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Recipes

blender soups
Dec18

Easy Blender-Made Soups for Wintertime

Blog, Food and drink, Winter no responses

We always recommend bringing a blender when you travel to one of our vacation properties. That’s because there are so many recipes that can be made with this one simple tool. It’s easy to pack and endlessly diverse, whether you want to make dessert smoothies, creamy blender-made soups, or blended cocktails. An immersion blender is particularly easy to pack and works great for soups of all kinds.

As the weather dips in December, you and your family are probably craving something warm and rich to eat. Blenders are great for whipping together easy soups. Here are a few of our favourites:

1. Easy Carrot Soup

This uber-filling soup makes for a perfect winter dinner. Cut up 2-pounds of carrots and boil them with the other ingredients in full-fat coconut milk and water. After about 10-15 minutes of simmering, the carrots should be tender enough to blend. Poke them with a fork and insure the prongs go through easily before introducing the blender.

Curry paste and onion make up the base of this flavourful dish. Additionally, you can add in some cilantro, toasted almonds, or chile oil.

Get the full recipe here.

2. Tomato Basil Soup with Asiago

This twist on traditional tomato soup is a welcome chilly weather meal. You can use canned tomatoes for the base or boil and peel 3-pounds of fresh tomatoes for an even richer flavour. Though the recipe calls for chicken broth, you may substitute vegetable broth in order to make the recipe suitable for vegetarians.

The grated asiago cheese gives this dish some zest. Save a bit to sprinkle on top of each bowl directly before serving. You can also garnish with croutons if you choose!

Get the full recipe here.

3. Butternut Squash Soup

The most challenging part of this recipe is peeling the squash, removing the seeds, and quartering it all. If you don’t have time for this, you can use frozen or canned squash as a substitute. But fresh always tastes best! You will need 3 cups of squash and 1 peeled, decored, and cubed apple to make up the bulk of the soup.

You will want to saute some onion in butter while the squash and apple are steaming. Then, blend it all up with the rest of the ingredients and voila!

Get the full recipe here.

Stay Warm and Fill Up!

Hot, fresh, and quick blender-made soups are the perfect winter recipe. They are easy to make and can be adjusted to accommodate what you have on hand if you are in a rental suite and away from your kitchen.

Ask us about spring vacation rental bookings now to secure your first choice of luxury cottages before they book up. Or, sign up to our newsletter to watch for special deals. 

Healthy smoothies
Nov06

Immunity Boosting Healthy Smoothies for Cold Season

Blog, British Columbia, Food and drink, Okanagan, Vancouver Island no responses

As the weather goes down, so does our body’s natural immunity. Wintertime tends to mean: being indoors more, where germs travel more easily; a lower body temperature, making you vulnerable; and germs get tougher as the weather gets chillier. That’s why you should try to incorporate vitamins and minerals into your diet that boost immunity and help keep you healthy! Smoothies are an easy way to do this. Here are a few nutrient-rich healthy smoothies to get you started:

  1. Citrus Immunity Boosting Smoothie Recipe

Citrus fruits have a ton of vitamin C so this recipe is a perfect, healthy smoothie choice. The vitamin C in citrus fruits are also proven to slow aging and prevent cancer. Oranges and mangoes are the primary ingredients, which is great because mandarin oranges are in season. Lime juice and coconut water finish this recipe off. With no yogurt or milk, it is also low calorie.

Full recipe here.

  1. C-Blast Smoothie

Pink grapefruit, pineapple, and strawberries are all packed with vitamin C. Because most fruit is out of season, feel free to sub in frozen or canned varieties where applicable. This blend included half-a-cup of non-fat Greek yogurt, too, which makes it more filling—perfect for breakfast or a midday snack to tide you over until dinner.

Full recipe here.

  1. Immune Boosting Winter Citrus Smoothie

Mangos, turmeric, ginger, a pinch of cayenne, oranges make the base of this rich, delicious wintertime favorite smoothie. Try swapping in blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges, or mandarin oranges to change up the flavor a bit. You can even mix varieties in the same dish. This smoothie is perfect for winter blues, with plenty of vitamin C and antioxidants.

Full recipe here.

