Dinner (Page 2)

Winter is rolling in quickly which means it’s time to roundup a long list of your favorite soup recipes to keep you warm and cozy this cold season. Nothing beats a hot bowl of your favorite soup when the weather is cold and grey, especially in the Pacific Northwest! What better way than to plan ahead for the new season with fresh winter produce and the ultimate winter soup recipe lineup?!

Tacoma Boys’ Favorite Soup

Okay, to be honest, Tacoma Boys doesn’t have a favorite soup – it’s too difficult to decide on just one! What we do know is that your local Tacoma Boys is stocked with every soup essential you can think of. From canned goods to broth, produce, and even bacon, you’re sure to be covered this winter season to whip up some of your favorite soup! 

Beans

Beans are a popular soup ingredient in various recipes – and for good reason! Legumes are packed with fiber, protein, and provide a hearty component to lighter soups. Some of Tacoma Boys’ favorite legumes for soups include black beans, kidney beans, lentils, and garbanzo beans.

Brands

Field Day Organic

• Black beans, pinto beans, ranchero chili beans, cannellini beans, kidney, and garbanzo beans.

Eden Organic

• Great northern beans, kidney beans, aduki beans, pinto beans, and black beans.

Pepper Creek Farms

• A great choice for dried beans vs canned. Offers more unique beans such as canary and black calypso beans!

Broth

Broth or stock is the base of most, if not all soups! Depending on what type of broth is chosen, it can add a great deal of flavor and richness to your soup. Beef broth works great for rich chili while seafood stock works great for creamy soups such as clam chowder. No matter the soup you have on your list, Tacoma Boys’ broth selection is stocked, pun intended.

Pacific Foods

• Organic Vegetable
  Broth
• Beef Bone Broth
• Chicken Bone Broth
• Turkey Broth
• Chicken & Beef Broth

Epic Artisanal

• Bison Apple Cider Bone Broth
• Turkey Cranberry Sage Bone Broth
• Homestyle Savory Chicken Bone Broth

Ocean’s Halo

• No Chicken Vegan Broth
• Ramen Broth

Other Soup Essentials

Depending on the type of soup you’re making, there are many different options for add-ins. Hempler’s Original Center Cut Bacon works great for potato soup while Smith Brother’s Whole Milk is a high quality option for a creamy based chowder. The possibilities are endless for winter soups!

• Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Sour Cream to top a vegan chili
• Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Uncured Ham for a ham & potato soup
• Tacoma Boys Carolina Reaper Salsa for a spicy tortilla soup
• Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk for a creamy curry soup
• Manischewitz Medium Egg Noodles for classic chicken noodle soup
• Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes for a hearty lasagna soup

Winter Produce

As always, produce is a must for any dish, including soup! Using produce in soup is a great way to hide leafy greens that may tend to scare some away when found in its purest form. Adding loads of fresh produce to soup recipes is a sure way to get nutrients that are needed for everyday life. Afterall, keeping your immune system in check during the cold season is essential. Some of Tacoma Boys’ favorite winter produce includes: Kabocha squash, carrots, pumpkin, parsnips, brussels sprouts, and swiss chard!

Winter Soup Recipes 

What’s on the menu for your winter soup recipe list?! If you don’t have any, Tacoma Boys has you covered, as always. We’ve gathered a list of soup recipes that are guaranteed to be soup-er.

• Immune Boosting Feel Good Veggie Soup from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
• Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup from Food Menu
• Creamy White Bean & Pumpkin Chili from Family Style Food
• Spicy Parsnip & Sweet Potato Soup from Kitchen Sanctuary 

Quick & Easy Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

This tomato soup uses Tacoma Boys’ delicious fresh grape tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, herbs, and sweet onion for the ultimate comfort food dish. 

Ingredients

• 1 sweet onion, roughly chopped
• 2 cups fresh grape tomatoes
• 8 garlic cloves
• 10 fresh basil leaves
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 cups Pacific Foods vegetable broth

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit while you prep. 
2. Place the onion on the bottom of a 9×9 baking dish. Add the tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, salt, oregano, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
3. Bake for 30 minutes until the tomatoes are blistered and the onions are cooked through.
4. Pour everything into a high speed blender and blend until completely smooth.
5. Pour back into a saucepan and add the vegetable broth. Cook over medium heat for about 5-10 minutes until hot. Season with more salt and pepper as needed.

Pre-Made Soup from Tacoma Boys

If making soup from scratch isn’t your thing, Tacoma Boys carries pre-made soup options ranging from mixes to canned soup. This is a great option to have on hand when you’re in need of throwing together something quick and easy for dinner! 

