There's nothing quite like the burst of sunshine that citrus fruits bring to our tables. When you slice into winter citrus fruits, the aroma and flavor instantly transport you to a place where sunshine reigns supreme. Join us on a winter citrus extravaganza, as we introduce you to some of the best winter citrus varieties that can be found here at Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce.
Bright and refreshing holiday salads make a great addition to your winter cooking rotation! Loaded salads for the Christmas dinner table or everyday dinner add nutrients and texture to the meal. It’s a nice celebration of seasonal produce and can be so delicious every time. Read on for some tips and ideas on how to make a great salad for the holidays and any time of the year.
Delicata squash recipes are an easy, tasty celebration of an autumn harvest. The cozy fall season is in full swing and that means local seasonal vegetables like squash are ready to be enjoyed! Squash is so traditional for side dishes and different types of recipes this time of year. It can even be served on salads, pizza, and pasta. So grab some delicata squash from Tacoma Boys and let’s get cookin’!
Tacoma Boys is here to help you prep school snack ideas plus breakfast and lunch, too! Everyone knows it can be difficult to get started with a new school year full of activities, errands, and meals to prepare. It can especially be tricky to come up with new creative and enticing snacks for the kids throughout the year. Tacoma Boys has a variety of packaged snacks plus fresh ingredients to have on hand and pack in the backpacks.
When it comes to summer no-cook meals, everyone knows about pasta salad and cold cut sandwiches. But other creative dishes like nicoise salad (or other loaded salads) or spring rolls with your choice of protein can be filling and delicious. And recipes that use a slow cooker or grill can certainly be up for consideration, too!
Seasonings and spices are a great way to add flavor and tenderness to foods for your Father’s Day grilling extravaganza! Tacoma Boys has a wide selection of spices, herbs, and seasoning blends to help prepare for grilled meats, pasta salads, and more. You can build a whole menu with side dishes and mains that are packed with flavor and heat thanks to dozens of hot sauce choices, too. Whether you’re marinating meat, spicing up veggies, or accentuating appetizers and sides, Tacoma Boys has what you need to get grilling with spicy and flavorful food!
The opportunity to cook is around every corner and healthy side dishes are one of the easiest to whip up! Side dishes can be super easy to cook because they are small and usually require just a couple ingredients. From potatoes, to salads, to flavorful grains, there are many ways to enjoy a variety of dishes with each meal. And when it comes to spring vegetables, the Pacific Northwest has plenty to choose from. This spring, try experimenting with new ideas for sides and starters to add more excitement and nutrients to your meals at every opportunity.
While some people prefer organic produce, conventional produce is very similar. Neither way should be considered right or wrong as it comes down to personal preference and availability. This may cause some confusion for some people as organic food has increased in popularity. However, the nutritional value is the same and simply buying seasonal produce from quality sources is the way to go!
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.
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.
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
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit while you prep.
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.
Bake for 30 minutes until the tomatoes are blistered and the onions are cooked through.
Pour everything into a high speed blender and blend until completely smooth.
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!