  1. Superfood Power-Up Smoothie Cups

This smoothie cup contains coconut milk, oatmeal, raw honey, chia seeds, vanilla, quinoa, as well as an assortment of spices that you can modify based on what you have on hand. We suggest using turmeric, which is known to help control blood pressure and boost your body’s natural restorative properties.

Full recipe here.

What are your favourite healthy smoothies for wintertime? Let us know in the comments. Want to tap into some sweet, sweet Okanagan produce for your healthy smoothie recipes? Book your summer vacation plans with us now at Breakaway Vacations. We book up fast!

Stay fed, stay healthy.

 

pumpkin baking
Oct09

Easy Pumpkin Recipes for October Travel Treats

Uncategorized no responses

Going away for the weekend doesn’t have to mean living off crusty gas station cookies when you get the inevitable sweet tooth. We believe that home baking can travel with you anywhere, which is why we’ve compiled this list of # pumpkin-themed baking recipes that are uber easy to make.

  1. Pumpkin Granola

Oats, pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin puree are the star or this granola dish. Plus, coconut oil, maple syrup, honey and brown sugar add all the sweetness you could possibly desire. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes to prepare and then another hour to bake, so consider making it the night before if you want a get-up-and-go treat first thing in the morning.

Full recipe on Tasty Kitchen.

  1. Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Pumpkin can be used in the main course, too. If you have some picky eaters in the family, try this pumpkin mac and cheese dish. No one can say no to mac and cheese! Other than the usual mac and cheese ingredients that you would expect, you will also want to pick up some pumpkin puree and ground nutmeg. This easy lunchtime treat takes just under an hour to make.

Full recipe on The Bossy Kitchen.

  1. Easy Pumpkin Spice Muffins

This recipe takes only 45 minutes to complete with minor prep time of about 10 minutes. A perfect afternoon craft! You also get about 18 muffins out of it, making it perfect to share with friends or family. All you need is pumpkin spice cake mix (or similar cake mix of your choosing), pumpkin puree, cinnamon chips, and chopped pecans. Makes a perfect dessert!

Full recipe on AllRecipes.

  1. Pumpkin Smoothie

If you’re a fan of pumpkin spice lattes, you might want to try this pumpkin smoothie. Pumpkin puree, Greek yogurt, apple cider, milk, maple syrup, and pumpkin-pie spice to taste. Pumpkin smoothies are great for a midday snack or even a quick breakfast. Don’t forget to pack your personal (1 serving) blender so that you can make smoothies on the go, no matter where you are. We highly recommend it.

Full recipe on Express Life.

Need somewhere to stay for a quick week/end getaway this Fall season? Contact us to learn about one of our many vacation rental properties, from cottages to larger group facilities.

 

 

Baking with the kids
Feb03

Baking with the Kids: 5 Easy Recipes for the Whole Family!

Blog no responses

Whether you are vacationing together or just enjoying some downtime at home, baking with the kids is a great family activity. It’s easy, fun, and the end result is having a bunch of sweet treats to share. These recipes are so easy that all ages can participate, so it’s great family time fun.

  1. Microwave Fudge

All the tools you need for this one is an 8X8 glass pan, a microwave-safe bowl, and a microwave. Melt the chocolate chips into the condensed milk and butter in the microwave in a bowl. Cook them for 2-3 minutes, checking every minute and stirring as needed. Add vanilla and salt. Stir well. Then pour into the pan and chill for 2-3 hours. Bonus fun: The kids can lick the bowl clean because there are no raw eggs in this recipe!

Full recipe: Microwave fudge by SheKnows

  1. Eggo S’mores

For a fun twist on a classic, use mini Eggo waffles instead of graham crackers when making s’mores. If you can’t find mini waffles, you can get regular toaster waffles and cut them into 4 pieces. You can also try flavored waffles, like cinnamon sugar or blueberry, for some added flavor. Melt marshmallow and chocolate between two mini waffles and then brush the waffle tops with melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar.

Full recipe: Eggo S’mores by Delish

  1. Easy Cornflake Tart

For these, you can make your own tart shells or buy them pre-made. If you decide to make the pastry from scratch, you will need 320g of ready-rolled shortcrust pastry. Melt butter in a pan with syrup, sugar and a pinch of salt. Fold the Cornflakes into this mixture. Put jam in the tart shells and then fill with the Cornflakes mixture. Bake for 5 minutes. Let cool and serve with custard. Baking with the kids has never been so simple!

