Blog

Jan25

Nothing is better then the smell of a freshly brewed coffee, birds chirping, bacon sizzling and family laughter dancing through the house. During your stay with us we want you to be as comfortable as possible, skip the meal planning we have already done that for you. Giving you extra time to enjoy that coffee and time with your loved ones.

Clementine Sunshine Smoothie

This deliciously fresh, citrus smoothie will kick start your day and energize you for the adventures to come around the beautiful land surrounding La Casa!

  • 4 clementines, preferably chilled
  • ½ cup ice
  • ¼ cup yogurt or almond milk (plain or vanilla flavors work)
  • Tiny dash sea salt

Savoury Breakfast Bowl

Bring your favourite breakfast bowl from the cafe of your dreams to reality with this delicious recipe.

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • 2 cups spinach
  • ½ cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
  • ¼ avocado, sliced
  • ½ cup Everything Bagel Potatoes
  • 1 to 2 eggs (fried, scrambled, soft boiled, whatever your preference)
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Sprinkle of feta cheese or nutritional yeast, optional
  • Fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, or basil, if desired
  • Hot sauce or salsa, optional

Baked Sweet Potato Egg Cups

  • Olive oil spray
  • 2 1/2 cups peeled and grated, on large holes sweet potatoes (about 1 8-ounce potato)
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste,
  • 1 ounce finely grated Pecorino cheese, 2 teaspoons reserved
  • 6 large eggs

Apple Dutch Baby

  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ cup milk
  • 6 tablespoons salted butterdivided
  • 1 applepeeled and thinly sliced
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamonoptional
  • powdered sugarfor serving, optional
Jan01

2023 new year, new me… maybe not but why not a few new recipes to start us off?

Charred Cabbage Skillet Gratin

This recipe has us drooling! The perfect combination of healthy vegetables with a kick of blue cheese and of course bacon.

  • 1 Savoy or green cabbage
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1 large leek
  • 1/2 cup  walnuts
  • 1 small bunch thyme
  • 4 slices thick-cut bacon (about 5 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 ounce blue cheese crumbled apox 1/2 cup

The easiest Skillet Mac

Simple yet delicious, great for those Sundays in during your stay at Breakaway Vacation Homes

  • Kosher salt 1 (11 to 14-ounce) box deluxe macaroni and cheese with cheese sauce (not cheese powder)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can chili
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Pork and Broccoli Rice Bowls

Why not add some new flavours to your 2023 pallet

  • 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil, divided
  • 2 boneless pork loin cutlets (about 12 ounces total), cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups broccoli florets (about 1 small head of broccoli) or Broccolini
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Cooked rice, for serving

Our locations come with all of the simple cooking necessities to support you during your stay. Happy Cooking!

Dec14

Nothing says holidays like over indulging in cookies, or coming home to the smell of freshly baked cookies. Treat yourself this year.. literally!

Our home away from home offer beautiful kitchens that are ready to be baked in, stop by the store for a few ingredients and you are ready to bake. At Breakaway Vacation homes the smell of your freshly baked cookies will linger throughout your stay and bring joy and happiness to your stay. Celebrate the holiday with us this year, we offer houses ranging from sizes at 3 locations including Tanglewood, Qualicum Landing, and Otter Bay – book now and relax later!

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
¼ cup molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup coarse sugar or granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
¼ cup vegetable oil
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar (for the coating)
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
⅔ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
⅓ cup jam, raspberry or strawberry
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1-2 tablespoons almond milk
Dec09

You have arrived at your destination and packed your bags inside your cozy cottage and your vacation has begun your stomach begins to grumble and at last it comes time to utilize your large kitchen that is equipped with most the supplies you need, now what to cook? You are reading the perfect blog for you with some of our favourite home cooked meals to make your stay extra memorable from the kitchen outwards.

Turkey Biscuit Stew – a delicious dish to keep your warm and utilize that leftover turkey

  • ⅓ cup chopped onion
  • ¼ cup butter, cubed
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 can (10-½ ounces) condensed chicken broth, undiluted
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 2 cups cubed cooked turkey
  • 1 cup cooked peas
  • 1 cup cooked, sliced carrots
  • 1 tube (10 ounces) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, not flaky

Creamy Chicken Piccata

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 5 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 ¼ cups chicken stock
  • ¼ cup dry white wine
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • ¼ cup capers, drained

Easy Red Lentil Dal Recipe – super simple and ingredients you will have in your pantry

  • red lentils- which are cost effective, shelf stable, and a staple in our pantry
  • Spices – curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, cumin, ground coriander and salt
  • Aromatics – finely chopped onion, minced garlic and finely grated ginger
  • tomatoes- one 15 oz can (juices included)
  • stock- vegetable stock for vegetarians, homemade bone broth if you are not. Using stock infuses even more flavor into the lentils as they cook!
Nov21

We are counting down the days till the Winterfest Craft Fair at Qualicum Beach! 50+ Crafters, Artisans and in between will be attending the Winterfest the list of vendors can be found here. While you are checking out all of the vendors there will be 7 types stage entertainment from Highland dance, bands and live music.

