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Reusing your vegetable scraps is just one way to make an effort to be more environmentally conscious. By making use of those vegetable scraps in other cooking, you can reduce food waste and maybe even save a little money while you’re at it. One main way to use vegetable scraps is to make a broth or stock out of it. Read on further to learn more about how to help reduce food waste by using those leftover vegetable scraps.
You might buy branded, everyday items in bulk at a discount store. But when it comes to your produce? …
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To celebrate Father’s Day this year, you might be looking to do something new and special. The holiday is coming right up on June 21st! If dad is a beer lover, he’d surely appreciate a cold brew along with some quality time with the family. But as more breweries pop up and craft beer particularly becomes more popular, there are so many to choose from! Try a sampling of his favorites and new beers with your Father’s Day lunch or dinner. Father’s Day is a great chance to sample some of Tacoma Boys’ vast selection of domestic and imported beers. Whether you’re celebrating your own father, spouse, or another dad in your life, have fun showing dad different beer pairings.
Father’s Day
As Father’s Day is right around the beginning of summer, many people celebrate with a big dinner or backyard barbecue. It’s a good time to relax with the family and cook dad’s favorite foods. Beer fits nicely into this as you can choose a beer to pair with your snacks and meals. It’s also so refreshing on a warm summer day! For tips on how to have a great memorable Father’s Day barbecue, check out our guide all about it here. If you’re not sure what kind of beer you and your family will enjoy, don’t fret: Plan your menu first and then grab a few different beers to sip alongside. Tacoma Boys’ wide variety of domestic and imported beers mean there’s something for everyone.
Beer & Food Pairings to Celebrate
When deciding beer and food pairings to serve on Father’s Day, there’s a couple things to keep in mind. Although any beer will quite likely taste great with any food, think of the contrasting and complementary flavors. A nice rich dark beer, for example, goes well with dark, rich foods. Meanwhile, light pilsners or blonde ales go well with simple light foods. If you don’t know where to start, check out these tasty beer and food pairings from Tacoma Boys.
Rainier Beer
A classic for dads of the Pacific Northwest: It really goes well with just about anything. The light hoppy beer is a standard at campgrounds, backyard barbecues, and everywhere in between. Pair it with homemade baked beans— We recommend using BBQ Pete’s Puyallup Fair BBQ Sauce in your baked beans!
New Belgium Fat Tire
This European amber ale is easy drinking yet flavorful thanks to hops and malty notes. Pair it with Columbia Charcuterie Tasting Board or make your own charcuterie board with Tacoma Boys’ specialty meats and cheeses.
Sierra Nevada Summer Break
This hazy IPA is just right for the occasion: Kick off summer and celebrate dad with this beer with smooth malt flavor. Pair it with Tacoma Boys Asian Blend Snack Mix for an afternoon bite.
Odd Otter Atmospheric Haze India Pale Ale
A Tacoma brew, Odd Otter’s Atmospheric Haze is light in color with fruity notes and a medium body. Pair it with spicy grilled Hempler’s Hot Links Sausage and Tacoma Boys German Sauerkraut.
Reuben’s Brews Pilsner
Reuben’s Czech-style pilsner is reliably light and refreshing. We recommend adding lemonade to this Seattle brew to make a shandy! Pair it with simple grilled chicken breast and Tacoma Boys Baked Potato Salad.
Beer Recipes for Dad
While drinking beer is surely enjoyable, you can make beer recipes using just about any kind of beer. The carbonation and flavors from the beer are helpful in the cooking and baking process. Notes of hops, yeast, and malt can come through nicely in the food! These beer recipes are easy to approach and oh-so tasty.
- Irish Beer Cheese Dip: This Irish beer cheese dip is best enjoyed with soft pretzels— and even more beer for drinking. Rich and creamy, it will go great alongside any brew.
- Beer battered anything: Beer battered fish, chicken, onion rings, and even pickles are a tasty classic! This recipe by Dinner Then Dessert is one example of crispy beer battered fish.
