Monthly Archives: December 2020

Contrary to popular belief, affordable healthy eating is 100% possible. There’s a common misconception about how costly it can be to eat healthy. Fortunately, affordable healthy eating is obtainable no matter the number in your bank account – that’s a WIN. There are a lot of healthy food products on the market that can cost quite a bit more, however, that does not mean you need those products in your pantry in order to eat an abundance of whole foods. The Tacoma Boys guide to affordable healthy eating is here to show that healthy eating is within reach no matter the circumstance!

Affordable Healthy Eating is Accessible

“So you’re telling me affordable healthy eating is within my reach?!” – The answer is yes! Consuming an abundance of whole foods is a crucial part of anyone’s diet. What you put into your body plays an important role in your immune system, energy levels, sleeping patterns, and more. Making your health a priority in regards to food may require planning, but it can be life changing! It’s important to do your own research and avoid possible rumors that may not be true – in this case, affordable healthy eating.

Where Do I Start?

Plan Ahead

Without a doubt, planning saves money. When you plan your meals out for the week and write out the ingredients needed at the store, you’re less likely to purchase goods that you don’t need and may go to waste. Try sitting down and planning out your next week’s meals and creating a detailed grocery list. This is an easy method to set yourself up for success. Afterall, during unprecedented times, planning ahead for the unexpected is crucial!

Produce, Produce, Produce!

There’s no denying that produce should be at the heart of every grocery trip! Tacoma Boys carries a wide variety of fresh local produce that works well for any budget.

Snacks

• Local apples
• Pears
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Cucumber

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

• Mixed leafy greens
• Spinach
• Green beans
• Seasonal squash
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Garlic

Tacoma Boys Tip: Try freezing your own produce if it’s about to spoil and use it in smoothies and soups later on!

Shop Pantry Staple Foods

Having pantry staple foods on hand is an affordable way to make food last a long while. There are many healthy pantry staple foods you can stock up on to last – some may even cost less than $1 per serving – yes please!

• Bob’s Red Mills Steel Cut Oats
• Timeless French Green Lentils
• Lundberg Black Japonica Rice
• Jovial Foods Brown Rice Pasta
• Remlinger Farms Frozen Fruit
• Pacific Foods Broths & Stocks

Eggs

This popular ingredient deserves its own category because of its versatility. Depending on the type of eggs you buy, a serving of 2 eggs can cost as low as 0.83 cents. Serve alongside some spinach, onion, bell pepper, and you have yourself a hearty breakfast scramble for under $3. Tacoma Boys has a great selection of high quality eggs such as Vital Farms and Stiebrs Farms Organic Free Range Eggs that work great for any meal of the day!

Affordable Healthy Recipes Made Easy

When planning your meals ahead of time, look for recipes that use minimal ingredients that fit within your budget. Budget Bytes provides high quality recipes with budget and ingredients laid out clearly. This is a great tool to use when budgeting your weekly groceries. You may also want to think about using discount codes from Raise (see here – https://www.raise.com/coupons/target) to help you make savings when shopping for groceries at places like Target or you can use them to get reductions on lots of other items from your favorite brands and stores. This way, you can really stretch your budget a lot further!

• Baked Banana Bread Oatmeal – $3.24 RECIPE / $0.54 SERVING
• Cajun Sausage & Rice Skillet – $7.21 RECIPE / $1.80 SERVING
• Mediterranean White Bean Salad – $4.87 RECIPE / $1.22 SERVING
• Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken & Broccoli – $5.48 RECIPE / $1.37 SERVING
• Quick Tofu Stir Fry – $3.82 RECIPE / $0.96 SERVING

Grocery Shopping on a Budget with Tacoma Boys

This guide is a friendly reminder that your local Tacoma Boys is here to help assist you with any of your grocery needs. Although Tacoma Boys does carry a variety specialty food items, the budget-friendly options are bountiful throughout each store. When swinging by a Tacoma Boys near you, keep in mind produce, pantry staples, and products like eggs for cost efficient grocery shopping. (And don’t forget to plan ahead!) For more tips and tricks on saving money at your local Tacoma Boys, check out the following resources:

• Weekly Specials
• How to Save Money at a Produce Stand Near Me

We get it. The sun is setting at an atrociously early hour, the weather is inclement, and all of the holiday movies are streaming. These are nights for staying in, kicking back and donning your favorite flannel jammies. But you might also be exhausted from the holiday baking and want someone else to make your dinner. Thankfully, ordering off a restaurant menu is not the only way to enjoy a meal without cooking. A quick stop at Tacoma Boys and you can have a delicious, nourishing meal on the table with little to no prep. It’s basically a way to dine out in pajamas!