Admission price is $4 per person – come and go as you please!

Not only will you be supporting local while shopping at the Winterfest Craft Fair event you will also be donating to local community groups. From the beginning  of 2012 they have raise $24,108 for local community groups!

Last year they were able to raise $3,323 which was split to the following community groups. Sourced from Winterfest Website

Bikers Against Child Abuse $447,    Oceanside Hospice $408,
Qualicum Beach Cat Resue $237,    Haven Society $1060,
Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs $427,    North Island Wildlife Rescue Ass. $408,
Ballenus Track Rebuild, $200     Building Learning Together $127.

Get to know the community while staying on the property and enjoy the local talent that Qualicum and surrounding area brings.

Where: Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, 747 Jones Street

When: November 25th – 27th

Friday 9am – 5pm

Saturday 9am – 5pm

Sunday 10am – 4pm

Nov03

Did you know that two billion pounds of pumpkin ends up in landfills worldwide each year? Are you looking to dispose of your pumpkin differently so it does not land in the landfill this year?

Here are a few ways you can dispose of your pumpkin:

  1. If you pumpkin is bare with no candle residue, paint, marker etc pumpkins are a great snack for wildlife to enjoy. On your next hike bring your pumpkin cut into pieces and dispose it into the bush off the path and out of the way of other hikers. If animals decide to pass on enjoying this snack not to worry pumpkins are 90% water so they will decompose into the earth.
  2. Compost your pumpkin and reuse the dirt for your garden in the upcoming years!
  3. Create a “snack-o-lantern” for the birds around your neighbourhood follow this craft here
  4. Plant the pumpkin seeds to see if you are able to grow your own pumpkins next year!
  5. If your pumpkin was freshly carved and no mould or decomposing has taken place you are able to make a long list of recipes from the pumpkins “meat” aka the inside of the pumpkin!
  6. Reach out to local farmers and see if their pigs, chickens or goats would enjoy your pumpkin as an afternoon snack!

A few recipes you can try are:

  1. Pumpkin Pie
  2. Vegan Pumpkin Soup
  3. Pumpkin Spice Latte
  4. Pumpkin Based Vegetable Stock
  5. Pumpkin Bread
Oct23

Fall has fallen upon us and we found some of the most delicious fall recipes for you try during your stay with us!

Busy day ahead and no time to cook? Not to worry – toss all ingredients into the slow cooker and be prepared for the delicious smells once you arrive back at the Breakaway Properties!

You will need to pick up the following ingredients to make this delicious Slow-Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Soup!

  • Butternut Squash
  • “no-chicken” broth or vegetable broth
  • Onion
  • Curry powder
  • Salt
  • Garlic powder
  • Coconut Milk
  • Lime
  • Cilantro

Do you have a extra pumpkin laying around inspiring you to make a special dish for Halloween..? Look no further this Cheesy Pumpkin Lasagna is a must try!

You will need to pick up the following ingredients to make this delicious Cheesy Pumpkin Lasagna!

  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Cider vinegar
  • Dried sage
  • Cans pumpkin purée
  • Maple syrup
  • Freshly grated nutmeg
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Shredded mozzarella
  • Shredded Fontina
  • Egg
  • Box no-boil lasagna noodles
  • Cooking Spray

Halloween birthday upon you? Try these festive cupcakes this year!

You will need to pick up the following ingredients to make these Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes!

  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Ground nutmeg
  • Ground cloves
  • Ground ginger
  • White sugar
  • Ground allspice
  • Teaspoon salt
  • Brown sugar
  • Butter
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Pumpkin puree
  • Baking soda
  • Ground cinnamon

Icing:

  • Cream Cheese
  • Butter
  • Confectioners Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Ground cinnamon
Oct15

Have you had the opportunity to indulge in local ingredients and produce? The Qualicum Beach Farmers Market is a must add to your list when looking for local, fresh ingredients. Hosted year round every Saturday from 8:30am-noon.

A few common asked questions from the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market website attached below:

  • Are Dogs Allowed? No – The friends of  Qualicum Beach Farmers Market love the fur babies but ask for them to stay at home for the market trips!
  • What is in season? Check out the in season diagram here!
  • Is there food at the market? Yes
  • Are there washrooms? Yes – located outside the Community Hall
  • Where do I park? – In the church behind the market there is parking offered during the market.
  • Where is the Market? 644 Veterans Way, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1L8

There are so many vendors who frequently are at the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market from produce, eggs, baked goods, and crafts just to name a few. To view the entire vendor list check out the website here.