- Quick and Easy Beer Bread by A Southern Soul: For a fun Father’s Day bonding activity, spend the afternoon baking bread! Everyone will enjoy it and it can be stored for a few days after.
- Beer brats are a great option for summer cooking: Simply braise your favorite bratwurst in your favorite dark beer after pan frying the sausage. This yields ultimate flavor and juiciness!
Browse Tacoma Boys Selection of Beer
This Father’s Day, make it extra special with a sampling of different types of beer to try. Maybe you and dad will find a new favorite to enjoy together! Whatever you do, it’s all about taking time to appreciate the fathers in your life. Make the effort to show them how much they mean to you and other loved ones with simple gestures like these: They will be sure to feel the love! 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!
Eating naturally fermented foods has long been beneficial to one’s overall health, but your gut especially reaps the benefits. Fermentation is the result of sugars and starches in a food naturally broken down by bacteria and yeast. This changes the structure of the food and allows it to be preserved longer. What results is “good bacteria” that takes care of your stomach and helps with digestion. Fermented foods are fun to eat and popular for their distinctively acidic taste and health benefits.
Fermented Foods
Consuming fermented foods is beneficial because they contain live cultures that live in your gut and help support your immune system. One thing to note about fermentation is the difference between such and pickling. While some traditional pickles are naturally fermented, many are not. Therefore they’re not considered fermented foods (rather, they are simply cucumbers pickled in vinegar). For more information on the difference between the fermenting and pickling, check out this guide by WildBrine.
Yogurt and Kefir
One of the most popular fermented foods is yogurt because it is simply fermented milk! It’s known for containing probiotics that are helpful to your gut and digestion. If you’re unfamiliar with kefir, it’s a dairy product similar to yogurt. Kefir is a great addition to smoothies and granola! One of Tacoma Boys’ favorites is Grace Harbor Farms Plain Kefir. This drinkable yogurt is known for assisting digestion and even improving bone health, making it a great addition to your daily routine!
Kombucha
Kombucha has become quite popular in recent years, but do you know what this fermented tea actually is? Scoby, a colony of yeast and bacteria, is what makes the tea fermented. Depending on the brand and flavor, kombucha may taste slightly sweet and sometimes vinegary. But not in a bad way! Kombucha is flavored with herbs and fruits that are added during the fermentation process. If you’re a first-timer looking for a good option, Bellingham-based Kombucha Town Blueberry White Kombucha is one of the many kombucha brands offered at Tacoma Boys.
Kimchi
Kimchi is a traditional Korean blend of salted and fermented vegetables. Cabbage and radish typically makes up the base of kimchi, followed by many seasonings and spices! If you’re looking for a tasty way to get more probiotics and vegetables into your diet, kimchi is the perfect option! Try Britt’s Kimchi made by local Britt’s Fermented Foods.
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is familiar to many for its presence on various sausages and its crunchy, sour bite. This comes from the fermentation process when the sugars in the cabbage break down into lactic acid. Flavoring and seasonings like garlic, ginger, peppers, and other vegetables are often present. OlyKraut and WildBrine Sauerkraut are available in many flavors at Tacoma Boys.
Sourdough
This may come as a surprise to many, but sourdough is actually a fermented food! This means it contains those good bacterias that help support your gut. Naturally occurring yeast and lactic acid bacteria make up a sourdough starter. While making bread, the starter ferments the sugars in the dough. This is what yields such a nice sour taste, such as in Seattle Sourdough Baking Company Bread.
What are the Benefits of Probiotics?
Fermented foods contain live cultures called probiotics, which live in your body, too! What’s amazing about probiotics is that they’re constantly fighting the “bad bacteria.” And to top it off, this all leads back to your overall health and taking good care of your body and immune system. There are different strains of probiotics that are beneficial for different reasons. Some fermented foods contain dozens of different helpful probiotics that contribute to the “good bacteria.”
Realizing that fermented foods contain several live microorganisms may gross some people out. But there’s no need to worry! You have hundreds of millions of live bacteria living in your gut right now. Probiotic microbes simply add to the good bacteria in your gut that fight disease and infection. Many people even take probiotic supplements to improve their gut health. For more information about probiotics, check out this webpage by the Cleveland Clinic.
