I need a hug.

So now the liberals have an illegal war they can call their own. I don't remember anyone asking congress to vote on if a military intervention in Libya was a good idea. At least the Bush administration had the good sense to fake some evidence for their war of choice. By the way dropping bombs on people is absolutely an act of war, calling it a no fly zone doesn't change that.

Gaddafi is a bad guy, Saddam was a bad guy, Mugabi is a bad guy; wait, we didn't bomb him, Than Shwe is a bad guy but we didn't bomb him either, al Bashir is a bad guy ( a really bad guy) but we didn't bomb him even though we should have bombed him twice. I'm stopping now because I don't want to do 3 pages of this. The point is who our humanitarian wars (Orwell much?) are as capricious as our other wars.

While we're at it I want to ask why we are not helping the rebels in Bahrain or Yemen. Or for that matter why isn't there a no fly zone over Gaza? Aren't their psycho leaders colorful enough to warrant our attention? Are Israeli drones that blow up civilians justified?

 I don't know what scares me more, Obama the not left winger, the unhinged right-wingers on the radio trying to say intervention in foreign countries is bad (  you owe it to yourself to listen to that twisted dance. Be afraid, be very afraid), or the rest of us that don't get angry about a third war. Of coarse why should we? We didn't get mad when they botched the war in Afghanistan. We certainly had no problem attacking Iraq (cause you know the Iraqi navy was bobbing off the coast of New Jersey just waiting to take out Snookie). Why get in a huff now? It's March Madness.

Well I'm not going to get a hug. Hell I have to pay my Mom $20 for one and she's a three hour drive away. So a little food solace will have to do to ease my weary heart.

Oh yeah. In this sad world you need comfort that you can bath in. Now it's called gravy because you are going to load it up with meat. Meatball, yes! Sausage, yes! Chicken thighs, yes! Pork chops,yes! We'll hold off on the braciola for another meal. Maybe when we start a forth war.

Mmmm braciola!

1. It's a braise, but we want to sear the meat to start. 
2. Use an enameled dutch oven or other non-reactive pan. The acid in tomatoes will mess with cast iron or copper.
3. Heat a film of oil in the bottom of the pot. Sear the pork-chops on both sides. Remove to a large bowl. Sear the chicken, move to the bowl, 
4. Turn the heat down to medium. Brown the sausages and move to the bowl.
5. Add more oil to the pan. Give it a minute to heat.
6. Now add 1 finely chopped onion, a finally chopped carrot, and a finally diced green pepper.
7. Add salt. Then let them sweat for a while. Stir them, as they release water they will deglaze the pan.
8. Add a bunch of chopped garlic, give it another 60 seconds.
9. Add a small can of tomato paste. Stir it until it darkens almost to brown.
10. Add a small squirt of wine or vinegar. Stir, then 2 or 3 cans of ground peeled tomatoes. Use some water to get all the bits that have clung to the can.
11. Salt, pepper, chopped flat leaf parsley, some fresh thyme would be nice additions here. Basil is a great herb for tomatoes but the cooking process destroys the flavor so save it for later.
12. Add the seared meat, then lay the balls on top.
13. Cover, and go low and slow. If your pot is oven proof you might even want to go at 250 degrees for 3 or 4 hours (hey comfort takes time and effort). Careful on the stovetop. Tomatoes have a lot of sugar in them and they will scorch to the pan if the heat gets even a little too high.
14. Cook a big pot of spaghetti. Not right away I told you 3 hours as a minimum.
15. Drain the pasta, save a cup of the pasta water, put it back in the pot, put the pot over low heat, put the pasta back in, then ladle some gravy over it. Stir to coat. It helps if the pasta is a little under cooked because it will absorb more of the gravy.
16. Now add your basil.
17. Put the pasta on your biggest platter. 
18. Pile on the meat.
19. Invite over 10 friends.
20. Crack a beer, Yahoo!

Who needs hugs.