Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Wishing all a Merry Christmas!


I know we showed this same picture at Christmas last year but the ones I took yesterday were identical, right down to the decorations in the urn. Same blue sky, sunny day and green field. 

While we did have some extremely early and unseasonable weather a couple of weeks ago, it's gone now. I know a white Christmas is desired by some but we are hoping it stays away. Warmer temperatures and green fields are always welcome! 






Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Autumn Harvest


Butternut Squash

Our pumpkins, squash and apples grew well this year! We have large orchards of Gala and MacIntosh apples and a few large red delicious apple trees. The apple gleaning charity came and picked over 20 large (3' x 3') apple crates full of apples this year! 

Another charity came and took what remained of the garden, all of the pumpkins, squash and cucumbers that were left. Our guests took what they wanted first, of course. We grow all that we do for our RV guests and let the charities come and take what is left. 

Next year we won't grow quite so many pumpkins. We hope to be growing green and yellow beans, cucumbers, peas, cherry tomatoes and midget melons for the guests on the fence with the grapes, in addition to squash and pumpkins in the garden.  



Sweet Dumpling Squash
We have a "pick and eat" policy here. Those guests who are actually staying here are allowed to pick and eat for immediate use. It's like living in the Garden of Eden! We have cheap rates for those who also want to take boxes of produce with them or for family, friends and local residents, when it is available.

In addition to what we grow for our guests, the long term renters will get a garden plot of their own next year! 




Below are a few recipes to help you use all the squash and pumpkins that you grew and/or bought this year. For the most part, winter squash is interchangeable with pumpkin in baking and is so much better than canned! 


Pumpkin/Squash Pie

1 1/2 cup squash,cooked, mashed and unseasoned
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 eggs
2 teaspoon all purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon mace
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk

Mix all dry ingredients together. Add squash. Beat eggs in another bowl and add milk to eggs, then add to squash mixture. Pour into an unbaked pastry lined pan. Bake at 350F until firm in center, about 1 hour

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Pumpkin/Squash Dumplings
2 cups cooked squash
3 egg yolks
1.5 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch of black pepper

Add egg yolks to cooked and mashed squash and mix well. Add the flour to the squash and mix well. Bring salted water to the boil and then gently drop several tablespoonfuls of the dough mixture into the water, stock, soup or stew. Be careful not to crowd the pot. The dumplings will float to the surface when they're done.


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Pumpkin/Squash Loaf

3 cups sugar
4 eggs beaten
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2/3 cup water
3 1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon allspice or 1/2 tsp mace
1 cup oil
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 1/2 cup squash, cooked, mashed and unseasoned
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat oven to 350F, grease 3 loaf pans. Mix sugar, oil and eggs. Add squash. Sift together all dry ingredients and add to squash mixture. Add water and pour into pans. Bake 1 hour.

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Pumpkin/Squash Soup

2 pounds uncooked squash
1.5 pints of stock, chicken or vegetable (can be made with bouillon)
Onion: 1 medium, diced Garlic: 1 crushed clove
Cream to add before serving, amount is optional
Salt and pepper to taste.
Sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon: (optional)

In a large saucepan, slice and saute the garlic and onion in oil or butter until tender. Add squash, stock, nutmeg or cinnamon, salt and pepper. Boil and cook for 25 mins until squash is tender. Puree mixture with a blender until smooth and return to saucepan. Before serving, add cream and gently heat. Do not boil.

*Stock amount can be changed, depending on how thick or thin you want your soup.

**Add thick applesauce for a special taste treat.


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Pumpkin/Squash Muffins
1 cup squash, cooked and mashed
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon mace

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease muffin tin or use papers. Mix together squash, eggs, oil and corn syrup in large bowl. Stir until well mixed. Stir all other dry ingredients together in smaller bowl. Add dry ingredients to squash mixture. Fill greased tins to the top. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 mins until lightly brown on top.
* Very good with raisins added.

Add raisins to batter if desired.

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Pumpkin/Squash Dessert Squares
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups squash, cooked, mashed and unseasoned
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease square pan. Beat together shortening, brown sugar and shite sugar unti light. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in squash. Combine dry ingredients and gradually stir into beaten mixture. Spread in greased pan. Bake for 30 mins. Cool in pan. Spread with orange icing (optional). Cut into bars.












Monday, August 4, 2014

Growing Pumpkins & Squash


These are the pumpkins we are growing this year! 

Butternut Squash

We are also growing some winter squash in the pumpkin garden. We have four varieties this year. They are butternut, sweet dumpling, cushaw and Hopi Black squash. All winter squash seeds are good for roasting and eating, as are the pumpkin seeds! 




Sweet Dumpling Squash
We plan to sell the Halloween pumpkins in the fall and to roast the seeds. The squash seeds can also be roasted and eaten in the same manner. We will be saving and drying some of our own seed for planting next year, as well. 

Squash can replace pumpkin in most recipes and many people like it better. We will post some great squash recipes when they are all ripe in the fall. 

Cushaw Squash





In addition to the pumpkins and squash in our garden, we are also growing some heirloom tomatoes which you can see in some of the photos. Unfortunately, some of the tomatoes were planted a bit too close to the pumpkins...

Buried Overgrown Tomatoes



Saturday, July 12, 2014

New Photo Gallery




We have added a new photo gallery to our website! You can see various views of the RV park, the grounds and the orchards. Check it out at www.applevalleyrv.ca!


You can also see what is available for a specific date and submit a reservation request on-line yourself.


U-Pick Cherries!
We are rapidly filling up for the remainder of the summer. The August 1st long holiday weekend is already completely booked. Every single site and all of our emergency overflow sites have been reserved! We do still have the occasional date here and there available in July but not for long. If you are planning to stay with us at any time before the long weekend is over, please send us an email immediately!


Christmas Decor
We will have monthly sites available for rent after the Labour Day weekend in September. Spend the winter with us!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Our Fruit is Growing!


We have a lot of baby fruit on the trees now - tiny greengage plums, little apricots, small ripening peaches, baby grapes, pink cherries! Unripe and small now, but growing fast!



You can reserve a site for yourself on-line now with our new secure server at www.applevalleyrv.ca ! It's easy and you will get a confirmation email the same day, if not immediately. You can see our pricing structure and much more on our new website! 




We are filling up fast for the long holiday weekends! If you are planning to stay with us this summer, you might want to go to our website and reserve a spot for yourself today! 

While we do have long term and permanent rentals, we no longer have any spots open for monthly rental until September. 




Sunday, March 30, 2014

It's Spring!


It's spring here in Kelowna! The grass gets greener and the temperatures warmer every day!

The ground has thawed and is warm and dry enough to start gardening. We are already working on the perennial beds. Soon we will be tilling up the garden plot area.

The fruit trees are not in flower yet but it's coming soon, just a few more weeks and we will be covered in blooms! 



Thursday, January 16, 2014

Our New Sign



Our new entrance sign has arrived! We think it's beautiful and a great improvement over the old one! 



Yep, it's January 16th and we are looking at bare ground and sunny, above freezing temperatures!