Produce

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!

Here in the Pacific Northwest, fall vegetables are some of the best. The mostly mild winters mean a variety of cold-weather vegetables grow well. Squash like pumpkins and root vegetables like sweet potatoes are nutritious and tasty. And cooking during the cooler months usually revolves around warm comfort food! These veggies are easy to cook up for a healthy and satisfying meal or snack any day.

Fall Vegetables at Tacoma Boys

Fall vegetables like butternut squash, brussels sprouts, and potatoes might be first to come to mind. But there are a variety of other related vegetables to choose from. As far as cooking goes, “tubers” is a term for root vegetables like carrots and potatoes. These vegetables grow from the plants’ roots and otherwise underground. Many fall vegetables like tubers are hard and need to be cooked to a softer texture to be enjoyed. Gourds are similar: This species of vegetable includes squash like pumpkin. But some gourds are much too tough to eat — Decorative pumpkins in funky shapes might come to mind when you think of gourds. You can find these funky decorative gourds at Tacoma Boys, too!

Shop for an assortment of fall vegetables at Tacoma Boys, such as:

• Whole carrots
• Parsnips
• Sweet potatoes and yams
• Russet and red potatoes
• Brussels sprouts and cabbage
• Radish
• Beets
• Several varieties of squash

Squash Season

We all love a good summer squash like zucchini or crookneck squash. But the fall and winter seasons bring with it much more fall and winter squash! Cold weather squash has a hard exterior and can be cooked whole or peeled and chopped. Most squash is loaded with nutrients and have a sweet, nutty flavor. Many varieties contain vitamins, fiber, and protein. Depending on what you cook it with, squash can be quite a healthy side dish or snack. Same goes for squash seeds, too! Roasted pumpkin seeds are a popular snack after the carving is said and done. But any squash seed will roast well. Try roasting the seeds with Tacoma Boys Everything Bagel Seasoning or a basic blend of salt and black pepper.

Find these varieties of fall and winter squash at your local Tacoma Boys:

• Spaghetti squash
• Butternut
• Danish or acorn
• Delicata
• Kabocha
• Carnival

Pumpkins, including sugar pie pumpkins and Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins are considered squash, too!

Fall Recipes

There’s something comforting about getting cozy and cooking fall recipes. Rainy afternoons or holiday celebrations are perfect for such hearty food. Made with seasonal ingredients, fall recipes can consist of anything you want. From familiar favorites to creative new recipes, it’s a great time to get in the kitchen. While there are an infinite number of ways to cook fall vegetables, these basic fall recipes can get you started:

• Baked Sweet Potato Fries by Cookie and Kate
• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup by Cook It Real Good
• Maple Roasted Acorn Squash by Love and Lemons

Roasted Root Vegetables

While any of these fall vegetables are amazing when roasted, root vegetables are one of the simplest to prepare. This recipe for roasted root vegetables brings out the natural sweetness and flavors.

Ingredients

• 2 cups root vegetables, diced: This could be a mix of carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, beets, and more.
• 1 tbsp Chosen Foods Avocado Oil
• 2-3 tsp Tacoma Boys All Purpose Seasoning

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Alternatively, lightly grease the baking sheet with extra avocado oil.
2. Add the diced vegetables to a large bowl and drizzle with the avocado oil. Toss with a spatula to coat. Sprinkle with seasoning and toss again to coat. Spread the diced root vegetables in an even single layer on the baking sheet.
3. Transfer to the oven and roast for 25-30 minutes, flipping/tossing the vegetables halfway, until fork tender and browned. The amount of time will vary depending on the thickness and type of vegetable.

Autumn Harvest Salad

Try a new spin on your classic cold salad with warm roasted squash. Sliced apples and pomegranate are also in season. Plus, you can make use of any squash seeds you may have!

Ingredients – serves 2 

• 1 small squash of choice: Butternut, acorn, delicata, or kabocha.
• Lettuce of choice: Spinach, spring mix, butter lettuce, etc.
• 1 honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced
• Arils from 1 pomegranate
• ⅔ cup roasted pumpkin or squash seeds
• Apple cider vinaigrette

Directions

1. Roast the squash as directed in the roasted vegetable recipe above. Let cool for 2 minutes.
2. Assemble the salad: Lay a bed of lettuce on two serving plates. Top with the roasted squash and sliced apple. Sprinkle with pomegranate arils and pumpkin seeds. 
3. Drizzle with desired amount of dressing just before serving and enjoy!

Celebrate the commencement of the fall season with Tacoma Boys selection of fall vegetables and more. Stop by any time to check out an assortment of squash, gourds, tubers, and more! 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!