There is a lot more to picking flowers than finding the best deal. Here are a few quick tips for picking the right flowers and plants when you’re out shopping.
(more…)As Mother’s Day, and all of the Graduations approach, before we get to the distinction of which flowers are best, we’ve got to know if flowers are a good gift, or just an easy out.
(more…)Finding the right partnerships in business is a serious task. So here are a few things that we look for when partnering with growers and manufacturers across the country, that helped us work so well with DeGoede Brothers.
(more…)
Walking through the produce section of a specialty grocer like Tacoma Boys or H&L Produce is an eye opening experience for some. Beyond organic bananas and tomatoes, there is an amazing assortment of fruits and veggies that many people have never heard of! Shallots are one of theses great everyday food items that, for some reason, have remained under the radar for many Americans.
Ever feel a little lost around a little known fruit or vegetable? Fear not, we are here to help! If you are ever unsure of how to prepare a food item, or what it may be for, make sure to ask one of our skilled staff. We love to help our customers.
Shallots are like small, delicious, less pungent, onions. They won’t make you cry – and as you may have guessed are a great alternative to onions in any number of dishes. Once you start using them you may find yourself purchasing them on each trip to your specialty market. Check out our Weekly Specials!
Hints of Garlic and Onion.
Shallots are part of the Allium family of vegetables, which include onions, leeks and garlic. They have a more delicate flavor than onions with a hint of garlic. They even look a bit like large garlic cloves when prepared, but are much easier to eat whole.
Shallots Melt Into Your Meals
Unlike onions, which maintain their shape and texture when cooked, shallots are quicker to break down when cooked. This is a good thing. It means they become part of the meal instead of sitting separate in the mix. The creamy texture of the shallot, when cooked, is pleasant on the palate. This sensation, matched with their delicate, yet rich, flavor make the shallot an excellent ingredient.
A Great Substitute
Shallots are a great substitute for onions in any number of dishes. Make sure to try them out in your favorite meals and let us know how it goes!
The Easiest of Recipes
Looking for an easy way to prepare your shallots? It’s as simple as rinsing them, with the skins on. Hand place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Heat your oven to 425 degrees. Once the oven is ready, insert the tray of shallots into the oven and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the skins are golden brown and the shallots are tender when probed with a fork or knife. Remove and enjoy!
These roasted beauties are ready to be enjoyed on their own or with any number of dishes. Remember they have a milder flavor than onions or garlic, so you are more likely to eat them on their own.
Olive Oil & Salt
Want to get a little more complicated? Peel the shallots, then toss them in olive oil with a generous amount of salt. Roast these at 425 degrees until tender. If you like you can slice the shallots in half, leaving their inner beauty exposed. This also allows for a shorter cooking time.
Shallots Across The World
It is believed that shallots first came to Europe from the middle east, during the 12th century. Today there are over 10 varieties available in France. In Indonesia, shallots are often pickled and served with meals. Shallots are well loved in Iran where they are often crushed into yogurt or grilled on kebabs.
Local Specialty Markets Offer Shallots
At Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce we are proud to offer our community the freshest and best ingredients for their day to day lives, including shallots! If you’ve never been into one of our South Sound locations, make sure to stop in soon! We have a wide selection of beers and wines, chocolates, canned foods, meats and cheeses and more! Look around our website and check out our social media on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
When you search for a “butcher near Tacoma,” do you consider the different services they may offer, and ways they cut and season the meat? Here are 5 things a butcher can do to improve your meat market experience.
A recent USDA study found that pre-packaged meat (the stuff on Styrofoam, wrapped in plastic) had over 211 different drug residues. Why? Because those meats are sourced from “factory farms”.
So, if you’re not interested in eating meat with residual antibiotics and hormones, then it’s time to visit your local butcher!
Sourcing meat from a local butcher near Tacoma is an easy and sustainable way to incorporate organic meats into your meals.
Read on for the 5 things you didn’t know you could ask your Tacoma butcher.
1. They Cut and Tenderize for You
Some cuts or dishes require special equipment (like a bone saw). If you don’t have one of those in the depths of your pantry, there’s no need to fret.
Just ask your butcher to cut or tenderize the meat for you.
They’ve got the necessary equipment and space. Plus, it’ll save you a load of prep time once you get home.
2. They Season Your Meat for You
Who better to season the meat than a person who works with meat for a living?
At Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce we have our own brand of rubs and sauces that perfectly pair with the cut you’re looking for. Most butchers have their favorites for beef, pork and chicken.
All you have to do is ask, and prior to the packaging, the butcher can season the meat to perfection.
Now that the meat is cut and seasoned, it just leaves the cooking to you! All you have to do is gather your ingredients and recipe to get dinner going.
3. Your Butcher Near Tacoma Can Special Order
Are you looking for something a little out of the norm? Maybe a goose or a turducken (that would be a chicken inside a duck, inside a turkey)?
Ask the butcher! They can work miracles behind the meat counter.
