Thursday, December 2, 2010

Hamburger Au Poivre

If you love mushrooms then you would LOVE this recipe!! It was wonderful!! Enjoy.
Ingredients:


3 cups instant potato mix such as Betty Crocker Potato Buds
3 cups boiling water
3 Tbs grated Parmesan
2 Tbs butter at room temperature
3 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
3/4 tsp salt
2 10oz pkgs white mushrooms
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 env. onion soup mix
1/4 cup beef broth
4 tsp cracked pepper

  • Preheat oven to 425F. Line jellyroll pan with foil. Combine potato mix, water, Parmesan, butter, 2 Tbs parsley and 1/2 tsp salt until thickened; reserve.
  • Chop 2 cups mushrooms. Slice remaining mushrooms; reserve. Combine chopped mushrooms with beef 2 Tbs dry soup mix, 2 Tbs beef broth, 1 tsp pepper and remaining salt. Form into 6 patties, Press remaining pepper onto patties.
  • Coat nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium heat. Cook patties , turning once, until browned, 4 minutes per side. Transfer to pan; cover to keep warm.
  • In same skillet over medium heat cook reserve mushrooms until softened, 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, remaining soup mix, beef broth and parsley. Cook until thickened, 2 minutes.
  • Transfer potatoes to large pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Spoon half of mushrooms sauce over burgers; pipe potatoes over. Bake until potatoes are lightly browned and burgers are heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve with remaining mushroom sauce.
The recipe is from Woman's World mag. We truly enjoyed the recipe but we added more beef broth to the sauce and used mushroom onion soup mix. In addition we used 2 pounds meat because I was lazy and didnt want to weigh out the meat.

Hope you enjoy! Look forward to more recipes that we like!

Trying new recipes

Michael and I have been trying to get a swing of getting new foods/recipes in the mix of meals. This week we decide to do a new recipe almost everyday. So far we have done 4 different recipes and have really only liked one of them. The others were not to our likings.
Recipes:

1. Chicken & Cornmeal Dumpling - not enough flavor and the dumplings were not that great! Going to us the rest of the broth and veggies for chicken and noodles.

2. Cheddar Turkey Burger - didn't like the flavor but we like turkey burgers

3. Hamburger Au Poivre: Loved this recipe!! Basically a hamburger steak with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy!!

4. Hearty Chili Mac: To think and tasted like it was missing something. We added small can of tomato juice to it but didn't help it out.

5. 3 Cheese Chicken and noodle (Saturday)
6. Chicken Parmesan (different breading and style) (Sunday)

Next week we have some more to add to our list. Just getting tired of the same foods and need a mix up on things.

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

My blog title is Life of Michael and Melissa. Which is basically what it says..... it is about my husband Michael and me. It started out being a wedding blog but now since we are married for a year now it is about us. One day it will be about the family and might change to Reef family but right now it is just us and our 2 dogs. If you want to read just about me check out my other blog: Just a little of my life.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

First off, I am Melissa the writer of this blog. I am married to a wonderful guy. We have two dogs Madison and Luke. Live in a small that I enjoy but sometimes miss living in the big city.

15 Facts:

1. I graduated college with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration.
2. Love to read books (Joined a book club at the library)
3. My favorite stores are Michael's, JCP, Target and Old Navy.
4. Favorite colors are Pink, Brown and Turquoise.
5. To relieve stress I like to bake.
6. Enjoy working out on my Wii!
7. Love doing crafts!
8. Like working with kids which is my job right now.
9. Can not wait to start a family!!
10. Love purses and shoes.
11. If I had money I would start my own business.
12. Christmas is my favorite holiday.
13. Fall is my favorite season.
14. Love photography and hope someday to own a way better camera.
15. Like playing all kinds of games.

Monday, November 29, 2010

30 day Challenge

Found this 30 day challenge on one of the blogs that I follow. Starting Dec 1st I am going to do this challenge and post it on both of my blogs: Just a little of my life and Life of Michael and Melissa.

30 day blog challenge,

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30- a picture

Friday, November 5, 2010

Honeymoon

Michael and I enjoy a small honeymoon in Northwest Indiana and Chicago. It was lovely to get away just the two of us! We went the weekend of August 12th thru the 15th. First we took the long trip to Northwest Indiana to Indiana Dunes area.

We explore the area around Chesterton, Indiana. Nothing was set in schedule or planned; it was more like road trip with hotels booked. Did not want anything fancy or not us!! On the 12th we spent the day looking at Cabela's, Indiana Dunes State Park, beaches and some shops. I think the best part was the beach and Cabela's. The Cabela's was quite smaller than the one in Dundee, MI. That evening we stayed in at Best Western Indian Oaks which I think was a great hotel. It was quite and relaxing with a good price.
(Us at Cabela's)
The next day we had to check out by 11am and could not check into or other hotel until 3pm (IL time). It was on to more adventures! We end up at Bass Pro Shop which also was a great place but I think it was better than Cabela's we stopped at. Michael and I just get into outdoor things. With that being said he is trying to get me to become more outdoorsy. He wants me to go hunting with him so he is in the process of trying to find me a gun to practice.

After leaving Bass Pro Shop we made out journey to Chicago. We got to our hotel a little later than check in because of the horrible traffic. The location of the hotel was not bad but wish it was closer to downtown area but I liked it. We ended up staying in SpringHill Suites by Marriott Chicago O'Hare hotel. It was located 12 miles from downtown but the parking at the hotel was free so we took the train to downtown.
(The Bean)

(From the boat ride; thanks to Vatch)

We had so much we wanted to do in Chicago. Ended up getting a lot explored but we kept it cheap by doing tourist sites that did not cost. One day we will go back to do the cool stuff but we had a blast. Two of our friends that our together lives in Chicago so we caught up with them on Saturday evening. We went to Navy Pier and enjoyed a boat ride in the harbor. They took us to dinner and we took them for dessert to Cheese Cake Factory.

Finally got to go to my first China Town and we had the best Chinese food. It was a local little place that was so small. I loved!! Hoping to explore other China Towns.


Overall we enjoyed walking the city and going to local places. Just being together was the best honeymoon. It is not about where you but who you are with!!!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

October 2010

Time is flying by us. I can not believe we have been married for a year already! It was a great year together and we are looking forward to rest of our lives together. Hoping to start posting at least once a week; I want to keep this up.

Finally got our honeymoon in August. We went to Indiana Dunes and Chicago and we had a blast getting away together. It was nothing to exciting but it was us. Looking for a post later about it!!

We moved to Ohio at the end of June beginning of July. We have not brought a house yet but hoping to in the next couple of years. Going to wait to see what lives brings us. Right now we are renting a small apartment in a tiny town but we like it.

We had a good anniversary! Look for a post later!

Also, we got a new addition to our family. New cocker spaniel named Luke; he is about 4.5 months old. Hoping to have puppies next year!!

Now we are looking forward to boring Halloween!