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At last, the season is here and it’s time for pumpkin picking at Tacoma Boys! Pumpkins in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors are available at Tacoma Boys. While most pumpkins are edible, some are better for baking and cooking than others. Whether you want to leave it as decoration, carve it into a jack-o-lantern, or cook the pumpkin, there are plenty to choose from.
Pumpkin Picking
When pumpkin picking, you’ll find that there are so many varieties to choose from! The versatile squash can have different characteristics and flavor: From smooth and white, to bumpy orange and green, and everything in between. Whatever kind of pumpkin you’re looking for, you’ll find your pick of the patch at Tacoma Boys. Sugar pie pumpkins are great for pumpkin pie or homemade pumpkin puree, which you can then use in other pumpkin recipes. Considered “baking pumpkins,” these are usually small and round. “Carving pumpkins” are ones that can be easily cut into and may have less edible flesh on the inside. Decorative pumpkins and gourds are firm, fibrous, and widely vary in color, size, and shape.
Check out these varieties of pumpkins and more when pumpkin picking at Tacoma Boys:
- Jack-O-Lantern: Your classic carving pumpkin, these pumpkins are large and have little bruises or marks.
- Knucklehead: These are the funky, bumpy, and multicolored pumpkins that are generally just for decoration.
- Cinderella: Round, flat, and deep orange in color, Cinderella pumpkins look just like the coach from the fairytale.
- Ghost: Ghastly white, ghost pumpkins are often carved into jack-o-lanterns, left as autumn decor, or cooked or baked.
- Sugar Pie: These ones are the best for baking and cooking. They’re small and can be treated just like any other winter squash, like butternut.
How to Pick a Pumpkin
If you’re wondering how to pick a pumpkin, first consider what you are going to use the pumpkin for. You might leave it as is for decoration, carve it into a jack-o-lantern, or cook with the pumpkin. This will determine what type of pumpkin or gourd you go for when shopping for pumpkins. Assorted squash are often labeled with the best use for that particular squash. The labeled names of pumpkins can also hint to what the pumpkin is best used for, like jack-o-lantern or sugar pie pumpkins. Pick a pumpkin that is just right for you with these few tips:
- Look for blemishes, nicks, and bruises: These cosmetic damages mean its fitting for a decorative pumpkin, but should be avoided if you want to cook with it. Any signs of rot should be avoided, too.
- Check out the stem: Green pumpkin stems mean it’s still fresh and ready to be carved or cooked. Pumpkins with brown or dried out stems, rather, are best for decoration.
- Knock for hollow space: Knock on the pumpkin like you would with a watermelon. If it sounds hollow with echoes, it’s best for carving. Less hollow pumpkins mean edible flesh on the inside. Either way works just fine for decorative pumpkins
- Consider lopsided pumpkins: If you want to carve the pumpkin, try to envision what it would look like as a jack-o-lantern. If it falls to one side or is drastically uneven, opt for a smoother pumpkin.
Pumpkin Recipes
Get creative with pumpkin recipes this year! While it’s easy to go for a basic pumpkin-spiced baked dessert or soup, there is so much more to explore in the world of pumpkin. From sweet, to savory, to somewhere in between, you can make pumpkin recipes with pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin. You can also use pumpkins to present or decorate your dishes — Check out Tacoma Boys’ Buffalo Chicken Dip served in a mini pumpkin!
Cooking and baking with pumpkin puree is convenient because the pumpkin is ready to go. Pumpkin puree is best cooked into sauce and soups or baked into spiced desserts and treats. While most people are familiar with using pumpkin puree in pumpkin recipes, it’s quite simple to cook with a whole pumpkin, too!
Cooking With Whole Pumpkin
A whole pumpkin can be cooked as is or peeled and chopped, like other squashes. It’s actually quite simple to roast a whole pumpkin! For a basic roasted pumpkin dish, all you need is salt and pepper to let the flavors shine through. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cut a small sugar pie pumpkin in half. Scoop out the seeds and insides. Place the pumpkin halves cut-side up on a baking sheet and drizzle with about a tablespoon of Napa Valley Naturals Avocado Oil. Sprinkle with ground Spice Hunters Black Peppercorn and sea salt. Roast in the preheated oven for approximately 45-50 minutes, depending on the size of your pumpkin, until fork tender. From here, you can scoop it out and blend it into a puree or use it in any other way you’d like!
Or, try one of these other recipes using a whole pumpkin:
- Roast Stuffed Pumpkin by A Virtual Vegan.
