Late Winter Produce Guide: Cooking What’s In Season

The crisp, cold season is wrapping up but there is still so much winter produce to eat! From kale, to cabbage, citrus and more, winter foods are abundant. Cooking seasonally is nutritious and connects you to your local farms as well as the earth beneath your feet. In the Pacific Northwest, most people consider summer cooking as the main event for local produce. But, there is a variety of different winter produce to experiment with around this time of year.

Late Winter Produce

We love cooking seasonally with winter produce! That’s because it’s nutritious, fresh, and oftentimes, supports local farms and gardens. Here at Tacoma Boys, you can find a variety of late winter produce that’s local and imported, too. Read on for a few examples of fruits and vegetables that are in season in February.

Produce That’s In Season Now

• Apples: Fuji, honeycrisp, cosmic crisp
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots and parsnips
• Leeks
• Potatoes
• Rutabaga
• Winter squash: Acorn, butternut, delicata, and more

Pacific Northwest winter produce like these veggies and fruits are from plants that hold up well to frost and cold weather. Some of these vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and potatoes grow in the ground, settling into the soil. Then produce like squash and brussels sprouts grow above ground and reach out into the chill. Other produce like apples and onions are harvested throughout the season and can be stored to enjoy even months later.

Seasonal Cooking with Tacoma Boys

Farmers markets may not be up and running just yet but Tacoma Boys is a great shopping option for seasonal cooking. Stop by to browse from a selection of local seasonal produce to cook with. While you’re at it, you can also grab a few oranges or other winter produce from other states.

Why Cook Seasonally?

Seasonal cooking supports the local economy by supplying fresh produce from regional farms. Washington state farms from over the pass especially have an abundance of vegetables and some fruits to share this time of year. And each season is a chance to appreciate the versatility of different produce that we are lucky enough to have grown in our own state. Check out this guide for further explanation as to how and why we should eat seasonally!

Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts haters may be turned from this easy and delicious honey mustard brussels sprouts! For another recipe, try Tacoma Boys creamy rosemary brussels sprouts.

Ingredients

• 1 lb brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
• 1 tbsp Bragg Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Pinch salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp Bornier Organic Dijon Mustard
• 1 ½ tbsp L.R. Rice Honey
• 1 large clove garlic, minced or grated

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Toss the brussels sprouts with the olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet or large cast iron skillet. Transfer to the oven and roast for about 15 minutes, until about ¾ of the way done, but not quite tender and crisp.
3. Meanwhile, mix together the dijon mustard, honey, garlic, and a generous pinch of ground black pepper in a small bowl.
4. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the brussels from the oven, pour the honey mustard mixture over the brussels, and toss to combine. 
5. Return the brussels to the oven and roast for about 5 more minutes, until fork tender and crispy as desired.

Easy & Tasty: How to Cook Vegetables

Cooking seasonally means learning how to cook vegetables if you don’t already! It’s a tricky part of nutritious eating for many people. But, the benefits are vast. Eating a good amount of vegetables everyday keeps you full without feeling sluggish, aids digestion, and supplies a wide variety of nutrients to your whole body. 

If you’re aiming to cook and eat more vegetables, two things to keep in mind are prep and taste. Preparing vegetables ahead of time by washing and chopping them means you can be ready to go when it’s time to cook. Then, don’t be afraid to add a good pinch of salt, a slice of cheese, or a sauce to the vegetables. If it will make you and your family more likely to eat vegetables, add the extra element! Sauces are a fantastic way to add flavor with little effort involved. Tacoma Boys’s selection of BBQ sauce, hot sauce, aioli, and more means it’s super easy to bring on the flavor. Particularly, look out for these sauces from Tacoma Boys to add to your vegetables before or after cooking:

• Stonewall Kitchen Basil Pesto Aioli or Lemon Herb Aioli
• San J Thai Peanut Marinade & Dip
• Terrapin Ridge Farms Spicy Chipotle Garnishing Sauce
• So Good Food Red Pepper Miso Mayo
• Woody’s Bold ‘n Spicy BBQ & Dipping Sauce

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