They may not have what you want on hand, but if you give them a few days’ notice, they can most likely order it for you!
If you’re short on time, you can always give one of our stores a call and the meat department will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
4. They can Teach You a Thing or Two
Some people avoid the butcher counter because they don’t know what kind of meat to ask for or what to do with it once they get it home. If that sounds like you, it’s okay! Just tell the butcher.
It’s actually a lot of fun for us if you have no idea what you’re looking for. It’s like giving an artist a blank canvas and letting them create a masterpiece. The butcher might ask you some questions like:
- Which cuisines you typically enjoy?
- What type of dish you’re looking to cook?
- What’s your skill level?
The butcher can then offer suggestions as and instructions on the best way to prepare the cut.
The average American consumes about 200 lbs. of meat each year. So, you might as well learn how to shop for it, and cook it well!
5. Your Butcher Can Help You be Environmentally Friendly
Last but not least, a butcher near Tacoma can help you source your meat sustainably. They know that purchasing an entire animal from a local and reputable farmer is the best way to guarantee that the meat is a high quality and doesn’t get wasted.
If you don’t live with 12 other people, then buying a whole cow or pig is unrealistic. One option is to find a group of friends who are interested and having a butcher divide, package, and prepare the animal into equal parts for the whole group.
You’ll have fresh, frozen, meat for an entire year!
Now Try it Out!
At Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce, we are proud to be an amazing option when looking for a Butcher near Tacoma. Not only do we offer an amazing meat section, but thousands of labels of beer and wine, fresh produce, and amazing specialty food items. Not to mention our ceramic pottery, floral and planting options.
Come and visit one of our expertly trained butchers, and embrace what Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce are proud to offer the greater Tacoma area. You’ll never find our meats under plastic or on Styrofoam plates. Our all-natural deli case meats are fresh, organic and hand wrapped, just like in the old days.
Read Next: 5 Easy Meals You Can Make in Minutes
Now that it’s Fall, farmers markets have shut down. But that doesn’t mean the quality of your meals has to go down. Fall and Winter actually bring a bounty of healthy and tasty foods, too! It’s as easy as visiting a natural grocer like Tacoma Boys or H&L Produce.
Fall is Harvest Season!
There’s a lot to miss about summer, but Fall brings a whole new variety of delicious and heart-healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. Because our inventory is constantly revolving you can always shop on a budget without sacrificing quality. Every week we are changing the specials and bringing in new foods and beverages. If you like trying new things, you’ll never get bored at one of our markets. We believe that Quality is Always the Better Buy. We sell the best and leave the rest alone.
October & November Selections
Our #1 tip for saving money while eating healthy is to shop in-season. But that’s not always easy! So what’s good right now? There are plenty of in-season fruits and vegetables that you can buy without breaking your bank.
For the Fruit Lovers
- Apples and Pears
- Grapes
- Cranberries
- Oranges and Tangerines
All the Best Veggies
- Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage, Lettuce and Spinach
Other Seasonal Favorites
- Pumpkin!!
- Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
All-Season Deals
Consider Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce to be your farmers market that stay open all year long. It’s a total game changer! Some fruits and vegetables maintain a great price year round.
The first one that comes to mind is the cucumber. Another thrifty choice is cabbage. A head of cabbage is great no matter what season you’re in, and like the cucumber, it can be eaten a number of ways, so it’s definitely a go-to vegetable for any meal.
Fruits You Can Always Find
- Apples
- Citrus Fruits
When searching on a budget, sticking to these fruits and vegetables won’t let you down.
A Natural Grocer That’s Open Year Round
Tacoma and Puyallup both have great farmers markets, but they are forced to close by the end of October. Thankfully, you can have the same experience at Tacoma Boys and H&L produce all year long. Did we mention we’re open 24 hours a day? That means we’ve got you covered whether you’re looking for a quick lunch or a midnight snack.
Think of us like a permanent farmers market but with more options. Having brick-and-mortar locations allows us to offer a lot more than a pop-up market. When you visit, you’ll find a variety of produce indoors and outdoors. Inside, we also have a fresh meat department, thousands of different beers and wine, unique gifts and snacks.
If you like exploring the aisles, you can discover something new each time you visit. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a favorite food or beverage and can’t find it anywhere, let us know and we’ll do our best to order it for you.
Check Us Out
If you’re looking for an alternative to farmers markets for the Fall and Winter seasons, you should definitely check us out. As your local natural grocer we are known for carrying what’s fresh, local, organic and in-season.
When it comes to our suppliers, we truly only want the best. The food we sell comes from farmers and suppliers who care about giving customers quality, no matter what the occasion or time of year.
Give us a call to learn more about what we can do to help you and your family eat healthy all year long. We look forward to hearing from you.