- Vegetable Pumpkin Quiche by Eat the Grains
- Swap butternut squash for roasted pumpkin in Tacoma Boys’ own Butternut Squash Alfredo. Just follow the above directions to roast your pumpkin before blending it into that creamy sauce.
- Whole Pumpkin Cheddar Gratin by Teaspoon of Spice.
Tacoma Boys has a wide selection of pumpkins in various shapes, sizes, and colors! You can also find a variety of pumpkin products, like Califia Farms Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk Creamer, Cucina Antica Tuscany Pumpkin Pasta Sauce, and Spice Hunter Pumpkin Pie Spice. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!
As the last blooms of summer flowers drop and September begins, it’s time for some fall cooking. Labor Day specifically is a good time to send off summer and welcome the fall season! The holiday falls on the first weekend of September and calls for celebration: Not only for the end of summer, but as an opportunity to celebrate American laborers. The labor union movement of the 19th century led to the progression of worker’s rights and ultimately a celebration for such in the form of Labor Day. Now, Labor Day is a celebration of summer and an easy transition into fall.
Fall Cooking
For Tacoma Boys, the autumn season means getting ready for fall cooking with seasonal snacks and dishes. It’s a great time to get cozy, prepare for the holidays, and enjoy fall produce and herbs: Think squash, apples, Brussels sprouts, sage, thyme, and more! Labor Day is a good chance to transition into fall cooking because it represents the end of summer. Fall cooking can be so tasty with hearty, savory dishes and sweet baked goods. Specifically, a good pie in the fall is so simple and delicious–– Check out our blog post for a guide on Tacoma Boy’s favorite fall pies and treats!
Celebrating Labor Day
The long weekend surrounding Labor Day means celebrations can last for days. There are plenty of things to do and tasty foods to cook to celebrate the holiday. The transition into a new season means it’s one of your last chances to cook your favorite summer foods: Cook up your remaining summer zucchini and corn on the grill to say goodbye to summer! Backyard barbecues and picnics are common on the holiday. Same goes for parades, parties, and special events like speeches. Plus, many workers have the day off in honor of Labor Day. This means extra time to relax and enjoy the (hopefully!) warm summer weather.
Foods To Eat and Things To Do
Celebrate the end of summer with your picnic favorites like potato salad, chips, and fresh fruit: You can also grill your favorite summer and fall foods to mark the change of seasons. Then, get active and maybe you’ll try something new while you’re at it!
- Find a Labor Day parade near you and join in to celebrate.
- Play sports like disc golf, tennis, kayaking, and bicycling.
- There’s nothing like one last camping trip to wrap up summer!
- Grill up Johnson’s Smokehouse Pepperjack Cheese Bratwurst and serve them in Tacoma Boys’ Hoagie Buns.
- Try a BLT Salad: This dish is light but hearty with crunchy romaine lettuce, Hempler’s Uncured Applewood Bacon and Drew’s Organic Rosemary Balsamic Dressing.
- Grill some of Tacoma Boys Pork Baby Back Ribs, then slather them with Mr. Texas BBQ Sauce.
Seasonal Recipes for Autumn
If summer must end, then seasonal recipes for autumn are something to look forward to! Comfort food in general is a good go-to when relaxing on chilly days or spending time with family. A series of holidays include Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas— all great times to have fun cooking and use seasonal ingredients. Get ready for pie season and use the last of your summer berries in a pie or crumble. For a super quick and easy dessert to transition into autumn, try Tacoma Boy’s peach cobbler.
Labor Day is a good time to mix and match summer and fall recipes because there is a wide variety of produce available. As we transition into fall weather and food, it’s nice to get cozy with some seasonal recipes for autumn. While Labor Day is usually considered the last-hurrah of summer, move on into autumn with these season recipes to celebrate the beginning of fall:
- One Sheet Pan Autumn Chicken featuring seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs.
- Vegetable-loaded beef stew featuring Cal-Organic Farms Rainbow Carrots, Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes and Orrington Farms Organics Beef Stew Seasoning.
- Squash pasta: Butternut squash in fact makes a deliciously smooth and savory pasta sauce. Try this recipe by Savory Simple with Marella Organic Pasta in your shape of choice for a fun autumn recipe.
- Savory root vegetable galette featuring seasonal root vegetables like beets, turnips, and sweet potatoes. Hint: Spice Hunter Poultry Seasoning is a great substitute for fresh herbs and spices in recipes like these!
