Month: June 2016

How to Make Overnight Oatmeal in a Mason Jar

I love the Chobani Mighty Oat line of breakfast yogurts. I find them nutritious and delicious and very easy to eat. I started to eat them every day. Ironically, it was while searching for alternatives to Chobani Oats that I stumbled upon “overnight oatmeal”[^1]. On that website, I found a recipe Chobani oatmeal that led me to do some research on making my yoghurt oatmeal. I used Google search terms “yoghurt oats” and got a page full of search results with recipes.

I reviewed many of the recipes, learning about the few key ingredients that could go into a recipe. Some recipes used yogurt, some added milk, others used coconut milk or almond milk. All of the recipes used rolled oats because steel-cut oats would be too chewy and berries — strawberries, blueberries, raspberries etc. Some used chia-seed in the recipe but I don’t like the texture of slimy chia. After doing some research I decided to create my own overnight oats.

While I choose to use honey in the mix (before chilling) to add a touch of sweetness, it is optional. I didn’t like the texture and flavour as much as the rolled oats but muesli works just as well.

Overnight Oatmeal

  • Servings: 1
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

How to Make Overnight Oatmeal in a Mason Jar


Nutrition Facts

  • Calories 129 (538 kJ)
  • Total Fat 14.30g
  • Total Carbs. 31.17h
  • Sugars 12.31g
  • Protein 5.31g

Credit: islandinthenet.com


Ingredients

  • 22.50 grams oats
  • 48 grams pears
  • 57.48 grams Unsweetened Coconut Milk
  • 7 grams honey

Directions

  1. Throw everything in a mason jar, screw the lid on top, shake, and put it in the fridge and leave overnight. The next morning you can enjoy a quick breakfast. Just open and eat.

Best Version of Me

One question that I have asked myself many, many times over the years is this:

What would it look like if I were to do this full-time?

Of course, “this” is the thing that I was doing without being asked, the things that I loved doing just because sotospeak. These were the things that I had never gotten paid for nor were they things that I did full-time.

I understand that not everything can be done full-time without seriously damaging one’s financial position and state – but, I want to challenge you to think more creatively about it… I bet there is a way to do those things and also make a living. I think it requires creativity and an open mind to the possibility that you may not have figured out that part out quite yet.John Saddington

I do a bunch of things for free, just because I enjoy the work. But there are things I most definitely enjoy but I also want to do to make profit.

I'm almost 50. I don't have it all figured out yet. I want to. But I don't.

Buttermilk Falls, Stokes State Forest

After our wet adventure at Tillman Ravine, our group decided to head to Buttermilk Falls despite the ominous threat of another downpour. The drive in the car was far from smooth; the road was riddled with potholes.

Our target was Buttermilk Falls on Mountain Road in Branchville, New Jersey, in Stokes State Forest Park. Branchville, with its roots dating back to the 18th century, has historical significance as Connecticut colonists settled it. The falls are conveniently accessible from a parking lot across the roadway, sparing us from a lengthy trek.

I took the opportunity to capture some photographs at the base while Chris' daughter enthusiastically scaled the rocky terrain. The ever-changing light conditions, transitioning from dark at the bottom to bright sun at the top of the waterfall, posed a photography challenge. Patience was the key, and Adobe Lightroom played its part in achieving the desired image.

The terrain surrounding Buttermilk Falls was rugged and rocky, with a steep staircase ascending from the bottom of the falls. Climbing from the bottom to the top tested my stamina, but it was child's play for Chris' daughter, who effortlessly climbed the rocks and the stairs to reach the summit in record time. For the more mature group members, like Walt and myself, the ascent proved more challenging, particularly as I lugged around a tripod and a camera bag filled with gear and bottled water.

Buttermilk Falls, Stokes State Forest
Buttermilk Falls, Stokes State Forest · 5 June 2016 · Nikon D5100 · Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX

As we ascended the steep stairs to the peak of Buttermilk Falls, I couldn't help but acknowledge how out of shape I had become. I was carrying photography equipment, which added to the challenge.

I captured fewer images than I had hoped. Working with a new lens, the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX-II for Nikon DX, meant that setting up and composing each shot required more time than expected. Also, the hike to each shooting spot was time-consuming. Despite the obstacles, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, gaining firsthand knowledge of hiking through a forest amid a torrential downpour while carrying tripods and camera gear.

The area's natural beauty is a result of geological history that dates back hundreds of millions of years, and the forest is home to diverse flora and fauna, including various hardwood tree species and wildlife like deer, bears, and numerous small mammals.

Our visit to Buttermilk Falls was in Spring. I expect that climbing the stairs in the winter can be risky. Alternatively, you can walk to the falls from the closed gate on Mountain Road, which would be about a mile's trek.

Buttermilk Falls, Stokes State Forest
Buttermilk Falls, Stokes State Forest · 5 June 2016 · Nikon D5100 · Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX