For chunks of ground beef in a recipe, first crumble it into the cooking dish and cook for about 5 minutes. This sets the meat which can then be stirred to break the meat into the size pieces desired.

After you drain off the fat juices, add the season¬ings so that you do not lose the seasoning when you drain the juices.

If you use lean ground beef, there is very little excess fat and no need to drain.

The filling for tacos is easily cooked in the mi-crowave oven; the meat filled shells can be heated to serve piping hot if necessary.

This mixture should thicken during cooking, so leave uncovered to allow the steam to evaporate.

To eliminate spatters in the oven, place a paper towel over the casserole dish; this is porous enough to allow some moisture to pass through or be absorbed.

SLOPPY JOE SANDWICHES

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (8 oz.) tomato sauce
6 hamburger buns

Setting: HIGH

1.    Crumble ground beef into 2-quart glass cas¬serole. Stir in onion and green papper. Cover with glass lid or plastic wrap.
2.    MICROWAVE for 5 MINUTES; drain. Stir in re-maining ingredients, except buns; recover, and MI¬CROWAVE for 12 to 14 MINUTES or until hot. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes before serving. Spoon into warm hamburger buns.
About 6 Servings

TIP Warm 6 buns 25 to 30 seconds.