It’s time for another edition of You Know You’re From the Midwest When… (check out editions one and two!) You know you’re from the Midwest when you don’t say “Maid who??” when I tell you Maid-Rites were on the menu tonight!
Maid-Rite, a popular Midwestern restaurant, specializes in “loose meat” sandwiches, aka seasoned ground beef on a warm bun. I know. Sounds… crazy?! It is, a little, I suppose – but we totally dig them. And NO they’re not sloppy joe’s!
I had to laugh when Ben told me a story about a co-worker who was visiting from the east coast last month and was asking people where she should eat while in town. Someone suggested Maid-Rite and was trying to explain the sandwiches to her…
“So it’s a sloppy joe then…”
“No, there’s no sauce.”
“So it’s just meat?”
“Yeah, but it’s seasoned.”
“But it’s still just ground beef…”
“Right, but it’s really good. Just trust me!”
HA! I can totally hear this conversation in my brain… Anyway, my Mom has a super recipe for Maid-Rites (oh also, you can just call them “maid-rites” and everyone will know what you’re talking about) so I cooked some up for dinner!
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Maid-Rites
Description
Maid-Rites are a popular Midwestern loose meat sandwich, and they're full of savory goodness. This is my version!
Ingredients
- 1lb 85/15 ground beef (could use 80/20 - just not super lean)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 beef bullion cube
- 1/2 cup water
- pepper
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons steak sauce
- Buns
Directions
- Sauté beef and onions until cooked then drain and return to pan. Add the rest of the ingredients then simmer for 30 minutes and scoop onto buns.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
SO easy, right?! I always get my maid-rites with a squeeze of cold ketchup and salty pickles. Perfection I tell you. Totally a crowd pleaser too – everyone will love these.
Bring a taste of the Midwest to your home, won’t you?
~~~~~
Fill in the blank “You know you’re from (fill in your city/state here) when…”
Alternatively, do you have any unique local or regional dishes?
Iowa, of course, is know for their corn and pigs. NOT POTATOES – that’s Idaho (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten that!)
Katie R 11.02.2010
You know you’re from Southern California when you don a winter coat, gloves, and a hat when the temperature dips below 60 F…yet, you still wear flip flops :)
Lexi 11.02.2010
I live in Iowa and wear flip flops when there is snow on the ground and temps are in single digits…no joke!
Lindsay 11.01.2010
You know your from Ohio if you know what a buckeye is…….. and i am not talking about the college or the tree!
Sarah 11.01.2010
My dad is from Illinois and I so remember Maid Rite from summers visiting my grandparents! My dad made them at home ocassionally too, now I have a craving! There are so many “you know you’re from Colorado when…” Sayings most of them involve snow!!
Erin 11.01.2010
My mom always made sloppy joe’s, but as a born and bred eastern Iowa girl, I’ve had my fair share of maid-rites, too. Other very Iowa things (in my hometown anyway) are: scotch-a-roos, cheesy chicken roll-ups, taco pizza, cheesy hash-brown potato casserole and cherry fluff jello salad. Yikes, lots of gooey, cheesy dishes!
MOM 11.02.2010
Those are all my favorites to make and eat too!!!
taylor 11.01.2010
I loooooove Maid Rites! They were a must-have whenever we were at the mall!
Kierstan at Life {and running} in Iowa 11.01.2010
I grew up in MN and have lived in Iowa for nearly 5 years. I never knew what a maid-rite was before I got here, and since I’ve been here I have never tried one.
Maybe making my own version at home will happen in the coming weeks – I know my husband would die for some red meat! :)
Kristin from MN 11.01.2010
I’m from MN and I have never heard of a maid-rite. I want to try your fries! Mmm! You know you’re from MN when you know what a beef commercial is, eat hotdish instead of casserole, drink pop instead of soda and look forward to eating pork burgers at the county fair! :)
Jana 11.01.2010
If we want loose meat sandwiches in the Wichita KS area, we just go to NuWay. It’s a fast food place thats been around forever here. They put pickles and mustard on them, not ketchup. Also they make their own root beer which is awesome too! You know your from Kansas when they say “where’s Toto”? And they always think they’re the first person to say it too!
