Creamy Mushroom Sloppy Joes

This recipe is much like the classic sloppy joe, but instead of a tomato base it uses cream of mushroom soup to hold the ground beef and other ingredients together. 

Julian's "Sputnik on a Bun"

Back in the 1960's my mother called this 'sputnik on a bun' and I have no idea where she got the name or the recipe. No one in the family seems to know either. But it was tasty and is simple to prepare on a weeknight, much like it's traditional sloppy joe cousin. I've heard others call this a 'white sloppy joe' and 'Davy Crockett Sandwiches'. The latter usually includes 1/4 pound of Velveeta cheese, but is otherwise the same. I darken the mixture a little with the Worcestershire sauce and also add a little Kitchen Bouquet, which is a browning and seasoning sauce, but that is optional.  

My nephew likes to put some cheese on these and I have found this to be popular. Shredded cheese that easily melts works best. 

Ingredients (4-6 servings)

1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, chopped
pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small can (6-7 ounces) mushrooms, drained
    (stems and pieces, sliced or chopped)
1 pound ground beef (90% lean)
1 can (11-12 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
1-2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Kitchen Bouquet (optional)
4-6 hamburger buns

Instructions

In a 12-inch skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir while cooking, 2-3 minutes until becoming tender. Add the mushrooms and stir into the onion until heated through and any moisture is evaporated, 2-3 minutes.   

Break up the ground beef and add to the pan. Stir to combine with the onion-mushroom mixture. Then cook without stirring until it has browned nicely on one side. Stir occasionally until it is completely cooked through. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce. Stir in the cream of mushroom soup. If the mixture is too thick, stir in a little milk until it is the correct consistency to stay together when served. Add a little Kitchen Bouquet to darken the color, if you prefer. Place a helping onto a bun and serve.