After a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. Nothing would be more perfect than having a couple easy weeknight dinners at your fingertips. Believe it or not, it is possible to make a healthy meal at home in 30 minutes or less. (more…)
We’re all guilty of opting for a bag of chips from the office vending machine, when we could have planned ahead with more nutritious snacks like a vegan cookie. While the occasional splurge won’t hurt you too much, we should be wary of how to handle that 3 p.m. urge for calories. Maybe consider some different kinds of vegetable snacks to satisfy your hunger, while keeping your health in mind.
Junk food takes an enormous toll on our bodies, from promoting obesity to increasing blood pressure levels. In fact, 13.5 million children worldwide now have an impaired glucose tolerance, which is a precursor to diabetes.
Our solution to combat cravings is to replace unhealthy snacks with healthy alternatives. Here is a list of delicious vegetable snacks for those who are on the go!
1. Kale Chips
No one ever said you had to do away with your favorite salty treat altogether at all. Kale chips are the perfect replacement for regular potato chips. They are flavorful, easy to make, and have under half the calories of their fried alternatives.
To make your own kale chips, start with some basic prep work. Remove the stem, wash your kale, and preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Next, tear your kale into roughly 4-inch pieces. Then wash your kale with a colander.
Place the drained and dried kale onto a baking sheet. Drizzle some olive oil over the top. Sprinkle some salt and pepper over the “chips” and bake for 5 minutes. Voila!
2. Hummus Toast
Here’s a spin on a modern brunch classic. Hummus is a vegetarian friendly spread made from chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, garlic and spices. It is a great source of protein, iron and fiber. Fiber tends to expand in your stomach, making you feel full longer.
Making hummus toast is simple. Lather some toast with your favorite hummus. Get your veggie fill by adding in some fun ingredients, like cucumbers, peppers and/or tomatoes. Here are some ideas to get you started!
If hummus isn’t your thing, avocado will certainly do.
3. Stuffed Peppers
These spicy meat-filled snackers aren’t usually associated with being healthy. But they are delicious. You can certainly make your own small tweaks to this classic appetizer and make it more nutritious.
Fill a large peppadew with chopped meat such as bacon or salami along with some parmesan or mozzarella cheese. Alternatively — if you can handle the spice – try stuffing a slice of Coastal cheddar inside a Jalapeno pepper.
Some healthy options might include substituting the bacon or salami with lean, seasoned ground beef. Seasoned rice and/or beans can also make for a healthy alternative filling.
4. Beet Hummus
Beet hummus contains all of the basic ingredients as regular hummus, along with the addition of one large beet.
Roast a large beet then blend it with a food processor. Add in chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, garlic, lemon, paprika, and cumin.
Beets are a great source of fiber, folate and vitamin c. They are also thought to help lower blood pressure and improve athletic performance among other potential benefits.
Get the full recipe here.
5. Veggies and Peanut Butter
What seems like just a way to get kids to eat their green turns out to be a great quick energy snack!
Take your favorite veggie. Dip it or slather it in some peanut butter and you have a delicious, fresh, protein packed snack! Carrots and celery are maybe the most common vegetable used with peanut butter, but nothing is stopping you from experimenting with peppers, cauliflower or even broccoli.
“Ants On a Log” is a a fun treat for kids and adults alike . Simply take some celery stalks, fill the gap with peanut butter, then line the peanut butter with raisins. This is a fun recipe that kids can easily take part in preparing.
6. Cucumbers and Hummus
While we are on the subject of dipping veggies, let’s take a good look at cucumbers and hummus! Cucumbers have a natural, refreshing quality that balances well with the fibrous, protein laden texture of hummus.
Serve this snack with a dollop of hummus on each slice, or as a plate of cucumber slices with a side of hummus. Mix it up with other dipping options like bell peppers, carrots or celery.
7. Cauliflower Pizza Dough
There are so many fun and amazing ways to substitute popular dishes with vegetable variations. More and more people are becoming aware of gluten intolerance which can take away their favorite dishes.
Thankfully there are crafty people out there who are mixing things up a bit to solve this problem. In the process everyone seems to win, as new healthy options are being developed all the time!
Cauliflower pizza dough is one such creation. Pick yours up today at your local Tacoma Boys or H&L Produce.
8. Avocado Everything Toast
While it’s fair to say that avocados are more of a meal than a snack, you know we couldn’t finish the list without at least one avocado recipe. Try this snack option on either a piece of toast or spread out to multiple crackers.
For our snacking purposes we will choose some Wasa light rye flatbread. Rye actually helps you feel full, while the flatbread is a great light alternative to thick slices of toast. Slice and spread your avocado as you see fit. On top of the avocado, sprinkle some homemade Everything But The Bagel Seasoning.
Local Produce for Your Vegetable Snacks
Getting into healthier eating habits doesn’t have to be too difficult. It also doesn’t need to cost you an arm and a leg.
You can find all the produce you need for your vegetable snacks right here at Tacoma Boys! Plus, we also offer a number of things you won’t find at your regular grocery store. Curious as to what we’re talking about?
Check out one of our three locations today! Also, don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.