Shop For Labor Day at Tacoma Boys
When you’re ready to get cooking for Labor Day and the beginning of the fall season, Tacoma Boys is ready for you! The specialty grocery store routinely provides seasonal produce for any time of year or special occasion. Stop by to see what’s new and tasty. And to stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!
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Sipping on sparkling wine is a classic component of celebrating the holidays. Whether it’s champagne, sparkling white wine, or even sparkling red, it’s so refreshing and tasty! And Tacoma Boys’ wide selection of sparkling wine at various price points and varieties makes it simple to shop for and choose your favorites. A cold, crisp glass of bubbly at a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner fits right in as part of the cozy holiday celebration.
Sparkling Wine at Tacoma Boys
Sparkling wine is made fizzy by fermentation during the wine making process. Carbon dioxide is absorbed, creating those pleasant little bubbles. You can enjoy sparkling white wine (including champagne), sparkling rosé, and even sparkling red wine. And while all champagne is sparkling wine, not all sparkling wine is champagne. Champagne is just a type of bubbly white wine that’s produced in a specific region in France. Several varieties of wine like these will fit your holiday celebration— Tacoma Boys’ large assortment to choose from means you can find your favorite and try new things!
You can browse sparkling wine offerings like these on the shelves at Tacoma Boys:
Champagne
- Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne
- Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Champagne
- Henriot Brut Souverain Champagne
Sparkling White Wine
- Dibon Cava Brut Reserve
- Mumm Napa Cuvée
- Villa Maria Bubbly Sauvignon Blanc 2019
- Decoy Brut Cuvée Sparkling
- Mionetto Prosecco Brut
Sparkling Rosé
- Argyle Brut Rosé
- La Marca Prosecco Rosé
- Los Dos Cava Brut Rosé
Sparkling Red
- Treveri Sparkling Syrah Brut
- Castello di Luzzano Sommossa
Pairing Sparkling Wine
Pairing sparkling wine at your Thanksgiving dinner or other holiday celebration is simple and tasty. Most neutral wine goes well with the robust flavors of celebratory meals in the autumn. There’s really no rules to pairing sparkling wine — it’s all about enjoying the taste of what you’re eating! You can pair champagne with roast turkey, sparkling rosé with mashed potatoes, or anything else that sounds good to you. It’s also common to sip on hard apple cider (the adult, sparkly version of classic apple cider) during this harvest season. You can also shop for some regular or hard apple cider at Tacoma Boys! Read on for some suggested wine and food pairings to try.
Pasta
Go for cream based sauces, rather than tomato based, to pair with a fizzy dry wine. Or, try sparkling red wine with a red sauce pasta! Both white and red still wine are often incorporated into pasta sauce, too.
Fried Food
Fried mushrooms, artichokes, and battered fish and chips all go great with sparkling wine. Try a fried appetizer like Crispy Fried Zucchini with sweet sparkling white wine for the holidays.
Cheese
Wine and cheese definitely pair well together. Go for a rich, aged cheese like Kerrygold Aged Cheddar with sparkling rosé. Or, try a mild sparkling prosecco with Briette Creamy & Mild Brie Cheese. Read more about Tacoma Boys various specialty cheeses to pair in our blog all about it!
Seafood, Poultry and Pork
White wine and seafood are a timeless pair! And the light flavors of tender chicken, turkey, or pork are simple to pair with bubbly wine. This is perfect as many people enjoy turkey or ham for the holidays, anyway! If you’d like, pair white meat and seafood with white wine, and dark meat with richer wines like red. Tacoma Boys also offers a large selection of fresh seafood to choose from.
Wine Recipes
There are several different types of wine recipes you can try for the holidays! Individual or batch cocktails, like sangria, are great ways to enjoy the taste and fizz of sparkling wine.
Sangria is a drink made with wine, fruit juice, and sometimes sweetener and hard liquor, like brandy. Other wine recipes to try include classics like white wine spritzers and mimosas. Spiked lemonades are also sometimes made with sparkling wine, too: Try a mix of 3 cups lemonade with a full bottle of Sorelle Bronca Extra Dry Prosecco. That dry prosecco is a nice balance to the sweetness of lemonade!
Wine recipes of course can mean wine was used in the cooking process, too. You can use still or bubbly wine when deglazing, in salad dressings, marinades, and more. Cooking with wine can enhance the flavor of the food and add elements of acidity, similar to vinegar. Start with a white wine pasta sauce or something like hearty Wine Braised Beef!
Prep For The Holidays With Tacoma Boys
Don’t forget to stop by Tacoma Boys’ sparkling wine section while you’re shopping for your holiday meals! You’ll find a variety of bubbly white, rosé, and red wine to enjoy with your family. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, just ask and we’ll be happy to help guide you. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!