• Rao’s Sausage & Potato Soup
• Namaste Gluten Free Hearty Vegetable Soup
• Bar Harbor Clam Chowder
• Safe Harvest Dairy Free Shrimp Bisque
• Bear Creek Vegetable Beef Soup Mix
• Rill Foods Tekoa Split Pea Soup Mix
• Anderson House Chicken Noodle Soup Mix

Swing By! 

Hop into the Tacoma Boys closest to you to grab all of the ingredients to satisfy your soup needs! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to grab one of Tacoma Boys’ very own to guide you through the store to find what you’re looking for. 

Don’t forget to shop early this season for Christmas Trees! TREES ARE SELLING FAST. Click here for more info on Tacoma Boys’ Christmas Trees this year! 

While eating vegetables may not be the most exciting thing about dinner for many of us, the benefits are vast. Cup upon cups of raw and cooked vegetables are packed with nutrients and can be so filling! And you may be surprised at the amount of vegetables recommended by the USDA. General recommendations for adults clock in around 2-4 cups of vegetables per day. Eating vegetables is often much easier said than done, but it’s worth it to make an effort!

Eating Vegetables Everyday

Regularly eating vegetables can be simple once you’re comfortable with a few recipes! Vegetable recipes can be raw or cooked and full of flavor and whatever other ingredients you’d like. Cheese, starch like pasta or potatoes, and protein like cooked chicken or steak are a great accompaniment to vegetables. When you aim for eating vegetables rather than processed foods or foods low in nutrients, it’s easy to get your day’s worth of vegetables. That’s because you can eat a lot more without getting too full. Fill up your plate with produce, then work in grains and protein to balance your food groups. For more information on the health benefits of grains and how to include them in your diet, check out our blog post all about it.

In general, there are a few ways to continue eating vegetables throughout the day. Other than incorporating large amounts of produce into each meal, you can eat more vegetables with simple snacks throughout the day. One way to eat more vegetables throughout the day is to sneak some greens in everywhere you can.

Sneaking in Greens

Smoothies are an easy go-to when sneaking in greens. Just be sure to watch the amount of sugar you end up adding to the concoction! Some pre-made smoothies and juices like orange juice include several grams of added sugar. Aim for smoothies made with frozen fruit, greens, and a little bit of liquid like Vita Coco Coconut Water or Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk. You can sneak in several kinds of greens here, from spinach, to kale, to collard greens, and more. 

These dark, leafy greens are known for being packed with nutrients. Think spinach, kale, chard, collard greens, spring mix, microgreens, beet greens, and watercress. Some of these dark leafy greens and more are fresh and available in Tacoma Boys’ produce section. The fibrous vegetables are often very low in calories while being high in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins like vitamin A, B, C, and K. Those who don’t enjoy the taste can easily incorporate greens into a smoothie with little to no perceivable taste. If you’re not sure how to get started, check out this guide on how to make smoothies with greens.

Salads don’t have to be boring! Sneaking in greens through salads is easy. But many people avoid salads. The dish gets a bad rep for being bland, not very filling, and lacking texture. Every salad should be loaded with more than just greens and vegetables. Think nuts, seeds, dried or fresh fruit, cheese, beans, meat, and more. Plus, Tacoma Boys’ vast selection of specialty salad dressings make it easy to add extra flavor to any salad.

Recipes With Vegetables

Recipes with vegetables don’t have to be complicated. Recall the vegetable-heavy dishes you’ve encountered and make your favorite at home. For example, do you ever enjoy cut raw veggies with dip served for snacking at a dinner party or get-together? Whip up the quick and healthy snack at home with whatever veggies you have on hand: Think carrots, celery, cucumber, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and even pickles and olives for an extra briney, salty crunch! These vegetables are inexpensive and easy to prepare ahead of time. 

• Serve your family’s favorite dip, like Paradigm Ranch Dressing or Litehouse Chunky Blue Cheese alongside the raw vegetables. Or, try something that may be different to you, like Stonemill Kitchens Artichoke Jalapeno & Parmesan Premium Dip or Kite Hill Tzatziki Almond Milk Yogurt Dip.

• You can also make recipes with vegetables with simple methods like roasting vegetables: Roast a large amount of whatever vegetables you have on hand. Add potatoes, or grains like rice or quinoa, plus beans or meat for protein. Season them with your favorite spice mix, like Johnny’s Garlic Parmesan Seasoning. Or, finish them off with condiments like Tacoma Boys Pepper Patch Salsa or Stonewall Kitchen Roasted Garlic Aioli. Now you have a full meal!

