1-888-226-5566
rentals@lacasacottageresort.com

fruit

pumpkin baking
Oct09

Easy Pumpkin Recipes for October Travel Treats

Blog, Recipes, Smoothies 0 comments

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.

okanagan fruit jam
Apr15

Cooking with Fresh Okanagan Fruit

Blog, The Okanagan 0 comments

Cooking with Fresh Okanagan Fruit

The Okanagan is renowned for its wine and fruits – so what happens at the end of the season when you have a surplus of all this amazing fresh fruit? You certainly don’t want to let all that deliciousness go to waste! Did you know that there are a number of things you can make with fresh Okanagan fruit?

  • Jam

When you think about berries, and fruit surplus, Jam is probably the first thing most people think to make. All kinds of berries, apples, apricots, peaches, pears, and cherries are used to make the best jams – and what a way to make your breakfast rich in flavor. 

  • Fruit spread

Spreads are similar to jam but have a lower sugar content. So, if you’re looking to curb the sweets this is a great option. Besides, most fruit is naturally quite sweet already!

  • Fruit syrup

Not only a delicious topping for your pancakes and waffles, but also amazing for drizzling over crepes, ice cream or cheesecake. 

  • Fruit jelly candies

If you’re looking to get a bit more adventurous with your cooking try making fruit candies! Made from fruit purees, you can serve these as is or covered with a light berry sugar.

  • Fruit leather snacks

Fruit leather snacks are a great lunch box addition! This delicious treat is all-natural and made from a mixture of fruit purees, with no added sugar.

And here’s a note about Apple Trees..

We all know that apples have a tendency to turn brown but have you ever wondered WHY this happens? 

There are two types of browning in apples: primary (or enzymatic) browning and secondary browning. Secondary browning generally refers to rot.

Primary browning in apples takes place when the fruit’s phenolic compounds react with oxygen. This oxidation process is driven by an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO). When an apple’s cells are ruptured – by bruising, biting, or cutting – the browning reaction begins when PPO found in one part of the cell is able to react with phenolic compounds found elsewhere in the cell.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF) holds an exclusive worldwide license to technology for regulating expression of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes to control enzymatic browning in tree fruits. Using this technology, their expert science team was able to put PPO-regulation into practice in apples. And, while they have initially utilized this technique to develop nonbrowning Arctic® apples, reducing the expression of PPO in other fruits offers the potential for nonbrowning varieties of all kinds!

 

Interested in Okanagan fruit? Summer and early Fall are the best times to visit – and now is the perfect time to book your stay!

Be sure to check out our website to see our great selection of cottages! 

 

Written by Natsumi Matsumoto

 

Okanagan Apples Recipe
Nov20

Spice up your cooking with Okanagan Apples

Blog, Recipes 0 comments

Spice up your cooking with Okanagan Apples

 

There are so many varieties of apples grown in the Okanagan, we thought we would look at interesting ways to use them in your home-cooking. Apples are harvested in September – late October in the Okanagan, but we all know that apples are a fruit that’s available all year round! Here is the perfect menu to satisfy all your apple-loving needs.

1. Appetizer: Apple Chutney.

Melt butter, add some onions or shallots, throw in some spices and/or vinegar, and stew those apples. Simmer everything, leave in the fridge until it’s cooled down and you’ll get a nice chunky chutney! Tip: you can add sugar or chili to adjust whether the dish is sweet or spicy. We’ve found this yummy recipe for Apple Chutney Stuffed Pork Chops  to start you off – we absolutely love it!

2. Entrée: Apple & Prosciutto Pizza.

Why not add apple to your pizza for a sweet taste? Get your favourite pizza base then add green onions, sour cream, thin apple slices and sliced prosciutto! Check out this mouthwatering recipe from thekitchn.com: Spelt Crust Pizza with Fennel, Prosciutto, and Apple – it even talks you through how to make your own spelt crust, if you’ve got the time to experiment with the dough!