The “Take Out” Menu at Tacoma Boys

We know a little wander around our store will convince you that we care deeply about carrying the freshest local ingredients for all your culinary needs. Did you know we’ve put the same care into selecting the prepared and prepped foods we choose to carry? We’ve gathered a few of our favorite ready-made foods into a menu for you. Grab some of these menu items for a relaxing night, void of dinner prep.

Tacoma Boys House-Made Pizzas

Oven ready pizzas with a delectably thin crust are here at the ready. While you’re in the store grab your favorite beer and a bag of popcorn and you are all set for a movie night at home. Pop the pizza in the oven and cue up the movie!

Pesto Chicken with Sun-dried Tomatoes & Artichoke Hearts – Pepperoni – Combo

Patty’s Tamales

Made in the South Sound on Vashon Island, these Tamales are a perfect choice when you’re in the mood for Mexican food and want to support local. Grab some refried beans, corn tortilla chips, and salsa and you’ve got a complete meal that’s gluten free!

Beef – Chicken – Chorizo – Roasted Pepper & Cheese – Bean & Cheese – Vegan

Alaskan Grill & Dumplings

International comfort food at its finest, these authentic Russian dumplings, made locally in Auburn WA, are sure to hit the spot on a cold evening. Dumplings take very little time to cook. Simply boil gently for approximately 8 minutes, toss with melted butter, and season to taste. 

Beef – Beef and Pork – Potato & Cheese with Bacon

Beecher’s Mac & Cheese

The iconic cheesemaker Kurt Beecher first opened shop in Pike Place Market in Seattle and ever since, people have been craving that unmistakably creamy, Beecher’s Flagship Mac & Cheese. When the craving hits, you don’t need to hit I-5 and travel north, just hop into Tacoma Boys and pick up some Beecher’s from the freezer section.

Mac & Cheese – Smoked Flagship Mac & Cheese – World’s Best Mac & Cheese – Mariachi Mac & Cheese – Cheese Curd Lasagna

Rill Foods Dehydrated Soups

These robust, dehydrated soups made in Central Washington are a snap to put together and need very few extra ingredients. They do have a longer cooking time, but since prep is a cinch, you can get this going in the late afternoon, or early evening, and have a bowl of soup in your hands at dinner time. Check the back of the soup mix for any extra ingredients you need to pick up, and grab a loaf of sourdough or dinner rolls by Kalama Sourdough Bakery to complete the meal.

Manini’s Ravioli – Gluten Free

When Italian food is on the menu and you want something with a bit more flair than traditional spaghetti, this gluten free pasta option is a great fit. To make a simple sauce for pasta, toss with salted butter and season to taste. Or to kick it up a notch, saute mushrooms in butter and garlic, toss with the ravioli, and add a sprinkle of fresh parmesan. 

Portobello & Cheese – Spinach & Cheese 

Don’t Forget Dessert

Of course, to dine out in pajamas, you must include dessert! We’ve got quite a selection of desserts available, but you really can’t go wrong with a little pie and ice cream. Come check out the huge selection of frozen pies.

Local Ready-Made Pies

Cyrus Pies
Remlinger Farms Pies
Willamette Valley Pies
Raised Gluten Free Pies

Happy Pajama Dinner Time!

We hope you take us up on the chance to put those jammies on early and cue up a movie. With the dinner prep out of the way, you can nourish your body with a good meal, truly relax, and dine out in pajamas. For extra relaxation points (don’t worry, we really aren’t keeping score), pour yourself a glass of one of our favorite Rare Red Blend wine.

There’s still time to add some cheer to your holidays, but SHOP EARLY THIS SEASON – TREES ARE SELLING FAST!

We find ourselves in limbo between two major feasting holidays. Maybe there are even some dishes still soaking in the sink after the Thanksgiving day feast. We aren’t here to pass judgement on the state of your kitchen. In fact, we’re here to give you a reprieve from all of your hard work. Nourishing meals don’t always require multiple dishes and these sheet pan dinners make dinner clean up a cinch. Try these three sheet pan dinners to help you avoid dishes this week.