Cooking With Fermented Foods
Cooking with fermented foods can be as simple as snacking on kimchi or yogurt! But there are a few things you can do to make cooking with fermented foods part of your everyday diet. When you add fermented foods to your diet, you’re making an effort to maintain your gut health and immune system. You can simply use the fermented foods as you would with its non fermented counterpart:
- Throw kimchi (cabbage and radish) in a stir fry or pile some sauerkraut (cabbage) high on your sandwich.
- Try kombucha (sweet tea) as an afternoon refreshment.
- Swap plain white bread with sourdough on your next homemade sandwich.
- Toss some kefir (cultured milk) into a smoothie.
- Build a charcuterie board with raw cheese, kimchi, sourdough bread, and salami.
The options are endless! Get creative with cooking with fermented foods to make it a regular part of your diet.
Shop Local at Tacoma Boys
Tacoma Boys selection of speciality foods and ingredients makes it easy to find the fermented foods you love. Just stop on by to browse a wide array of sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurts, and more! 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!
Even if you love enjoying the wonderful wines of Washington, you may not be familiar with pairing local wine with food. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are lucky enough to have access to a variety of amazing wineries in prime grape-growing regions. Many people across the state are wine enthusiasts and appreciate shopping locally for their favorite wines. Whether you prefer red, white, rosé, or love to try it all, Tacoma Boys offers a variety of local favorites for every palette and sipping occasion— In addition to varieties from regions all over the world!
Pairing Local Wine
You can go about pairing local wine in many different ways. One straightforward way is simply pairing locally produced wine with locally grown food and cuisines. Many wine aficionados pair food and wine based on traditional pairings, like dark red wines with dark foods (think steak, dark chocolate, berries, rich tomato sauce). Science even dictates these traditional pairings: The pair should either complement or contrast each other. The acidity, sweetness, fat, and even the weight of both the wine and food come into play when pairing wine comes down to a science.
That being said, when pairing local wine, what really matters is that you and your guests enjoy the pairing! It’s easy to find a solid pairing since there are so many different local wines to choose from. In fact, Washington state produces the second most wine in the country, after California. There will almost certainly always be a new local wine to try.
How to Pair Wine and Food
If you’re not sure how to pair wine and food, don’t fret! You can certainly eat whatever you want while drinking whatever you want. And generally speaking, any wine will taste great with any food. There are some common guidelines for flavor pairings, though: White wine goes with seafood and lighter fare, like salad and nutty cheese. Red wine pairs well with red meat and spicy, robust, and smoky flavors.
Wine and cheese is one of the most classic pairings of wine and food because the fat in cheese balances so well with the acidic tannins in wine. Learning how to pair wine and food can start there with wine and cheese: The duo is always customizable and doesn’t require cooking skills or a long time spent in the kitchen. To experiment even more with wine pairing with food, build a charcuterie board with a variety of meats, cheeses, crackers, nuts, and more. For example, try a red blend with Boar’s Head Sharp Wisconsin Cheddar, California Premium Jalapeño Jack Sliced Cheese, Columbus Calabrese Salame, and Stacy’s Parmesan Garlic and Herb Pita Chips.
Pacific Northwest Wines
Across the region, Pacific Northwest wines are known for the grape-growing valleys in which they are produced. Many people recognize the Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, Willamette Valley, and others as prime wine producing regions for certain varieties. For example, Willamette Valley tends to be known for its pinot noir while the Columbia Valley may be known for cabernet sauvignon grapes. Tacoma Boys offers a variety of Pacific Northwest wines from these valleys and more: The following red, white, and rosé wines from the Pacific Northwest are just a small portion of our selection!
Red Wines
Waters Winery 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington)
- With deep tannins, this blend is a cross between cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc.
- Pair it with Mezzetta Calabrian Chili Spicy Marinara over spaghetti pasta, sprinkled with fresh herbs.
Latta Latta Red 2016 Columbia Valley (Washington)
- This red blend is mostly grenache with some syrah and tastes reminiscent of ripe berries.