3. Dessert: Baked Apples with Oatmeal.

Baking apples is one of the easiest, tastiest desserts to make! Though it does take a while for the apples to bake in the oven, it involves little preparation. All you need to do is core the apple so that there is a big hole in the middle. Fill this with your favourite oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter and bake until apples are soft! The filling will bubble over the edges. Have fun and read this Baked Apples with Oatmeal Filling for some inspiration!

What do you think? Will you be making any of these fabulous recipes? Got a favourite that we haven’t listed here- let us know! We are always on the lookout for our guests’ recommendations! Check out our other recipe suggestions here. 

 

Written by Hannah Poaros

okanagan fruit
Aug07

Where to pick your own Okanagan fruit

Blog, British Columbia, The Okanagan 0 comments

Where to pick your own Okanagan fruit 

Everyone knows that the Okanagan region throws up some delicious fresh fruits.  Why wouldn’t it? With all its hours of sunshine, it’s got the perfect climate for fruit to grow.  The season generally begins in June and ends around September with the ripening of the apples.  Instead of grabbing the local produce from the grocery store, why not make a day of it and take the family out to a Pick-your-own farm?

Here’s a round-up of the best places to do this across the region:

  • Kempf Orchards – This is a beautiful family-friendly cherry-picking orchard. Be sure to check on their website which fruits are currently available as some varieties sell out fast. If you’re tired of picking cherries, they also sell pre-picked apricots and peaches – all ready to go in that fruit salad you’re making…
  • Caldwell Heritage Farm – Caldwell Heritage Farm is a favourite among all ages. Why not make friends with the animals, pick some fruit, help grow vegetables and then take a stroll past tractors, trucks and other historical agricultural items? What a perfect afternoon in the countryside.
  • Sun City Cherries Ltd. – Your go-to for fresh fruits, homemade jams and honey! They specialize in cherries though, so be sure to swing by and try some.
  • Paynters Fruit Market – What a gem this fruit market is! You have the option to pick your own cherries, apricots, peaches, plums and pears. There’s nothing like eating a peach straight off the tree; biting into the juicy flesh whilst baking in the Okanagan sun.   Enjoy the fruit picking experience and treat yourself to an ice cream at the end.
  • Arndt Orchards – Another gorgeous cherry-picking farm in Kelowna! They also accept cherry picking orders for pick-up if you’re on a time limit and don’t have time to do the work yourself.

You also might want to check out:

  • Function Junction Fruit Stand – Open 7 days a week in the summer, Function Junction Fruit Stand is a must-do. They are known for their plump blackberries – they’ll be great on their own, as a conserve or as a cheesecake topping! Not only this but Function Junction also produces 100% pure apple juice as well as four fruit iced ciders. You can taste these in the tasting room just beside the fruit stand… Let us know which one is your favourite.  Will it be the Fuji Iced Cider or the Pear Iced Cider? It’s a hard call!
  • Gambell Farms – Gambell Farms is all for the healthy lifestyle and encourages you to try their high-quality produce. There is a large variety of fresh goods grown here, so you’ll probably be able to find all the veggies on your shopping list.  Try one of their fruit pies – sure to be extra tasty.
  • Duggan Farms – This local farm has a wide range of fruit AND vegetables that you can pick. Culinary herbs are also available seasonally.  Get all your salad ingredients here!

 okanagan fruit

Remember:  Contact the farms first before planning a visit – sometimes they sell out of fruit, or harvests of certain varieties are delayed! 

 

Written by Hannah Poaros

Strawberry Smoothie
Jan11

Refreshing Strawberry Smoothie When in the Okanagan

Blog 0 comments

Smoothies are an easy and delicious way to help you stick to your New Years Resolutions while on family vacation in the Okanagan!

They can be made in just minutes, and they give you a great energy boost, at any time of day!

Below is a Strawberry Smoothie recipe we like – but one of the greatest things about smoothies is that they are oh so adaptable!  So think of this more as a guide, and get blending!

Continue reading