Sugar pie pumpkins are the small, round, cute little pumpkins that are edible and easy to cook. As the name implies, they’re perfect for use in a pumpkin pie. But they can also be cooked into savory dishes and any sweet pumpkin dessert, too. With some simple instructions, you can achieve superior results with your pie! Grab a sugar pie pumpkin or two and bake it for use in recipes all season long.
Whether you’re a fan of college football or the NFL, football season has begun and that means game day recipes are coming up, too! Get ready to kick off the season with tasty snacks and appetizers to enjoy all afternoon. Classics like cheesy dips and chips and salsa are easy to munch on. And game day recipes can be easy and with minimal ingredients if that’s what you’re looking for.
September is just about here and many people are looking forward to Labor Day camping! The holiday always falls on the first Monday of September. It’s generally a three day weekend for many people and an opportunity to go out and have fun in the sun. That’s also because it tends to mark the end of summer for most people and communities. The sun is still shining, the summer produce is ripe, and it's one last chance for some warm-weather Labor Day camping.
Corn recipes are perfect for summer and oh-so versatile! From sweet cornbread to savory dips and everything in between, it’s an easy ingredient to cook with. There are different varieties that offer different amounts of sugar and starch. But all corn is packed with nutrients, fiber, and juicy delicious flavor! It also goes well with so many foods. For example, corn tastes good in creamy casseroles, recipes with other crunchy fresh vegetables, and baked goods too.
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.
For some households, the New Year means a new opportunity to learn how to cook more at home! It’s easy to get into the habit of stopping for fast food or takeout on the way home after a long day. But overall, cooking at home is generally more affordable and nutritious. Plus, you can experiment with new recipes and get into a new habit of enjoying home cooking on the regular. When you’re familiar with cooking often, this lends more freedom to eating what you want including more recipes from different cuisines.
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!
While turkey is an obvious choice for many, Thanksgiving ham can be a nice alternative for the holiday. Many people also tend to get more creative with side dishes and enjoy turkey just for tradition. Instead of a big bird for the holiday, switch it up with a Thanksgiving ham! There are plenty of ways to prepare and season ham or ham steaks for your dinner.
There’s nothing as fun as tasty as celebrating the spooky season with Halloween treats and snacks! And we’re not just talking about kids’ parties. Fall season and Halloween themed parties are always fun with friends and family to spend time with. Celebrate the harvest season and get creative with Halloween treats in different shapes and colors.