- Pair it with roasted seasonal vegetables and fingerling potatoes seasoned with Tacoma Boys Lemon Pepper Seasoning.
Cougar Crest 2012 Estate Grown Merlot (Walla Walla Valley, Washington)
- A simple merlot with balanced acid.
- Pair it with Cougar Gold Smokey Cheddar.
Rosé Wines
14 Hands Brut Rosé Columbia Valley (Washington)
- Widely recognizable in the region, 14 Hands has a variety of white, rosé, and red wines. This sparkling rosé is dry but still sweet with a fruity finish.
- Pair it with Laurel Roasted Oregon Hazelnuts with Sea Salt.
Kerloo Cellars 2020 Lonesome Springs Ranch Rosé (Yakima Valley, Washington)
- A sweeter blend that’s perfect for sunny days in the spring.
- Pair it with Ford Farm Truffler English Cheddar.
Two Mountain 2019 Rosé (Yakima Valley, Washington)
- A dry, tart rosé with hints of florals and fruit.
- Pair it with Simply Grilled Salmon.
White Wines
Blue Mountain Vineyard 2016 Grenache Blanc (Walla Walla Valley, Washington)
- Light-bodied and balanced acidity, this grenache blanc hints at citrus and tropical fruit.
- Pair it with Tacoma Boys Mexican Street Corn Breaded Shrimp.
Maysara Autees 2019 Pinot Blanc (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
- Pinot blanc tastes of ripe white grapes with balanced minerals and acidity.
- Pair it with Tiberino Italian One-Pot Risotto “Venezia” Asparagus and Leek.
Finn Hill Par Excellence 2018 Semillon Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, Washington)
- A solid chardonnay blend with semillon hints at tangy, floral finishes.
- Pair it with Grilled Zucchini and Corn Salad with Goat Cheese.
Check Out Tacoma Boys Vast Wine Selection
Stop in to Tacoma Boys for a wide variety of local, domestic, and imported wines and specialty foods to pair it with. Browse the selection and challenge yourself to try something new! 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.
Kale Caesar with Crispy Chickpeas
Crispy chickpeas are the ultimate salad topper! Often used as an alternative to croutons, it’s easy to season the chickpeas however you’d like and pan fry them to a nice crispy texture. (more…)
Oatmeal Protein Balls
These grab-and-go oatmeal protein balls are an easy snack to make ahead of time and keep on hand for when you need just a little something to stick to your ribs. (more…)
Herbed Arnold Palmer
A simple half-and-half mixture of ice tea and lemonade is a classic refreshment that’s as easy to make as it sounds! (more…)
Ricotta Spaghetti Squash with Asparagus and Peas
This ricotta spaghetti squash with asparagus and peas is perfect for springtime. It’s laced with bright lemon and fresh herbs and utilizes seasonal vegetables for a deliciously satisfying meal. (more…)
Simple Greek Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is a classic lunch or side dish that’s perfect for a spring picnic or backyard barbecue. Many people enjoy it as a quick lunch on the go, too! This Greek-inspired pasta salad takes ingredients like olives, cucumber, red onion, chickpeas, and feta cheese that go so well together.
Citrus Herb Grilled Salmon
A super easy everyday dinner, this simple grilled salmon tastes just right thanks to fresh, high quality ingredients. Tacoma Boys’ Columbia River Steelhead Salmon only needs light seasoning like fresh herbs, minced garlic, and lemon.
Grilled Carrots With Maple Tahini Drizzle
Grilled carrots taste amazing already, but the simple maple tahini dressing and toppings of nuts and herbs make this side dish stand out. Tahini, or sesame seed paste, adds a savory taste and creamy texture while maple syrup sweetens things up.
Mini Key Lime Cheesecakes
Sweet and refreshing, these personal key lime cheesecakes are perfect size for a dessert for one. Fresh lime juice and zest brings strong flavors while simple ingredients like cream cheese, whipped cream, sugar, and Tacoma Boys’ Vanilla Extract make up the rest of the cheesecake.