Mary 11.01.2010
Fave local/regional dish . . . Shrimp and Grits!!! Mmmmmm :-)
I’d never heard of a maid-rite before. I’m another east-coast girl who just doesn’t get it :-)
Amber 11.01.2010
My mom made Maid-Rites for dinner regularly too! So yum! Gonna have to pick up stuff for this meal soon cause now I’m craving it. It makes great leftovers too. Gotta love that! :)
Dani 11.01.2010
You know your from Cincinnati when…………you love a 3-way and it has nothing to do with sex. Good ole Cincinnati chili at Skyline Chili. Yum! Another Cincinnati favorite goetta. I am not a fan but about everyone else I know is. I’ll be trying Maid-Rite this week with the IGE recipe. Thanks!
Rachel 11.01.2010
:) I was going to use the 3-way example! Don’t forget Graeter’s Ice Cream!
Emily 11.01.2010
1) The phrase “loose meat” sandwich makes me crack up!
2) I’m from Ohio (which we categorize as the Midwest…but if you look at a map there’s nothing “West” about Ohio), and there are no Maid-Rites here. Might have to try your version.
3) You know you’re from Ohio when someone says “O-H!” and you turn around and yell, “I-O!” making the symbol for both I and O with your arms over your head. It’s a total reaction.
4) You ALSO know you’re from rural Ohio when your local hang out is a Subway…the only fast food restaurant for miles and miles. :)
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] 11.01.2010
Those fries look outta this world!!
Dana @ my little celebration 11.01.2010
That dinner looks KILLER! It’s a must-make STAT.
Let’s see…
You know you’re from Portland, Oregon when you’re rather die than be seen with Starbucks coffee because it’s too Seattle and “American corporate” AND when the more your outfit looks like you pulled it out of a free box in someone’s lawn and threw it together in the dark, the better.
Oh Portland, you’re one of a kind.
sharon weaver 11.01.2010
I love me a maid-rite and so i will be trying your mom’s receipe to see how it compares.
Hannah 11.01.2010
Maid rites!!!!! Nom nom nommy :] My mom grew up in Iowa, I lived there till I was seven. Best.Sandwich.Evaaaa.
heather 11.01.2010
i had to look maid-rite up(i usually do when you mention something midwestern…and i salivate all the while). it turns out there’s a slew of “-rite” sandwiches that they create. do you ever try any other flavors?
“you know you’re from new jersey when—-” : when you see silly stereotypes of yourself all over the tv, LOL. also when you go down the “shaw” instead of to the “beach”.
what’s the ETA on your trader joe’s, by the way?
Jen K 11.02.2010
ETA – November 5. I drive by every time I’m out that way.
Clare @ Fitting It All In 11.01.2010
You know you’re from the midwest when….
You actually KNOW the geography of the united states, including the middle of the country
St. Louis is known for gooey butter cake, toasted ravioli, and imos pizza (made with provel cheese!)
Also, Panera started in St. Louis and the chain is still called St. Louis Bread Company here!
heather 11.01.2010
i have no idea what it is, but gooey butter cake sounds like something from a wonderful childhood dream. i’m envious.
Sara 11.01.2010
My mom grew up near Marshalltown and I’ve been eating Maid-Rites my whole life! They’re so much better than a sloppy joe. If you’re ever over in eastern Iowa, check out the Stone City General Store in Stone City. They serve a wicked good appetizer with sweet potato fries (marshmallow fluff on the side) and fried cheese curds. DELISH!
jad18 11.01.2010
Maid-rites are an iowa thing. I have lived in several midwest states and never heard of them before I moved to iowa. They are good, though.