Produce (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!

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!

Around this time of year, most people are looking for no cook recipes to beat the heat. When hot weather hits the Pacific Northwest in the summer, it can be challenging to find the motivation to cook. Many people do not have air conditioning, and cooking means slaving over a hot stove. But there are certainly several alternatives! You can easily prepare and eat a week’s worth of food with little or minimal cooking. All it takes is a little innovation, fresh ingredients, and preparation: Think fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and meat or other protein. 

No Cook Recipes

When you’re exhausted from the heat and busyness of everyday life, no cook recipes are life-savers. You don’t always have to use the stove, oven, or even grill when cooking— and when it’s as hot as this summer, you probably want to stay away from any extra heat. You can cool off and still feel satisfied with your meal easily with no cook recipes like these.

Sandwiches With Variety

Get creative with your usual meal! That means trying something new to you, like a bahn mi or pita wrap. Try to mix and match a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and spreads like:

• Tacoma Boy’s own deli Smoked Turkey Breast
• New York Style Pastrami
• Green bell peppers
• Zucchini
• Microgreens or sprouts
• Avocado
• Tillamook Cream Cheese
• Mustard and Co. Ballpark Black Pepper Mustard

Fresh Cut Vegetables and Dip

Veggies and dip is a healthy and light no cook recipe that is easy to customize to your liking— You could try Simply Organic French Onion Dip Mix or Gnarly Garlic Dip with freshly cut cucumber, carrot, celery, and cherry tomatoes. Serve them with potato chips, too, for an extra salty edge.

Salads

Pasta salad is an especially great no cook recipe! But any type of salad, served cold, can be filling and delicious for a summer go-to dish. And while pasta salads do require a small amount of cooking via boiling water, the payoff is worth it! Pasta salad is generally served cold and can be loaded with vegetables, beans, meat, cheese, and more. Try Great Low Carb Bread Company Orzo as the pasta base. Or for a quick and easy option, Tacoma Boys offers a variety of premade and packaged pasta salad. For other salad ideas, try:

• Garden salad (loaded with vegetables)
• Fruit salad
• Taco salad
• Cucumber radish salad (with a creamy dressing)
• Caprese salad (with fresh heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and balsamic vinegar)

Tacoma Boy’s Favorite Summer Recipes

Summer recipes are light, refreshing, and utilize the best seasonal produce. Tacoma Boys boasts a wide selection of local fruit and vegetables to choose from. And why not get creative and use the season as a chance to try different tasty recipes? These no cook summer recipes are just right for the weather. 

Zucchini Noodles

Also known as zoodles, zucchini noodles are spiralized zucchinis: Try tossing the zoodles with Napoleon Basil Pesto or Stonewall Kitchen Sundried Tomato Pesto and serve cold for a refreshing dish that is full of summer flavor.

Stuffed Avocados

These are the ultimate hack to a protein packed summer recipe! You could stuff avocado halves with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Then drizzle it with Delallo Balsamic Glaze for a caprese-style stuffed avocado. Check out this post by Simple Veganista for more inspiration on how to stuff avocados.

Vegetable Spring Rolls With Peanut Sauce

Try Tacoma Boy’s recipe for spring rolls with chicken, shrimp, or tofu, and an abundance of assorted vegetables wrapped in Blue Dragon Spring Roll Wrappers. Serve them with Thai Fusions Peanut Sauce as a dip. Or, whip up a peanut sauce at home with the ratios in the recipe.

How to Stay Cool

It’s important to understand how to stay cool in the summer and year-round. Other than light and refreshing no cook recipes, there are several ways to make sure you’re staying safe in the summer. Mainly, be sure to keep hydrated! Remember to drink plenty of water when it’s hot out and throughout summer activities. Otherwise, get adventurous and head to the lake or beach: Relaxing and having fun in the water is an easy way to stay cool. Pack a cooler full of hydrating foods and tasty drinks to bring along on your summer adventures.

