Blueberry Overnight Oats

Blueberry overnight oats are nice and easy to make. Best of all, they are packed with antioxidants with all of the blueberries and chia seeds. Antioxidants help to keep you young as they repair damage done to the body by exposure to pollutants and illness-causing agents. Plus blueberries just taste good and go quite well with oatmeal. Chia seeds and Greek yogurt add some protein to help you feel full. The seeds and oatmeal in general are good for fiber. All of the flavors combined, between the almond milk, cinnamon, and vanilla, plus the creaminess of the Greek yogurt make this healthy breakfast quite a treat.


Ingredients for Blueberry Overnight Oats:

  • ⅓ cup old-fashioned oats
  • ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ⅓ cup plain almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • ½ tablespoon or honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ cup blueberries
  • 1 Mixing bowl

How to Make Blueberry Overnight Oats:

  1. Take a medium-sized mixing bowl and mix together the oats, chia seeds, yogurt, honey, and vanilla until everything is covered.
  2. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight or until it’s chilled.
  3. When ready to serve, spoon into a bowl.
  4. Top with blueberries and cinnamon.
  5. You could even add more yogurt on top of the oatmeal and put the blueberries on that.
  6. Enjoy!

My Top 10 Posts of 2018

I see bloggers do this a lot, listing their top posts of the previous year or even month. I’ve never felt like I had enough regular content to do so, but this year I do. I did have some very popular giveaways go up this year, but those aren’t going to count. Instead, we have a mix of mostly author interviews and a few cocktails. So enjoy this flashback over the year. I can’t wait to see what you all love to read in 2019!

#10 ~ Interview with Caiseal Mor, author of King of the Blind

Let’s kick off the countdown with an author interview. This is one of my longer interviews, but author Caiseal Mor is full of all kinds of interesting stories and has had many adventures in his life. One fascinating aspect to me is that he was diagnosed with severe autism when he was a kid. Immerse yourself in his world and his book in this Interview with Caiseal Mor, author of King of the Blind. There is a giveaway for a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card that runs until February 6, 2019.

#9 ~ Meet John Feldman, Author of Out of Hiding

If you’re a fan of mysteries and thrillers, be sure to check out Out of Hiding by John Feldman. You can get a sneak peek into it here, plus a bit of the story behind the story from the author. The giveaway ended back in May, but you’ll enjoy the rest of it. So Meet John Feldman, Author of Out of Hiding.

#8 ~ Interview with Madeleine Romeyer Dherbey, author of The Fortress

Historical fiction buffs, especially lovers of WWII history, are going to enjoy this story of the French Resistance. Author Madeleine Romeyer takes us behind the scenes of the book, plus an excerpt to enjoy. The giveaway associated with this one ended back in October, but you’ll still enjoy reading about the book. So enjoy the Interview with Madeleine Romeyer Dherbey, author of The Fortress.

#7 ~ 50 Printable Valentine’s Day Cards

Sometimes you just want to give your Valentine’s Day cards a more personal touch. Or maybe you find the ones in the stores to be a little bit corny and just not your style. Perhaps you just don’t need as many as are in the box or just don’t want extras lying around once you are done. No worries, here are 50 Printable Valentine’s Day Cards for you to make at home.

#6 ~ Meet P.D. Alleva, author of Twisted Tales of Deceit

Author P.D. Alleva is so passionate about his work. Last year I did an interview with him about his book Twisted Tales of Deceit, which is the first book in the Beyond the Chamber Door series. He dives in deep about the book, the series, and his other books and writing. Plus you can get to know a little bit more about him and what he does outside of writing. The giveaway associated with this one ended back in December 2018, but it’s still worth checking out. So Meet P.D. Alleva, author of Twisted Tales of Deceit.

#5 ~ 10 Things You Don’t Know About Author Peggy Jaeger

Contemporary romances are one of my favorite genres. Last year, Peggy Jaeger released Can’t Stand the Heat. Here she gives us 10 facts about herself, plus we get a sneak peek into the book. The associated giveaway ended back in April 2018, but it’s still an interesting read. Learn 10 Things You Don’t Know About Author Peggy Jaeger.

#4 ~ Meet Pamela Foland, author of the Megan’s World Series

I “met” Pamela Foland through the wonderful world of Fiverr when she wanted me to promote her books. We took it a step further and I later read the first books in the series, which I really liked a lot. And then I conducted an interview with her. Learn more about this series, plus some tips for petsitting at Meet Pamela Foland, author of the Megan’s World series and check them out!

#3 ~ Refresh Your Holiday Cocktails with a Peppermint Martini

The holiday season requires cocktails. Even better is when those cocktails have the flavor of the season. Peppermint martinis give a fun twist to this classic drink and actually taste pretty good. So Refresh Your Holiday Cocktails with a Peppermint Martini, or enjoy any time of year!

#2 ~ Meet Michael Jordan, author of The Company of Demons

The Company of Demons is a novel based on a true story, the unsolved Torso Murders, that even the infamous Eliot Ness couldn’t solve. Author Michael Jordan takes us into his process of writing this novel, plus gives us an excerpt to whet our appetites. I admit it also appeals to me because it takes place in my home state and the author lives not too far from where I grew up. But murder mysteries are always fascinating.

