Smoothies

Healthy Smoothies
Nov06

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 smoothie recipes 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 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.

Want to tap into some sweet, sweet Okanagan produce for your healthy smoothie recipes? Book your summer vacation plans with us now at La Casa Cottage Resort.

Stay fed, stay healthy.

 

pumpkin baking
Oct09

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 4 pumpkin-themed baking recipes that are uber easy to make. Bake and pack them beforehand…or, stay in one of our luxury vacation homes with a full kitchen suite.

  1. Pumpkin Granola

Oats, pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin puree are the star of 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.

Smoothie bowl
Sep04

It’s September now, which means back to school! You had time for sleeping in and slow brunches all summer…but now it’s time to hustle! As soon as that alarm clock rings, you’ll need to start thinking about what you can prepare quickly and easily day-after-day.

That’s why we love breakfast smoothie bowls. It doesn’t hurt that you can use fresh Okanagan fruit from the local markets, too. Here are a few super easy recipes to make before school or work.

Berry Breakfast Smoothie Bowl

This one takes only 5 minutes to prepare. Super easy! You’ll need a blender but a small, personal blender or immersion blender works if you don’t have a full-sized one with you. The only ingredients you need are frozen banana and frozen berries, a milk or milk substitute, and some protein powder (optional). Eat it as is or sprinkle on some topping, like sliced fresh fruit, chia seeds, coconut, or whatever else you want!

Try it here: Minimalist Baker.

Strawberry-Banana Smoothie Bowl

This one is paleo and vegan friendly, though you can add dairy milk if you prefer. Strawberries and a banana or two make up the base of the smoothie and unsweetened coconut milk keep it smooth and creamy. You can use fresh in-season fruit or frozen fruit, whatever you desire.

Top it with dried fruit, like banana chips, and granola to add some special crunch. Once it’s in the bowl, you can decorate it however you please. If you want extra fruit, nuts, or seeds on top—go for it!

Try it here: Bakerita.

The Enlighten Smoothie Bowl

The original recipe is vegan so this one is great for lactose intolerant individuals or those who don’t consume animal products. The base is made with a few iced cubes, a frozen berry blend, and ½-1 banana, depending on what you prefer. A bit of peanut butter gives some added protein. You can substitute peanut butter for protein powder but make sure to add a bit of water, too, to keep things smooth.

Decorate the top of the bowl as you see fit: almonds, hemp hearts, cacao nibs, nut butter, currants or raisins, or kiwi slices!

Try it here: The Simple Veganista.

Green Breakfast Smoothie Bowl

This smoothie starts out with a healthy dose of mango, pineapple, avocado, and spinach. The avocado and spinach are the “greens” in this recipe but most of the flavor comes from the fresh fruit so you don’t have to worry about feeling like you are drinking salad for breakfast. Use coconut milk or almond milk to keep everything blending smoothly.

Add flax seeds to the mix if you have them but they are more for nutrients than flavor so it’s okay if you don’t have any on hand. Granola and a drizzle of honey make a great topper for this one.

Try it here: Natasha’s Kitchen.

Need to slow things down after the back to school rush? Try a lovely weekend away in one of our vacation properties. Contact us for details and availability options.

Kale Green Smoothie
Mar12

5 Kale Smoothie Combinations for you to try

Kale is in season in the Okanagan so head down to your local grocery store and pick up some beautiful fresh produce! When most people think of kale, they picture horrible green drinks that taste of vegetables.  However kale can be made delicious when added with the right ingredients. It is extremely good for you and health-conscious individuals love it because of the low calorie count, zero fat and high levels of fibre.

Kale Smoothie Recipes
Why not try one of these combinations?

These high energy smoothies are the perfect way to kickstart your body – let us know which is your favourite! We are sure that you’ll agree with us when we say that these are way better than eating kale on its own…

Fancy drinking these smoothies on your own patio next to a turquoise swimming pool with the Okanagan sun burning down on you?  If this image sounds ideal, contact us today to book your summer vacation at La Casa Cottages – we would love to have you here!

 

Written by Hannah Poaros

Feb20

Cool down and fuel up with this creamy and delicious shake!

Need a healthy, satisfying boost to make it till the next meal, want a dessert you don’t need to feel guilty about or just craving a little chocolate in your day? This thick and creamy smoothie is bursting with healthy fats, omega 3s and potassium. Tip, want more protein or don’t have any cacao handy? Try a scoop of vegan or whey chocolate protein powder! Continue reading