LeBron Fire

In a time of unsettled loyalties and disappointments, one desires the known, the solid, the dependable.  One desires firecrackers.

I know I should not be surprised by the selfish and narcissistic behavior of someone who refers to himself as King James, but yet I was.  The way in which LeBron James announced that he would be leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers was just unbelievable to me.  He didn't thank the fans, he didn't seem to realize the hurt he was causing.  He just spoke of himself in the third person and made it clear he didn't want the pressure of being a team leader.

I have only recently become a Cavaliers fan and was upset, but my husband and his family and friends in Cleveland felt completely betrayed and were understandably angry.  We decided that something cathartic must be done for them to find relief and satisfaction.  The solution: a bonfire of LeBron James paraphernalia.

As our idea took shape, though, it became so much more.  Oh, so much more...We turned "hey, let's throw some LeBron jerseys into our outdoor firepit and drink beer as we watch them burn" into..."Let's commit LeBenedict Arnold to a firing squad of Roman candles and other incendiary devices while we eat grilled London Broil and homemade ice cream and drink beer."  Yeah, baby...

We started by aiming the Roman candles at his jersey until it was in smoldering shreds...

Then, we moved to pure flame without the flash...

Still had some emotion to express, though...

As you might imagine this became quite the neighborhood spectacle.  If I thought folks were interested in seeing my husband get charged by a small brown poodle...I mean, they were standing in the alley, lining up in their back yards, and leaning out upper floor windows to watch the crazy white folk set fire to LeBron stuff.  Of course, the Roman candles and camera flashes might have had something to do with it...

To get the bitter taste out of our mouths, my husband marinated and grilled a london broil.

Grilled London Broil
Serves 8

4 lb london broil beef
1 white onion, sliced
1/2 cup A1 sauce
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
salt and pepper, to taste

Between 6 and 24 hours before dinner, place beef in a (non-reactive) glass dish and cover with sliced onion.

Combine A1 sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup.  Pour over top of beef and onions.

Cover and refrigerate between 6 and 24 hours.

Grill over medium heat for about 15 minutes for medium rare meat.

Let sit for another 15 minutes, then slice and serve with a side of revenge.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Comfort in Food

My gorgeous friend Kristina is a bit under the weather this week, so my husband and I decided to make some food for her and her husband.  We just wanted them to have a hassle-free evening with something tasty and easy in the refrigerator waiting for them.  The most comforting choice?  A casserole with macaroni, tomatoes, ground beef, and lots of gooey cheese.

It was very easy and we made it up as we went along.  We made enough to not only give them a casserole, but keep one for ourselves as well.  And, I was very grateful that was the case when we decided to have some folks over to watch the Cavaliers basketball game.  It made for a very easy dinner for our guests.  We just popped that casserole in the oven, chopped a few veggies for a salad, slathered some garlic butter on a baguette, and whipped up some brownies.

And, oh, did we need some comfort in our house.  Needless to say, the game did not go as we had hoped, but dinner was just what we wanted.

Comforting Casserole
1 Tbsp each, canola oil and olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced (adjust to suit your taste)
2 1lbs ground beef (you could substitute turkey, if you prefer)
24 oz can of whole tomatoes (you could replace with diced, if you prefer)
15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp chili powder
salt and pepper, to taste
1 lb (1 box) of macaroni (you could replace with another compact pasta)
3/4 cup cheddar, shredded
3/4 cup mozzarella, shredded

Heat the mixture of canola and olive oils in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook until no longer opaque.  Add the garlic and in less than a minute so the garlic doesn't burn, add the meat to the skillet.  Slightly brown the meat and break it up into crumbles.

Add the whole tomatoes, breaking them slightly, juice and all.  Add the tomato sauce and spices.

Stir and turn down heat.  Let it simmer until it thickens, it took about half an hour to get to the consistency we prefer.

Meanwhile, follow the directions on the box of pasta and boil until preferred consistency.  Drain the noodles and place in the bottom of a casserole dish.  We had enough pasta for two casseroles - a 9 x 13 and a 8 x 8.  Pour or ladle the meat sauce on top of the pasta.

Then top with the mixture of cheese.

You can bake it right away in a 400 degree F oven for about 30 minutes or until the cheese looks a little brown and bubbly.  Or, you can refrigerate for no more than 3 days (or freeze for no more than a week) while covered.  If you want to freeze it, I suggest you don't add the cheese until you are ready to bake.

VARIATIONS: This would also be good with various vegetables (think bell pepper or zucchini), different cheeses, other spices, or other flavorings like mushrooms.  Experiment with ingredients you or your lucky recipient will enjoy.