Full recipe: Easy Cornflakes Tarts by BBC Good Food

  1. Slow Cooker Gooey Brownie Cake

We recommend that all of our guests pack a slow cooker. A single kitchen item can be used for all sorts of meals  and even desserts. This slow cooker brownie cake is a perfect set-it-and-forget-it treat. Line the slow cooker with foil and butter the foil. Whisk together melted butter, sugar, cocoa powder, flour, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Fold in some chocolate chunks. Pour the mixture into the cooker and leave it on low for 3 hours.

Full recipe: Slow Cooker Gooey Brownie Cake by Food Network

  1. Easy Gluten-Free Shortcake

Here is an easy gluten-free baking idea for those who have food sensitives or anyone who might be health conscious. Preheat the oven to 450. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together. Beat cream and eggs together in a different bowl. Then, mix the wet and dry bowls together. Make 1 1/2-ounce balls, place them on a baking sheet, and flatten each. Brush the raw cookies with cream and dust with some coarse white sparkling sugar. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes.

Full recipe: Easy Gluten-Free Shortcake by King Arthur Flour

Baking with the kids while on vacation is a perfect leisure family activity, especially when the recipes are this easy. Put aside a day of a long weekend just for baking and try out one or two of these tasty treats. Then you’ll have snacks to pack with you for the rest of your trip.

If you are looking for other easy family meals check out these Slowcooker Recipes that are great for easy cottage cooking!

Slowcooker
Jan20

Slowcooker Recipes for Winter Vacation Comfort

Blog no responses

4 Easy Slowcooker Recipes for Wintertime Vacation Comfort

The last thing you want to do on any vacation is spend a ton of time cooking and cleaning. That’s why slowcookers are so perfect. They are an easy set-it-and-leave-it meal that only dirties a single pot. Plus, they can feed plenty of guests if you are hosting a family event.

For winter vacations, like a Christmas get-together or group ski trip, you are going to want most of your meals to be steaming hot. There’s nothing better than a warm bowl of stew on a beautiful snowy winter day. Here are a few easy slowcooker recipes that you can bring with you on your snowy wonderland travels.

  1. Loaded Sweet Potato by the Lean Green Bean

For this recipe, cut the potatoes in half and lay it on a piece of tinfoil. Then, load it with your favorite vegetable, grain, and meat toppings. Add cumin and grated cheese. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. When finished, you can add refrigerated toppings like tomatoes, avocado, salsa, lettuce, sour cream, et cetera, as desired.

Check out the full recipe here: Loaded Sweet Potato.

  1. Slowcooker Steel-Cut Oats by AllRecpies

To make quick and easy steel-cut oats in a slowcooker, just add 2 cups of water, 1 cup of milk, and 1 cup of steel-cut oats. Then, add fruit, butter, or spices as you see fit. This recipe suggests apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and a bit of salt. Cook it for 8 hours (so you will want to start it the evening before) and then you have a ready-to-go warm breakfast.

Check out the full recipe here: Slowcooker Steel-Cut Oats.

  1. Slowcooker Chicken Breast with Gravy by Dinner at the Zoo

Place 6 raw (not frozen) chicken breasts into the slowcooker. The broth is made with olive oil, chicken broth, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and garlic. You then have the option to cook the meal on low for 4-5 hours or high to 2-3 hours. Once done, you can set the chicken aside and boil the broth with cornstarch and 1/4 cup of cold water for about a minute to make the gravy.

Check out the full recipe here: Slowcooker Chicken Breast.

  1. Hearty Pork Bean Soup by Taste of Home

This full recipe makes about 12 servings so you can half it if you are feeding less people. Soak the beans overnight and rinse them the next day. Then, layer the beans, vegetables, and pork into the slowcooker. Add seasonings, broth, and pale ale. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred the pork, add the tomatoes, spinach, and salt, and then cook for another 20 minutes.

Check out the full recipe here: Hearty Pork Bean Soup.

Those are a few simple, fun, and delicious slowcooker recipes for you and your loved ones to enjoy this holiday season. They are perfect for any occasion and sure to bring some holiday cheer.

Check out our cozy cottages here, and don’t forget to pack your slowcooker!