Tuesday's...Wednesday's Question!

This week's Tuesday's Question has become

Wednesday's Question because sometimes life happens.

"So, what happened to me yesterday that I missed posting?"

If you are friends with me on Facebook then you know

the answer to this week's question.

But I'll give everyone else the lovely details to keep you all 

up to date on my life...because it's just so interesting.

Monday night I decided to go grocery shopping while Michael was at karate practice.

Of course, the Colonel was with me.

I mentioned to him as we were in the grocery store that my legs felt weird 

and I was really tired.

So tired that I went to bed right when we got home,

only to wake up at 2:30 in the morning with the worse pain in my stomach

proceeded by the worse vomiting I've had in YEARS.

The Colonel skipped Physical Training with the cadets to stay home with me

but I insisted he go to work because he had classes to teach.

Around 8:00 I responded to a text he sent me asking him to please come

home and take me to the emergency room.

I knew I needed help.

I couldn't stop throwing up.

I couldn't get off the bathroom floor.

My mother, thank the Lord, came over to try to help me get dressed

and, obviously that failed since I went to the ER in my pajama top and 

never even looked in the mirror to see what my hair looked like.

Yes, that is a HUGE CLUE I was sick.
I never leave the house without looking in a mirror.

We arrived at the ER and they took me right away.

I spent the next few hours hooked up to an IV, receiving medicines

to stop the stomach pain and more importantly stop the nausea and vomiting.

Thank God for medicine.

I was able to come home in the early afternoon

with a warning to return if the vomiting returned.

I spent the rest of the day in bed...

Which is so much better than spending my day HERE...

So, let me know what you all were up to yesterday!

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Military Ball...

Well, I survived Saturday night.

It really was a lot of fun.

This was our second year attending the military ball up in Scranton, PA.

The ball is held in the old Lackawana Train Station

that has been converted into a hotel...

University of Scranton is part of the "group" of universities

for this ROTC northeastern PA section.

The ONLY way to look out the window in our room was to 

stand on top of the desk under the window,

which is what the Colonel had to do to take the picture; 

the window is so high up.

It was quite funny, but it's a converted train station and the windows

on the top floors are small.

The view from our room...

At the cocktail party in the hotel lobby.

Drinks only, no fun food...

A display table...

Some of the cadets that are in the program with the Colonel...

An outstanding cadet, James Gonzalez...

Our table...

This picture is from last year.

There is a a restaurant in the hotel lobby where we had breakfast last year...

Beautiful stained glass...

The highlight of the evening is the Grog Bowl...

Different cadets dress up as various soldiers throughout the years

and give a little "speech" on their life in the military and add

a bottle of liquor to the big kettle on the table.

The cadets have a lot of fun acting as different soldiers 

and the costumes are crazy.  

There's plenty of music, dancing and liquor being added and then

the graduating cadets all line up and have a glass of the concoction while

the commanding officer gives a speech.

(Thankfully the Colonel will never have to be a part of this!) 

The whole night was really nice. 

I was able to meet the cadets that the Colonel teaches but more importantly,

I was able to sleep past 5:00 yesterday morning and

wake up to the lovely bell chimes from the Catholic Church

across the street from the hotel.

Please come back tomorrow for 

Tuesday's Question!

Enjoy your day!

Military Ball...

In yesterday's post, I hinted that the Colonel and I have plans for the weekend.

We're heading up to Scranton to attend the yearly Military Ball.

I will be taking pictures and posting about our weekend on Monday.

But for now, you can read about our adventures

at the Military Ball from last year HERE.

Say a prayer for me, okay?

As much as I know I will enjoy this, I always get a little

anxious meeting all these new people

and of course, leaving Michael.

He's at Bible Quiz today and will be with my mom later.

Enjoy your weekend!

Cheescake Cupcakes...

This week's Something Yummy for My Colonel's Tummy is a dessert

I've been making for YEARS using my mini muffin pan.

Cheesecake Cupcakes.

I made around 100 for Olivia's graduation party last year and thought I was going to die.

Seriously.

The recipe calls for using a Vanilla Wafer cookie as the crust of each cheesecake cupcake.  

BUT,

I could not for the life of me get the Vanilla Wafer cookie to 

fit inside the paper cup and when I tried to 

spoon the cheesecake filling in, it went all over the place. 

But I kept filling the mini cupcakes as best I could and they were delicious and

looked beautiful with all the other cookies and desserts. 

HOWEVER,

I told myself I would not make them ever again.

But I did, for Thanksgiving, and the same thing.

WHAT A MESS.

Last weekend I decided to try ONE more time, only 

using my regular sized cupcake pan and not the mini ones.

Here's the result...

PERFECT and so EASY!

Ingredients for the crust:

16 Graham Crackers

1/4 lb. melted butter

1/4 cup sugar

Ingredients for the cheesecake filling:

16 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Ingredients for the sour cream topping:

1 pint sour cream

1/3 cup sugar

(This recipe makes 24 cheesecake cupcakes)

I didn't use graham crackers because I didn't have enough.

BUT, I had a whole box of Vanilla Wafer Cookies and decided to crush those

and use them for the crust.

Begin by crushing your graham crackers or Vanilla Wafer Cookies.

I placed the cookies in a plastic bag and used my rolling pin...

Add the melted butter and sugar to your crushed 

graham crackers or crushed Vanilla Wafer cookies.

Line your cupcake pan with paper liners.

SPRAY each liner with a cooking non-stick spray.

Add one tablespoon of your crumb mixture to each cupcake holder.

Press down firmly.  

I used a juice glass which fit PERFECTLY.

Makes the crumbs nice and even...

