Back to reality...

What a busy week it has been! But, sadly, all good things have to come to an end. Bryan went back to work yesterday, and I have been trying to play catch-up like a mad woman! Tomorrow has been officially designated as "Blog Reading Catch-Up Day." So, I promise to be back with some blog love for all of you wonderful ladies tomorrow. That is, after I go to my "Marriage Enhancement" course. It's a lovely little class organized by the military to remind those that aren't smart enough to figure it out on their own not to beat their wives, yell at their children, kill themselves, etc., etc. Unfortunately, we are required to attend, and it looks like it will be eating up the majority of my morning. But, hey, at least we don't have to attend the "Single And Loving It" class required for all of the single soldiers. I can't wait to hear what that is all about. Our roommate has to attend it, so I'm sure I will hear all about it tomorrow.

Yes, I said "roommate." We have a house guest for the next 3 weeks. He is getting ready to move to another post, and couldn't stand being stuck in the barracks with his alcoholic roommate any longer. So, we took him in for the next few weeks. I don't mind. He's a super nice guy, and he's really good with the kids. He also helps me clean...I'm hoping he can teach Bryan how to do the same. Tee hee!

We also had another unexpected guest pay us a visit this weekend:

Isn't she adorable?!? Bryan found her huddled against our fence while he was mowing the lawn. He actually almost ran over her with the mower. There have been a lot of stray cats and dogs in our neighborhood recently, and we were afraid that her mom might have met with an untimely death, and that she might be next. So, we took her into the backyard, and made a little home for her for the night. She was gone by morning, but keeps returning every night. She must feel safe in our yard. She's so stinkin' cute!

Last weekend...lots of fun! We had a little Mexican Fiesta on Saturday for our neighbors, and a few of Bryan's friends that had just returned from the same deployment. Unfortunately, I was too busy cooking to bring out the camera. And, of course, I am kicking myself for that now. Oh, well. I'm sure there will be MANY more parties in the future. We love to entertain! And, I stumbled across THE BEST recipe for chicken enchiladas! I don't like enchiladas at all. I made them because they were easy enough, and the made A LOT. But, I tried one, and I'm HOOKED! I had a few other guests say that they never like enchiladas either, but had already scarfed down 3 or 4 of these! So, big kudos to Paula Deen! I have to say that I have never made a recipe of hers that I didn't love, and the enchiladas were no exception! I'll post the recipe at the end of this blog, so you all can try it out. You might want to cut the recipe in half if you're just making it for a small family dinner...unless you want left-overs for a week!

So, Saturday was fun...then came Sunday. And, this:

Somehow, I managed to put my hand through one of my grandmother's antique serving dishes. I don't know what happened...I went to grab it, and it just broke. My hand went in, and I ended up with the nastiest gash EVER. I don't do blood, and I nearly passed out. Trust me, you don't want to see what is under that bandage. But, at least Bryan's combat emergency medical training finally came in handy. After I sat clutching my hand in a blood-drenched towel over the bath tub and crying my eyes out for about 30 minutes, I finally let him look at it. It needed stitches. Duh. Had you seen what was coming out of that wound, you would have known it needed stitches as well. Problem is...the military hospital isn't the best at seeing someone for something so trivial as, oh, some stitches, in anything resembling a timely manner. So what did I end up with instead? A good wound flushing, and some butterfly stitches...from my husband. He tells me with this gleen of excitement in his eyes, "I can get my combat emergency kit, and actually stitch it for you." Um, no thanks honey...I'm good on that. It's healing nicely, but will have a substantially larger scar than it would have had I actually had stitches. Oh, well. It's just my hand. I'm not that vain. Of course, it put me out of commission for a couple of days. I had wanted to blog a couple of days ago, but the hand just wasn't that mobile yet. Thank God it isn't kit time over at Label Tulip. I would have been in a real bind. I can't even pick the kids up without causing the wound to open back up. So, I've spent the last couple of days with Bryan at work so that he can help with the kids. Fun.

It didn't stop me from making this tasty dish today, though.

Homemade clam chowder. Bryan's favorite. And, he actually ate it...without one single complaint. Maybe he isn't so ungrateful after all. This soup is one of my specialties. It's delish, but takes about 2 1/2 hours to make. So, it's one of those special treats. But, OH SO worth it!

Bryan has been busy spending our money since he has been back. So, I'll be back tomorrow with pictures of all of our fun new purchases tomorrow. This weekend is my turn to spend, though. That is, assuming that we make some money at our yard sale on Friday and Saturday. I have TONS of stuff to get rid of. If things go well, we will be spending Sunday at my favorite flea market in Raleigh followed by dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Wish me luck!

Without further ado...Paula Deen's recipe for Enchiladas de Pollo:

4 Lg boneless, skinless chicken breasts, roasted or boiled, meat shredded
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, at room temp
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
2 (4 oz) cans diced green chilies, with juice
6 green onions, chopped, including green tops
20-24 flour tortillas (7" diameter)
2 (10 oz) cans enchilada sauce *I actually used 3 cans*
2 C (1/2 lb) grated Monterey Jack cheese
4 C (1 lb) grated sharp Cheddar cheese
Sour cream, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and salsa for garnish

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spray (2) 13"x9" casserole dishes w/ vegetable cooking spray. Combine chicken, cream cheese, soup, chilies and green onions. Spoon 2 Tbs of mixture into each tortilla and roll up. Pour a small amount of enchilada sauce on the bottom of each casserole dish and tilt the dish so that the sauce covers the bottom. Place the enchiladas side by side on top of the sauce. When all of the enchiladas have been rolled and placed in the dishes, take the remaining enchilada sauce and pour it over the top of the enchiladas. Combines the cheeses and sprinkle evenly over the casseroles. Cover the dishes w/ foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10 minutes more. To serve, cut between the enchiladas and serve from the dish. Have bowls of sour cream, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and salsa for garnish.

***Don't make the entire recipe too far ahead of cooking...they will get soggy. Instead, make just the filling, and put it in the fridge to shill. Then, assemble the enchiladas about an hour before cooking them.***

Enjoy!