when she and onetime real-life hubby Tom Arnold split, her interest vanished and so did the restaurant.

Here's a "copy-cat" recipe, said to taste close to the real Maid-Rite:

http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/beef/maid-rite-loose-meat-burger-copy-cat.html

 

[d-jones]

She described them to hubby Dan as: "Sloppy Joes, without the slop."

 

Sandy - How in the world do you remember stuff like that?

 

[cadman]

Yes, quite easy to make, and I like mine with a little bit of ketchup, but don't go asking for it at a Maid-Rite or they'll laught you out of the diner! : )

 

[frigilux]

Ben-- I make loose meat sandwiches quite often and love 'em! Spread a little plain old yellow ballpark mustard on the bun, add a sliced pickle or two, pile on the loose meat and away you go. They're so simple, but once you get a taste for them...look out.

Southern Minnesotans are contractually obligated to make fun of anything from Iowa, which is within spitting distance of us, but Loose Meat Sandwiches get a pass.

Full disclosure: They're still sloppy. Expect to pick up a fair amount of it off your plate.

 

[whirlcool]

I noticed that the recipe calls for "Chopped Dried Onion". What is that? I have never heard of a dried onion. I have only heard of fresh onion and onion powder.

 

[swestoyz]

You can't consider yourself an Iowan without having indulged yourself without at least one Maid-Rite in your lifetime.

 

Many locally grew up eating at a chain called Maid-Rite. Simple beef loose meat sandwiches, and Cory isn't kidding about the ketchup. In fact, one of the original Maid-Rite franchisees is still in operation in Marshalltown, IA, known as Taylor's.

 

http://www.maidrite.com
 

Rumor has it that Roseanne's inspiration came from an original restaurant that is still in operation in Tom Arnold's hometown of Ottumwa, IA, called The Canteen. It doesn't have a website, but you can find it on Facebook. When I was going to college in Ottumwa, the parking ramp didn't exist and it was still considered an alley dive before receiving a revival effort within the last 10 years.

 

Again, with checking out if your around these parts.

 

Allen - I've only ever seen a Maid-Rite made with real chopped onions, not dried.  I believe you can by dried chopped onions locally in the spice section of the supermarket. 

 

Ben

 

[launderess]

Chopped Dried Onion

Long a staple of canned or jar tomato and products such as sauces dried chopped onions are just what they sound like. Dehydrated chopped onions.

You can find them in most supermarket spice sections by several brands. Unlike the powder the dried chopped onions are meant to be a substitute for fresh. Whether or not they do is the subject of much debate.

General idea is that the moisture/water from whatever one is adding these dried onions to will rehydrate and work in the same manner. Again many purists don't think so, but faced with keeping onions on hand not to mention dealing with chopping (can you say tears?)...

 

[launderess]

Sandy - How in the world do you remember stuff like that?

Roseanne had some real great one liners as "Mrs. Connor".

When Dan's best friend (played by Tom Arnold) used the money borrowed from the ever hard-up Connors to pay for his girlfriend's breast enhancement Roseanne has a fit. She suggests "we take them out and give them to DJ, then he will have something to look at". This was because the kid was peeking at his sisters whilst they were in the shower.

Another was when Roseanne's new boss at the factory tells her "I've been looking at your personnel file.....", and Roseanne says" yeah, the last few managers looked at my file too, but you don't see any of them still around her do you?"

 

[washdaddy]

With all those different variations of "loose meat" sandwiches I definitely have to put them on file for future use for a quick go to burger like meal. And with most of the recipes it's just ingregients that people would keep in their kitchens to begin with.

Just one slight problem though at the moment. I'm fresh out of Ground beef! DAMN!

lmao

 

[danemodsandy]

David:

Remember that part of my life centers around writing and editing. We are constitutionally unable to hear or read a great phrase without mentally filing it away.

Roseanne had a tremendous number of great phrases; it was a honey of a sitcom, possibly the best ever.

 

[launderess]

Aka - Tavern Sandwich

Pipe:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tavern_sandwich

 

[jamiel]

Dried chopped onions = the onions used on McDonald's small hamburgers.