• Large amounts of vegetables can easily be added to soup. And soup season is coming up: The warm, hearty dish is so versatile, making it family-friendly. That’s what we love about it! Make a soup with whatever veggies, beans, and seasonings you have on hand. Check out our soup guide for some tips and tricks. Or, grab some packaged vegetable-loaded soup to have on hand, like Amy’s Organic Chunky Vegetable Soup or Rill Foods Barley and Vegetable Soup. 

Staying Healthy With Vegetables From Tacoma Boys

Swing by Tacoma Boys for all the fresh vegetables and produce you need throughout the year. You can find seasonal and other produce to incorporate into your meals and keep your family eating healthy. 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!

Fresh seafood like Alaskan sockeye salmon is one of the best parts about living in the Pacific Northwest. Summer is the sockeye salmon season in Alaska, and it’s easy and delicious to reap the benefits of cooking the seafood. Fresh, high quality ingredients are the bread and butter of a cooked salmon meal —And Tacoma Boys has all the fresh produce and ingredients to get you there.

Alaskan Sockeye Salmon

Compared to other types of salmon, fresh wild Alaskan sockeye salmon is a nice dark pink. It’s sometimes smaller and may have a more intense fish flavor. Salmon filets are commonly prepared with garlic, butter, lemon, and herbs like dill and chives. Salmon is known as a healthy fish because it’s rich in protein and nutrients: Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B-12, D, and iron. Alaskan sockeye salmon is a great main entree because it’s naturally an excellent source of protein. It’s versatile to prepare and cook and well liked by many seafood lovers. 

The Pacific Northwest specifically is a great place to eat salmon because it is fresh and commonly prepared around the area. People will eat salmon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s often enjoyed with other light and subtly flavored sides like Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice and sauteed vegetables. Or, try the salmon marinated in Stonewall Kitchen Honey Orange Balsamic Dressing and served on salad.

In addition to fresh wild Alaskan sockeye salmon, you can also find canned Henry & Lisa’s Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon at Tacoma Boys. Canned salmon is a great option for camping, quick snacking, and last-minute meals.

Fresh Seafood at Tacoma Boys

Fresh seafood is easy to prepare and delicious to enjoy. There are several ways to enjoy seafood with basic ingredients and fun recipes. Fresh seafood is always available at Tacoma Boys in addition to fresh produce and everything else you need for a seafood dinner. Summer is a good time to enjoy seafood because there is a wide variety available throughout the season. In addition to fresh wild Alaskan sockeye salmon, Tacoma Boys offers a rotating selection of fresh seafood, including:

• Fresh wild red rock snapper filets: These rock snapper filets can be baked, pan-fried, grilled, poached, etc. Season and cook them similar to salmon.
• Wild royal red prawns: Prawns are easy and quick to cook in several methods and recipes.
• Wild ahi tuna medallions: Tuna can be pan-seared or grilled. Season or marinate it however you like!  
• Beer battered cod fillets: Prepared cod fillets make fish and chips or tropical fish tacos a deliciously quick dinner plan.

Check out our weekly specials to stay updated with deals and specials on fresh seafood at Tacoma Boys.

Salmon Recipes

The best thing about cooking salmon recipes is how simple and delicious it is to prepare. All you need is a few fresh, quality ingredients to get started. Some salmon recipes may require marinating the fish or using fresh citrus and herbs for a light and bright flavor. You can also use sauces or make your own to add even more flavor. If you’ve never cooked salmon before, don’t hesitate! It’s actually quite easy and often quick to prepare and cook salmon. All the different methods to cook salmon may seem intimidating, but they are all good for different reasons. 

1. Baked

Baked salmon is easy and convenient, but may take a bit longer than other methods. It’s a good method when using marinades and sauces. Try a mixture of sour cream, garlic, dill, chives, and lemon for a refreshing sauce!

2. Broiled

Similar to baking salmon, you can broil it for a quicker and crispier result. But keep an eye on it! Broiling can easily lead to burning. Simply prepare the salmon with your oil and seasonings and pop it under the broiler for 15-20 minutes.

3. Pan-fried

One of the more common ways to prepare salmon is by pan-frying the fish. You can use lots of salty, buttery, lemony ingredients alongside the salmon filets. Or, make a sauce to go over top. This recipe for a creamy feta garlic sauce by Half Baked Harvest sounds perfect for salmon! 

4. Grilled

Sockeye salmon is a great fish for grilling! Hot and fast, grilled salmon is popular because of the buttery, smoky flavors. Tacoma Boy’s recipe for Citrus Herb Grilled Salmon is one simple and delicious way to cook salmon.

5. Poached

Low and slow, salmon can be poached in water or a flavorful sauce. Try this recipe for curry poached salmon featuring coconut milk, curry paste, and fresh garlic and ginger.