Happy Shopping and don’t forget your reusable bag!

Sep01

Surfing Tips!

Have you ever gone surfing and caught the biggest wave? Whether or not you are a seasoned surfer or first time catching a wave we have a few tips for you as you set out on your way.

Here are some hot tips provided by Surfer Today!

1. Learn to Pick the Right Wave

2. Fine-Tune the Position on the Peak

3. Eye Your Target

4. Keep a Low Center of Gravity

5. Paddle With Nearly-Closed Fingers

6. Check the Time Period Between Waves

7. Adjust Your Feet While Riding the Wave

8. Set One Goal and Improve It

9. Manage the Wave Face Timing

10. Watch Wave Videos in Slow Motion

11. Analyze Your Mistakes

12. Broaden the Working Area on the Wave Face

13. Pick the Right Surfboard for the Right Wave

14. Focus on Rail-to-Rail Surfing

15. Learn How Waves Are Formed

Most importantly Breakaway Vacation reminds you, and your family to have fun!

Aug25

Looking for a delicious quick snack to enjoy during your vacation, but you can’t choose what? Look no further we are here to support you and all snacking ideas!

Guacamole and Chips Recipe: Depending on how much Guacamole you would like you can double or triple this recipe!

  • 2-3 Avocados
  • 1 lime or lemon
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic
  • 1 tsp of salt
  • 1/2 cup of diced onion
  • 2-3 tomato’s diced
  • jalapeno a lot or none (if you like spice add about a tablespoon thinly cut)
  1. Peel avocados and mash to your preference of chunky or smooth
  2. Dice onion, tomato and jalapeno if you want to add a little spice
  3. Mince Garlic or use garlic press
  4. Add all ingredients to a medium bowl mix and add lime/lemon and salt to taste
  5. Match with your favourite chip and enjoy!

Pina Colada Dip – found here!

  • 1-1/4 cups cold 2% milk
  • 3/4 cup pineapple yogurt
  • 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant coconut cream pudding mix
  • 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • Optional: Toasted unsweetened coconut flakes and maraschino cherries
  • Fresh pineapple wedges
  • Vanilla wafers
  1. In a large bowl, whisk milk, yogurt and pudding mix 2 minutes (mixture will be thick). Fold in whipped topping. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours.
  2. If desired, top with coconut and cherries before serving. Serve with pineapple and wafers.

Coconut, Lime, and Pistachio Cookies – found here!

  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 4 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant coconut cream pudding mix
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup pistachios, chopped
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 large egg white, room temperature
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest
  1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and lime juice. In another bowl, whisk flour, pudding mix, baking soda and baking powder; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in pistachios and dried cranberries. With clean beaters, beat egg white on medium speed until thick and foamy; stir in coconut.
  2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Top with coconut mixture. Bake until until edges begin to brown, 10-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Sprinkle with lime zest. Store in airtight containers.

Jalapeno Popper Dip – found here!

  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
  • 1 can (4 ounces) diced jalapeno peppers
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Sliced green onions, optional
  • Corn chips, tortilla chips or assorted crackers
  1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar, chilies, peppers and 1/4 cup Parmesan until blended. Spoon into an ungreased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, oil and remaining Parmesan. Sprinkle over cheese mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 min. or until golden brown. Sprinkle with green onions, if desired. Serve with chips or crackers.

Roasted Beetroot and Garlic Hummus – found here!

  • 3 fresh medium beets (about 1 pound)
  • 1 whole garlic bulb
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper, divided
  • 1 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
  • 1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, optional
  • Minced fresh dill weed or parsley
  • Assorted fresh vegetables
  • Sliced or torn pita bread
  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Pierce beets with a fork; place in a microwave-safe bowl and cover loosely. Microwave beets on high for 4 minutes, stirring halfway. Cool slightly. Wrap beets in individual foil packets.
  2. Remove papery outer skin from garlic bulb, but do not peel or separate cloves. Cut in half crosswise. Sprinkle halves with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil. Wrap in individual foil packets. Roast beets and garlic until cloves are soft, about 45 minutes.
  3. Remove from oven; unwrap. Rinse beets with cold water; peel when cool enough to handle. Squeeze garlic from skins. Place beets and garlic in a food processor. Add garbanzo beans, lemon juice, tahini, cumin, cayenne pepper and remaining olive oil, salt and ground pepper. Process until smooth.
  4. If desired, pulse 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt with beet mixture, dolloping remaining yogurt over finished hummus. Sprinkle with dill or parsley. Serve with assorted vegetables and pita bread.

Enjoy your summer snacks!