Opt for partially shaded areas if you head to a park or outdoor event, especially if you’re with young kids or older adults. For more tips on how to stay cool and safe in the summer, check out this guide by the CDC. Then, stop by Tacoma Boys for hydrating drinks and ingredients for summer no cook recipes! 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 it’s fun and exciting to enjoy the summer weather, it’s important to consume hydrating foods along the way. This year’s summer in the Pacific Northwest is already a hot one! So while you’re spending time outdoors, there’s plenty of hydrating foods and things to do to stay cool. Start by planning ahead and always having water with you— grab a reusable water bottle if you don’t have one. The key to staying hydrated is of course drinking lots of water. But it’s also helpful to keep hydrated with snacks and food throughout the day.

Stay Stocked With Hydrating Foods

There are several ways to eat hydrating foods during the summer and everyday. Generally, any fruit is a great hydrating snack! And if you have these foods on hand, you can stay cool and enjoy the summer. In general, fruit is a great go-to hydrating food. Many fruits are mostly water and are cool and refreshing when you take a bite. For a guide on preparing snacks for warm weather activities, check out our blog all about it. And consider these foods to keep you cool this summer:

1. Fruits and vegetables like melons, strawberries, oranges, tomatoes and cucumbers. Almost any fruit you choose is likely to be full of water! And smoothies, like Columbia Gorge Organic Juices and Smoothies are an easy way to eat fruit.
2. Classic salads are a hydrating food because they’re full of lettuce and vegetables. They’re also light and refreshing on hot days! Try this Tossed Salad by Spend With Pennies with iceberg lettuce
3. Cottage cheese and yogurt: Munch on a cup of Smith Brothers Farms Cottage Cheese and chopped cucumbers.
4. Cold noodles: Think pasta salad, zucchini noodles, or cool sesame noodles. We like this recipe for Cold Sesame Noodle Salad by Life’s Ambrosia.
5. Some pasta sauces, like marinara sauce, are surprisingly hydrating! Throw together a batch of spaghetti with Victoria Marinara Sauce.

Cooling Down in Hot Weather

While it’s helpful to enjoy hydrating food, you may be looking for other cooling down tips and activities. If you want to get outdoors to enjoy the summer, go prepared! Pack those hydrating foods and snacks in addition to water and other drinks. You could even use a cooler with ice to keep things chilled while you’re at the beach, lake, or picnicking at the park. Cooling down includes using hats, umbrellas, and seeking shade often. Especially keep an eye on small children and older adults in the hot weather and encourage shade and hydration.

If you don’t have air conditioning (like many people here in the Pacific Northwest), there are other ways to stay cool indoors. If there’s a breeze, open those windows! Avoid using the stove or oven and instead opt for chilled foods. And definitely sip on water and tasty drinks.

Don’t Forget These Hydrating Drinks

Throughout the snacking, it’s always good to have a thirst-quenching beverage on hand. While water is an easy choice, it’s fun to mix it up with other hydrating drinks. Tacoma Boys offers a variety of beverages that you can easily grab and keep handy. They’re perfect for summer activities out and about in the sun!

Iced Tea and Kombucha

Try Joyroot Herbal Tea in Lemon Tulsi and Orange Hibiscus. Or make your own iced tea, like this Herbed Arnold Palmer! And kombucha is another version of tea —fermented tea. Búcha Grapefruit Sage Live Kombucha is available at Tacoma Boys in addition to several other varieties of kombucha.

Lemonade

Me & the Bees Lemonade with Mint and Calypso Lemonade are perfect summer drinks to refresh you. Lemonade does contain a good amount of sugar, however, so be sure to drink plenty of water too.

Sparkling Water

Sparkling water or seltzer is a simple alternative to water if you’d like a bit more pizazz. Local Seattle Soda Co., Original New York Seltzer, and Poppi sparkling waters are available in the refrigerated section.

Summer Heat Safety Tips

Every summer, it’s helpful to go over heat safety tips as a reminder to stay safe. Here in the Pacific Northwest, there’s just a few months of hot sun and warm weather. But it’s important to know heat safety tips as well as the signs of heat stroke. You can read up on the warning signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion here. To avoid heat sickness, be sure to:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Seek air conditioned spaces often.
• Avoid the direct sun.
• Wear loose fitting clothing.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine which may dehydrate you.
• Go slow if working outside.
• Never leave pets or children unattended in a car.

Whenever you’re ready to grab hydrating foods and drinks to keep you cool, swing by Tacoma Boys! With a selection of fresh fruit, drinks, and specialty foods, you’ll find everything you need for a relaxing summer. 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!