Shopping for Salmon

There’s no right way to enjoy your wild Alaskan sockeye salmon — It’s all about eating what you prefer, prepared simply with quality ingredients. Tacoma Boys looks forward to helping you prepare your delicious salmon dinner with fresh produce and specialty food products, too! 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!

While turkey has traditionally been the holiday’s center stage, a vegan Thanksgiving can be just as delicious (if not more!). There is still an entire world of flavor to enjoy without meat, dairy, and other animal products. And plant based foods are becoming more and more popular. That means there are so many new products and ideas to help make your vegan Thanksgiving hearty and tasty! Read on for some vegan inspiration and recipe ideas for the holidays.

Vegan Thanksgiving

Creating a vegan Thanksgiving meal doesn’t have to be complicated or overloaded with vegetables. The idea that vegans eat a lot of vegetables isn’t wrong, but can sometimes be misunderstood: Your vegan Thanksgiving spread doesn’t have to be all salads and roasted squash! In fact, most Thanksgiving staples like bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and even gravy can easily be vegan. This can be a fun chance to get creative and experiment with new ideas for your holiday meal.

As far as vegan Thanksgiving entrees go, there’s a lot of things to cook for center stage! Tacoma Boys’ recipe for Mini Vegetarian Pot Pies can easily be made vegan (and even gluten free with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour and Schar Gluten Free Puff Pastry Dough). Or, try these vegan mains for Thanksgiving:

• Lentil Shepherd’s Pie by Rainbow Plant Life.
• Vegan Stuffed Pumpkin by Vancouver with Love.
• Caramelized Shiitake Mushroom Risotto by Minimalist Baker.

Holiday Side Dishes

Your spread of vegan holiday side dishes can be full of a variety of different delicious flavors and textures. It can also be nice and nutritious as you’re bound to cook up some vegetables! If you’re interested in holiday side dishes that are vegan, you can simply make some swaps with your favorite foods. Tacoma Boys has long offered a variety of vegan staples and alternative food products: This includes nut milks and dairy free butter, sour cream, cheese, and more. If you’re still not sure what to cook this year, consider some of these vegan holiday side dishes.

1. Vegan sausage stuffing: Simply swap out classic stuffing ingredients with animal products for vegan alternatives. Try Earth Balance Dairy Free Butter, Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Broth Base, and even Field Roast Italian Garlic & Fennel Plant Based Sausages. 

2. Mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy: Opt again for vegan butter as well as Almond Breeze Almond Milk and Forager Organic Dairy Free Sour Cream for your creamy mashed potatoes. Then, whip up this recipe for onion mushroom gravy that is just as savory as turkey gravy. You can also go for instant mashed potatoes with Bob’s Red Mill Potato Flakes to make things just a bit more quick and easy.

3. Vegan green bean casserole: There are several recipes for vegan green bean casserole all across the web! You can use cashew cream and alternative milks for the same creamy consistency. Also try it with a sprinkle of Seed Ranch Cheddar Cravings Vegan Cheese or Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Yeast for an added cheesy flavor.

4. Jalapeno cornbread muffins: Slightly spicy and crumbly, jalapeno cornbread muffins are easy to make, too. Try this recipe for a vegan version with fresh jalapenos or for a quick version, with Bob’s Red Mill Cornbread & Muffin Mix.

5. Autumn harvest salad: Place sliced apples, chopped pecans, and Follow Your Heart Dairy Free Feta Crumbles on a bed of spring mix. To add even more depth to the salad, throw in some roasted butternut squash! Then finish with a drizzle of Fody Maple Dijon Dressing for a filling side salad.

Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

In addition to those top five vegan thanksgiving recipes, there are so many others to try! Eating plant-based may encourage some people to broaden their scope of what they cook and eat. Different seasonings, aromatics, nuts and seeds, and of course fruit and vegetables can come together into a tasty meal so nicely. To round out your menu of vegan Thanksgiving recipes, you could also try some of these vegan favorites at Tacoma Boys:

• Karine and Jeff Mushroom Soup or Green Lentil and Carrot Soup
• Immaculate Organic Flaky Biscuits
• Deliciou Plant Based Beef
• Coconut Cloud Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa with Soyatoo Soy Whip
• Wholly Wholesome Organic Traditional Pie Dough
• Key Lime or Chocolate Hazelnut Divine Pie

Shop at Tacoma Boys for Vegan Staples

Here at Tacoma Boys, you’ll always find a variety of vegan products and specialty food items. Check out our favorite vegan staples here and then come on by to shop for your favorites! Tacoma Boys has all the food and drink you need for any type of Thanksgiving or holiday celebration in general. 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!