Combine cream cheese, eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, and vanilla in a medium sized bowl 

and mix until smooth and creamy.

Pour the cheesecake mixture into each cupcake holder, filling them about 2/3 of the way.  

I use an ice cream scoop...

Bake your cheesecake cupcakes in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

In the meantime, prepare your sour cream topping.

Combine the sour cream and 1/3 cup sugar in a mixing bowl 

and mix until smooth...

After your cupcakes have cooked for 20 minutes,

remove them from the oven and cover each baked cupcake

with some of the sour cream topping, filling each cupcake holder completely.

Return to the oven and continue to bake for another 8 minutes...

Let the cupcakes cool before removing them so they get firm enough

to stand on their own when you remove the paper liner...

You can add fruit on top if you desire!

So DELICIOUS and so EASY...

Enjoy your day!

Cheesy Beef Enchiladas...

This is a delicious and easy meal you can have ready in 30 minutes.
The sauce freezes well, so you can make extra for the future when life gets even busier

Cheesy Beef Enchiladas...

I posted the original recipe for this dish, Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

awhile ago and it was very popular here at Walking on Sunshine.

We enjoyed it with chicken, so I thought, why not Cheesy Beef Enchiladas.

The secret to this dish is the sauce.

It is FABULOUS.

Ingredients for the sauce:

3 Tbsp. butter

3 Tbsp. flour

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup sour cream

1 (4 oz) can diced green chillies

1 (4 oz) can diced jalapenos 

Ingredients for the Cheesy Beef Enchiladas:

Ground Beef

1 can refried beans

flour tortillas

cheddar and Monterrey jack cheese

Let the deliciousness begin...

In a pan, melt the butter.

Then stir in flour and cook 1 minute...

Add broth and whisk until smooth.  

Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly...

Stir in the sour cream, the can of chilies and the can of jalapenos, which I do NOT drain.  

Do not bring to boil, you don't want curdled sour cream...

Sauce is ready...

Now on to the Cheesy Beef Enchiladas...

Brown the ground beef in a pan.

Once the meat is browned, add the can of refried beans and combine.

Spread the beef and refried bean mixture down the center of a flour tortilla

sprinkle with cheese...

Roll up and place seam side down in a baking dish...

Cover with the DELICIOUS sauce.

If you have extra sauce, don't worry, it freezes well.

Sprinkle more cheese on top...

Bake at 415 until bubbly, maybe 15 minutes.

Then turn the broiler on and broil until the cheese is 

slightly browned and looking DELICIOUS.

This only takes a few minutes, so do not walk away...

DELICIOUS...

Serve with a side salad and you have a very easy and fabulous meal.

Enjoy your day! 

My Son...

As I mentioned in Monday's post, I've been a little sick.

And I missed wishing my son, Michael, a Happy Birthday on Saturday

here on Walking on Sunshine.

I love this boy so much.

Here is what I wrote about him a few years ago on his birthday.

It deserves to be repeated...

Happy Birthday to my son MICHAEL!

Michael's birth was very unpredictable. 

I actually went into labor with him 8 weeks early 

but was able to hold on till his due date.

However, by the time that date arrived I was very huge. 

I guess that's what 8 weeks of bed rest does!

Anyway, during Michael's birth he somehow managed to get stuck...

he was just too big, he weighed 10 1/2 pounds! 

All of a sudden 3 nurses were on top of my belly 

trying to push him out, 

his heart rate had dropped tremendously and 

I was in the worse pain I ever experienced as the doctor 

proceeded to break Michael's collarbone to save his life. 

He was born with no heart beat, not breathing and quite blue.

Thankfully the Lord had HIS Hand on my son and they were able to revive him. 

He has been a joy to us ever since!

Olivia and Michael, Easter 1999...

Six years ago pumpkin picking at a farm near our house...

Earning his brown belt two years ago...

Camping trip with the Royal Rangers from church...

With his sister, Olivia, last Thanksgiving...

With the Colonel last Easter at my sister's house...

Last summer in Phoenix, Arizona at the National Fine Arts Convention.

The temporary tattoo says, "Forgiven..."

And a picture I found on Pinterest 

that says it all...

Tuesday's Question...

Thank you for all your comments on yesterday's post.

This real-life tragedy still continues to bother me and I hope

that by helping to spread the word this injustice will

soon be overturned.  

Now, on to this week's Tuesday's Question...

"How much is a gallon of gasoline in your community?"

AND...

"Has it begun to affect your life?"

A gallon of gasoline where we live in PA is $3.69 as of yesterday.

AND...

YES, it is affecting our life!

We have 3 cars in this family.

BUT all 3 cars are OLD and over 100,000 miles.

The car Olivia drives is a 2001 Ford Focus and has close to 180,000 miles.

It's a station wagon and GOLD.

She and her friends call it The Twinkie.

We're thankful that our cars run great and still look pretty good.

However, filling up all 3 cars is becoming very costly.

I'm thankful Olivia is down in Florida attending college

and her car sits in our driveway although

the Colonel does drive The Twinkie a few times a week to keep it running.

Filling up all 3 cars ONCE a week can run us close to $150 - $200...

It's a good thing I don't need to go out every day.

I try to stay home as much as I can and do all my errands/shopping

only once a week or have the Colonel stop and pick up something

for me from the grocery store since he is out every day.  

Give me an idea of how much a gallon of gasoline is in your hometown.

AND...

Let me know if it's affecting your life and what are some things you're doing

to help offset the costs.

And let's hope THIS is not one of the things you're doing...

HA! 

On the menu at our house tonight:

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas 

Tossed salad with Italian dressing

Enjoy your day!

And, yes, I'm feeling much better.

Thank you!