Pesto Baked Salmon & Roasted Root Vegetables

What’s so great about this recipe, besides the easy clean up, is that it is versatile and uses produce that keeps well in the fridge, so you are likely to have these vegetables on hand. Substitute steelhead for salmon, use parsnips instead of carrots, or wedges of cabbage instead of brussel sprouts. Don’t feel like making pesto? Grab fresh pesto, when you stop in our market for fresh salmon. Find your favorite combos and use what you have on hand. Check out our guide to nutritious, seasonal eating for inspiration.

Ingredients:

12 baby potatoes, or potato of choice chopped in 1 in. chunks

1 medium sweet potato, diced

2 carrots, chopped into half inch sections

4 small beets, halved

12 brussel sprouts halved

2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 portions of fresh Sockeye Salmon fillets 

1/4 cup Asiago or Manchego cheese

Fresh lemon juice

Pesto:

1 cup basil or sage

1 cup kale, stalks removed

1/3 cup pistachios or walnuts

1/3 cup parmesan cheese

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Crushed red pepper flakes

Sea salt

Preheat oven to 425°F

 

On a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet, drizzle and toss the potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots beets and brussel sprouts with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for about 20 minutes or until all veggies are fork tender.

 

Make the pesto, while the vegetables roast. In a food processor, pulse the first three pesto ingredients until finely chopped. Add the parmesan cheese and pulse again. Drizzle the olive oil into the mix with the motor running. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (depending on your desired level of heat).

 

When veggies are just fork tender, pull them from the oven and push them to one side of the pan to make room for the salmon. Place salmon on the the baking sheet and rub pesto on each fillet.

 

Place the sheet pan back in the oven and roast for another 10 to 20 minutes, or until the salmon is flakey and to your desired doneness and the vegetables are soft. Remove pan from the oven and grate fresh Asiago or Parmesan over each fillet. Serve with any remaining pesto on the side.

Parmesan Chicken with
Roast Asparagus & Potatoes

This is another versatile recipe. You can substitute root vegetables for either the asparagus or the potatoes. For a larger group, double the recipe and use two sheet pans. You’ll still be left with very minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

2 cups bread crumbs, preferably panko

2 cups shredded parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon Tacoma Boys Italian Seasoning

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 pound yukon gold potatoes, quartered

1 bunch of asparagus, fibrous ends removed, cut into 3in sections

Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 425°F

 

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or coat with olive oil.

 

In a medium bowl, whisk together egg and milk. In a separate, medium bowl, mix together panko, parmesan cheese, italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Salt and pepper both sides of chicken breasts and dredge them in egg mixture then coat them in the panko mixture and place on your sheet pan.

 

Place potatoes next to chicken on the pan and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

 

Bake for 15 minutes, flip chicken over. Add trimmed asparagus to the sheet pan, drizzling with olive oil and seasoning with salt and pepper. Return to the oven and continue baking for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F.

Fresh Gnocchi & Roasted Vegetables

Roasting the fresh gnocchi in this recipe will give it a slightly different texture than the boiled variety, but we think you’ll enjoy the change. After you try it this way, you may never boil gnocchi again. The slight crunch of the exterior and tender interior is reminiscent of roasted potatoes. Roasted tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil create a simple, but flavorful sauce for plump gnocchi. 

Ingredients

1 pound gnocchi, shelf stable or frozen

2 medium bell peppers, cut into 1” pieces

1 pint cherry tomatoes

1 red onion, cut into 1” pieces

4 cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed

1 teaspoon chopped rosemary leaves

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

2 tablespoons roughly chopped basil leaves

Grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 450°F

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or coat with olive oil.

 

Place garlic, onion, tomatoes, bell peppers, gnocchi, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to evenly coat with oil. Spread the gnocchi mixture evenly on the parchment covered baking sheet.

 

Roast for 18-20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Vegetables should be tender and the gnocchi should be plump. 

 

Spoon pasta mixture into individual bowls and top with fresh basil and grated parmesan.

Create Your Own Sheet Pan Dinners

We hope these recipes nourish you and inspire you to mix up some of your own sheet pan dinners. Ask your Tacoma Boys butchers for good meats to roast with seasonal veggies. Peruse our extensive selection of Tacoma Boys seasonings, sprinkle your favorite spice mix over seasonal vegetables, roast and serve over rice. Meals made with fresh, local ingredients don’t need to be complicated to be delicious.

With the time you save in clean up, you’ll have plenty of time to add some holiday decorations around the house or decorate the tree. SHOP EARLY THIS SEASON – TREES ARE SELLING FAST!