This one has a giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card associated with it that actually runs until February 27, 2019, so you can still enter it as of this writing. Check out Meet Michael Jordan, author of The Company of Demons.

#1 ~ 10 Purple Rain Cocktails – RIP Prince

2016 was a horrible year when it came to celebrity deaths. I felt like I was losing my childhood. When Prince died, I took it pretty hard and randomly decided to see if there were any Purple Rain cocktails. I wasn’t disappointed. So here is my best-performing post of 2018, and all time, 10 Purple Rain Cocktails.

What are you looking forward to reading in 2019?

#InstantPot Stuffed Poblano Pepper Soup

Stuffed peppers are so good. I’ve had them as a side dish and as a main dish. But how about in the Instant Pot as a soup? It’s tasty, it’s healthy, and it will warm you up from the inside out. So prepare to get spicy! It will take about 15 minutes to prep. Active cook time is 25-30 minutes, plus time to reach pressure and 10 minutes for the natural release. Serves four to six. Enjoy!

Continue reading “#InstantPot Stuffed Poblano Pepper Soup”

Champagne Cocktail Recipes for New Year’s Eve

The earth has gone around the sun one more time and we’re getting ready to party like it’s 1999 again. Or something like that. We all know that champagne is the beverage of choice for your New Year’s Eve celebration, but can’t we do more with it? Yes, you will likely toast to Auld Lang Syne at midnight and your couple of sips of plain champagne are appropriate for that. But the holiday calls for an excuse to try something different with your bubbly, and I’m not talking about mimosas. So check out these champagne cocktails and enjoy exciting your taste buds as your nose is tickled this New Year’s Eve.

Coconut Champagne Cocktail

Coconut is a super popular flavor and maybe not one that you would think of in the middle of winter. That makes it all the more necessary to serve as something a little different as a champagne cocktail for this New Year’s Eve celebration. To make coconut champagne cocktail, you just have to mix 2 ounces of plain coconut water with 1 ounce of vodka. Toss in about 7 grapes and add about an ounce of champagne, and you’ll have a festive and light drink to enjoy. Plus the grapes are fun to snack on.

St. Germain and Orange Champagne Cocktail

St. Germain is a liquor that came out in 2007 and quickly became an outrageously popular drink with people all over the world from the moment it hit shelves. It’s an elderflower liquor that is made by Bacardi. You can use it for a flavorful champagne cocktail to serve on New Year’s. Mix 1 ounce of St. Germain, 1½ ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice, ½ ounce of vodka, and 3 ounces of champagne for a new flavor to tempt your tastebuds this holiday.

Raspberry Champagne Cocktail

Raspberries make me happy and provide a great flavor for cocktails and drinks in general. The only things you need for this champagne cocktail are 1.5 ounces of high-quality vodka, 2 ounces of pineapple juice, ½ ounce of simple syrup or any other comparable sweetener, and 2 – 4 ounces of your favorite champagne. Top it off with raspberries for a festive finish!

Berry Rose’ Cocktail

This champagne cocktail is tasty and has a romantic feel. Berry Rose’ Cocktail is made by slicing berries of your choice into attractive pieces, commonly strawberries or blueberries, and adding them to your rose’ champagne.

Which champagne cocktails are you going to try this year? What are some other combinations you have tried and enjoyed?

Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Mocha Recipe

I love a great cup of hot coffee any day of the year, but especially when it is colder outside. Making it into a mocha makes it even better because then you have the fun flavors going on. And during the holiday season, I want to add in some cinnamon flavoring to feel more festive. So why not try a Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Mocha? There are a couple of ways to make it, and you can easily tweak it to fit your tastes and needs. The first one is easily made on the stovetop using instant coffee and is great all day long. The second version is made using your favorite coffee or espresso and my favorite way to kickstart the day.

Ingredients for an Instant Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Mocha:

  • 1 cup skim milk
  • 1 teaspoon instant coffee
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cinnamon stick

How to make an Instant Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Mocha on the stove:

  1. Pour the milk into a saucepan and place over medium heat.
  2. Add the coffee and cocoa.
  3. Stir in the sugar and salt.
  4. Continue stirring as the mixture heats up to help dissolve the cocoa.
  5. When the cocoa is dissolved add the vanilla extract.
  6. Stir to incorporate all the flavors together.
  7. Remove from the heat and pour into a mug and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

How to make a Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Mocha with fresh coffee

Okay, so maybe you would rather have more real coffee and that real coffee taste in your cinnamon-spiced hot mocha, with even more caffeine. Use your favorite method to brew a great cup of coffee, whether drip, French press, Keurig, or pour-over. Or make a shot of espresso if that is more your style. Follow the above directions for the milk to heat it, only obviously leaving out the instant coffee. If you prefer to steam your milk, do so, only stir the other ingredients into the coffee first. And then for both methods, pour your hot or steamed milk on top of the coffee and enjoy.

Cinnamon-spiced hot mocha in an orange mug with a cinnamon stick on a blue background with fall leaves
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