The holiday season has begun again and it’s time to get ready for Thanksgiving turkey! While not everyone enjoys turkey, it’s a seasonal classic that can be prepared in so many ways. The most traditional way to cook a Thanksgiving turkey is probably to roast it in the oven. Turkey is often purchased frozen and thawed for a couple days. Then, let the Thanksgiving turkey cook all day while preparing the rest of your meal. Those savory smells of the turkey cooking will make your stomach grumble in anticipation all day!
Thanksgiving Turkey
The tradition of preparing Thanksgiving turkey is tasty and rewarding! At Tacoma Boys, you can purchase your turkey in addition to other specialty food items to get ready for your holiday meals. It can seem like a lot of hard work, but most of the time spent cooking Thanksgiving turkey is thawing or cooking time. Thawing your turkey is a simple but important step that has to be done safely. There are a couple ways to thaw your Thanksgiving turkey: In general, most people leave it in the refrigerator to slowly thaw for a couple days. The basic guideline is 24 hours of refrigerator thawing time for every 4-5 lbs of turkey.
When it comes down to preparing the turkey with seasoning, there are so many ways to experiment! Turkey brines, seasoning blends, and marinades can all enhance and add flavor to the turkey. Tacoma Boys Poultry Seasoning with herbs like thyme and rosemary are particularly popular to use during Thanksgiving prep. Try some of these ingredients from Tacoma Boys when preparing your Thanksgiving turkey:
- Butter and olive oil
- Fresh or dried herbs: Thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram, and bay leaves
- Spices like smoked paprika, cayenne, and red pepper flakes
- Tacoma Boys Mappe Apple or Traditional Turkey Brine
- Lemon, garlic, onion, celery, and carrots
- Brown sugar, and maple syrup
How to Cook Turkey
Many people who are unsure of how to cook turkey can be overwhelmed by the options. There are seemingly infinite recipes online with different cooking methods and seasonings. If you don’t know how to cook turkey, don’t panic! Everyone tends to have their own way to prepare turkey: But as long as you follow food safety practices and enjoy the taste of your turkey, you can make it any way you like. You can roast the turkey in the oven, slow cooker, air fryer, or more. These are just a couple options to try.
1. Roast
Perhaps the most common method of cooking turkey is roasting slowly in the oven. This can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours or more, depending on the size of your turkey. It’s generally roasted at 350 degrees Fahrenheit after being thawed and seasoned to your liking.
2. Slow Cooker (Crockpot)
This method takes the longest, as the cooker works slowly. Depending on the size of your turkey or turkey breast, you can cook the whole bird right in your slow cooker. In general, you can simply put your thawed and seasoned turkey into your slow cooker and cook on low for several hours. This recipe by The Little Kitchen is a good guide for slow cooker Thanksgiving turkey with vegetables that is moist and flavorful!
3. Air Fryer
This is one of the newer methods of cooking turkey— Even large air fryers are a bit too small for a whole turkey, though. This method works best with turkey breasts because they’re smaller. Air fry a seasoned turkey breast at about 375 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping halfway, for about 45-60 minutes or until completely cooked though. For more details on how to cook turkey in the air fryer, check out this recipe by Spend With Pennies.
Thanksgiving Recipes
Thanksgiving recipes can include traditional classics as well as new modern twists. It’s fun to mix and match and get creative with what you and your family like to eat! Start out with tasty appetizers, like these homemade dips for the holidays. Then, bond over new and old Thanksgiving recipes like cornbread stuffing with Marie Calendars Organic Cornbread Mix and cheesy Lundberg Organic Wild Rice casserole. For dessert, roast up a butternut or acorn squash with a drizzle of Stonewall Kitchen Maple Syrup. Or, browse our blog all about Thanksgiving dessert!
Tacoma Boys offers an assortment of spices, seasonings, and specialty food items to flavor your dinner. You can particularly find a variety of gravy mixes like these to make your Thanksgiving recipes that much easier:
- Tacoma Boys Chicken or Turkey Style Gravy
- Simply Organic Chicken or Turkey Gravy Mix
- Knorr Roasted Turkey Gravy Mix
- Better Than Bouillon Gravy Mix
Tacoma Boys is here when you’re ready to shop for your Thanksgiving turkey. We also have all the fresh produce and pantry items you’ll need for an ultimate holiday dinner. And you can even check out some of Tacoma Boys top vegan Thanksgiving side dishes here! To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!