Have you been wondering what the holiday season will be like this year? Everyone has, which is why Tacoma Boys has created this guide to host the ultimate holiday bake off with family and friends – virtually, of course! Since you may not be able to connect in-person with some of your loved ones this year, Tacoma Boys thought a holiday bake off would be a great way to get into the holiday spirit while staying safe and healthy. Whether you choose to host your holiday bakeoff with just your small family at home or extend the invitation for others to join virtually, it’s sure to be a great time complete with delicious holiday treats!

How to Prepare for Your Virtual Holiday Bake Off

If you were to host a holiday bake off during non-pandemic times, you would typically have the people involved come to your home to participate. Since it’s our duty to stay home, creating a virtual version is the best (and kind of fun!) way to host a bake off. 

1. Send Out Online Invitations

Creating invitations online doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Simply decide on a date and time that works best for yourself and others involved and click send to get the info out! 

2. Decide What to Bake

Deciding on recipes for the holiday bake off may be the most difficult part of throwing this bake off together – there are so many good choices out there! Tacoma Boys suggests picking three different recipes for your participants to follow. This way everyone is making the exact same recipe and can enjoy them together at the end. If you’re not keen on baking, you can opt to host a charcuterie board competition or a virtual brunch-off! 

3. Set a Timer

Setting a timer may not be necessary, but it adds to the “bake off” aspect of the day! Just ensure it’s enough time to actually finish the recipes.

4. Pick a Winner, Together

Instead of having a taste test – because that’s not possible virtually – have everyone present their final products with a little background story! This can be a true story or completely made up, and adds a fun, unique component to the bake off.

Holiday Baking Essentials

Holiday baking has always been a great way to bring families together during the holidays, so don’t let hosting a bake off be stressful. Choose recipes that everyone will love and are moderately easy – after all, the bake off is supposed to be fun! Tacoma Boys has a large selection of baking essentials that will set you up for a successful bake off experience. 

Flour

When you head over to the baking section at Tacoma Boys, you’ll find the biggest selection of flours! From gluten free varieties to organic unbleached all-purpose, you are sure to find everything you’ll need for this bake off. The widest selection comes from the popular brand, Bob’s Red Mills, providing you with high quality ingredients no matter the recipe.

Sugar

Sugar is a crucial component of baking which means it’s smart to have a variety on hand! A couple favorite brands at Tacoma Boys are Wholesome and Woodstock – both are high quality sugars and offer brown sugar, white sugar, powdered sugar, coconut sugar, and more! If you’re looking to host a bake off on the lighter side, opt for Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener as a sugar-free alternative.

Chocolate

Every bake off needs chocolate chips. Afterall, it wouldn’t be right to host a bake off without chocolate! Choose from a wide range of chocolate chips to finish off all of your baking needs. Whether you’re looking for white, dark, or milk chocolate, Tacoma Boys carries classic brands such as Ghirardelli and Enjoy Life, as well as quality sugar-free options like Lily’s! 

Choose Your Christmas Treats

After you send out invitations, it’s time to decide what Christmas treats to make for the bake off! It’s important to plan this step ahead of time so you’re able to send out an ingredient list to all of the contestants. From cookies to Christmas candy, there are many great options that will make this bake off one-of-a-kind!

Recipe Options

• Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies from Baker By Nature

This recipe is a great way to take classic chocolate chip cookies up a notch. Head over to the baking section at Tacoma Boys and pick out your flour, sugar, and chocolate chips. After you have the baking essentials, pick up a container of Northwest Delights pecans to ensure a satisfying crunch to this cookie.

• Cranberry Orange Swirl Cookies from Beyond the Kitchen Coop

A cookie recipe with holiday’s favorite side: cranberry sauce – yes, please! Stock up on some Green Valley Lactose Free Butter, Vital Farms Eggs, tree ripened organic grown oranges, and Ocean Spray Organic Cranberries to make this recipe top notch.

• Peanut Butter Mallow Bars from Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen 

Everyone loves a great peanut butter option, and this recipe will satisfy any sweet tooth. Choose your favorite peanut butter from Tacoma Boy’s nut butter section and grab a bag of Dandies Marshmallows for the ultimate peanut butter bars! 

Don’t Forget to Have Fun!

Always remember these types of events are supposed to be fun! Swing by your local Tacoma Boys to grab all of  the ingredients on your baking list for a fun-filled baking day! If you’re feeling extra jolly, you can pick up your Christmas tree the same day. SHOP EARLY THIS SEASON – TREES ARE SELLING FAST! You can check out Tacoma Boys’ Christmas Trees here!