Hosting for the holidays means being prepared for your guests with drinks and food like appetizers. Small plates and snacks are easy to prepare and serve. Think chips and dip, stuffed mushrooms, garlic bread, potato skins, and more! Appetizers are convenient and popular, whether you’re planning on a larger meal later or are simply snacking all afternoon. Some people consider appetizers as only finger food, where you don’t need a knife and a fork. But there are plenty of tasty little dishes to make that can be enjoyed in different ways.
Appetizers
Small plates and snacks like appetizers are great to start out with when hosting. They’re often served in small portions loaded with hearty flavor. It’s a way to welcome your guests and have a little bite to eat while chatting, when dinner isn’t quite ready. While just about any food can be made into an appetizer, there are a few things to keep in mind. Finger foods are often best when appetizers are served away from the table. That means bite-sized foods, dips, and anything without a knife and fork.
Here at Tacoma Boys, charcuterie boards are easy to shop for and a favorite as an appetizer! They’re a popular snack because they’re customizable and quick to put together. At Tacoma Boys, you’ll find a wide selection of specialty cheeses and cured meats as well as nuts, jams, crackers, fruit, and more. Build your charcuterie to fit the preferences of your guest and set it out as a grazing board. Your guests can snack on it casually as a group, or you can use little plates to serve the spread.
Dip Recipes for Groups
Dip recipes are easy to enjoy when hosting or in groups. Full of flavor and just filling enough, cold or hot dips are usually quick to make and serve. Picture raw veggies with blue cheese dressing or spinach artichoke dip with tortilla chips. These types of dip recipes are usually first to go at parties and get-togethers! If you’re looking for some dip recipes to make for the holidays, consider one of these suggestions:
- Tacoma Boys’ Buffalo Chicken Dip: It’s not too late to serve this one in a pumpkin! You’ll find several different types of buffalo sauce at Tacoma Boys. Plus about 5 other ingredients, this dip is quick and easy to cook up for a hungry crowd.
- Tacoma Boys’ Irish Beer Cheese Dip: You’ll need some dark beer and a couple different kinds of cheese for this rich recipe. It’s full of flavor and goes great with fresh cut veggies and pretzels, like Dutch Country Gluten Free Soft Pretzels.
- Spinach Artichoke Dip by Natasha’s Kitchen: Try this savory, cheesy dip with Cara Mia Marinated Artichoke Hearts and serve it with Stacy’s Pita Chips. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the extra vegetables snuck in!
- White Cheddar Cranberry Dip by Little Broken: This 4 ingredient dip is a tasty twist on a classic cheese dip. Try it with Tillamook White Cheddar Cheese, Organic Valley Cream Cheese, fresh cranberries, and a Homemade Cranberry Sauce.
- 7 Layer Dip: The popular layered dip is so easy to make with a variety of ingredients of your choosing! It requires very little, if any cooking. For an example, try the dip with layers of Amy’s Organic Vegetarian Refried Beans, Smith Brothers Farm Sour Cream, fresh guacamole, Tacoma Boys Loco Cheese Dip, diced fresh tomatoes, Mrs. Renfro’s Jalapeno Peppers, and your favorite Tacoma Boys Salsa. Then dig in with Tacoma Boys Tortilla Chips!
Holiday Appetizers
Some people get real creative with holiday appetizers! You can make a variety of dishes with Thanksgiving or Christmas themes and seasonal ingredients. For example, snacks made with cranberries, turkey, and stuffing for Thanksgiving. Cranberry and brie puff pastry bites are another example of an appetizer that is so popular for the holidays! Make whatever dishes you want into holiday appetizers by just scaling down a bit: Mini quiche, bite-size meatballs, and just about any food on a mini skewer.
It can also be a good idea to ask your guests to bring appetizers if you’d like. Cooking an entire meal including appetizers and dessert can be a lot to do! And while you’re planning your holiday appetizers and meals, make sure to account for different diets. If you’re expecting guests that are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free, it’s easy to prepare those dishes.
Prepare For The Holiday With Tacoma Boys
Get ready for holiday celebrations and meals with Tacoma Boys! Your local market is stocked with a variety of seasonal produce, meat, and specialty food products. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!
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Apple Pie Bars
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Honey Roasted Carrots with Crushed Pistachios on Whipped Feta
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Brown Butter Butternut Squash Fettuccine Alfredo
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Rice Krispie Trick Or Treats
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Mini Pumpkin Buffalo Chicken Dip
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Garlic Butter Breadsticks
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