Nourish yourself through winter with warmth from our Bulk Department.

By Laura Tribble, Bulk Buyer, 16th & Madison

A version of this article ran in the Winter 2015 issue of the Central Register.

The Bulk Department is my favorite place to shop. Not only is it economical and environmentally friendly (get only what you need and minimal packaging!), but the bulk department provides all of the staples you need for making delicious meals. Winter is the perfect time to stock up on bulk items. You can spend those dark and rainy nights with a chili simmering away on the stove and some bread baking to perfection in the oven. These are some of my favorite bulk staples for Winter!

Pedrosillano Cafe Garbanzo Beans

Think you don’t have time to cook dried beans? It’s easy, I promise. Just soak them before you leave for work in the morning, and by the time you get home they’re good to go. Have you tried out PNW Farmers Co-op beans? These beans all come from small co-op farms in the Pacific Northwest.

My favorite are the Pedrosillano Café Garbanzo Beans. This variety of garbanzos is especially creamy and buttery tasting! They’re perfect for homemade hummus, excellent in soups or delicious all on their own. Trust me you can’t go wrong with these guys, especially at $1.69 per pound. I personally love to throw them in chili with some black beans and red lentils. Because who says garbanzos can’t go in chili?

POPCORN!
Multi-Colored & Yellow

Don’t forget your after dinner snack. Have you tried making your own popcorn on the stovetop? Not only is it easy, but you’ll be surprised at how much popcorn you can get out of so few kernels. Just heat up a large pot with about 3 tablespoons of oil over medium high heat. Once the pot is hot enough (you can throw in a few kernels as a tester) place enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pot in a single layer. About 1/3 cup. Don’t overfill the pot, you’re going to get a lot of popcorn, trust me! Cover with a lid and listen for popping. Once the popping slows down your popcorn should be done. What’s best about popping your own popcorn is that you can customize it however you want. I personally love to add just a bit of nutritional yeast and salt. but garlic powder, curry, and cinnamon are all great ideas!

Whole Coffee Beans

Make sure you check out our great coffee beans both in the bulk bins (10% off during Bulk Days) and in packages. Don’t have a coffee grinder at home? No worries, you can use ours! All our coffee is ethically-sourced, and you can choose from Seattle roasters like Caffé Vita and worker-owned co-op roasters like Equal Exchange. They're all passionate about making great coffee, and you’ll be able to tell when you taste a cup.

Have questions? We’re here to help!

Whether you want to sample something new, have questions about cooking a grain, or want to try bringing in your own containers from home, we’re here to help. The bulk department is here for all your cooking and baking needs, especially to get you through the dark days of winter. But I promise, spring is right around the corner (at least I hope)!

Great Recipes for Bulk Foods

• Mulled wine - Made with bulk spices and honey
• Granola Bars - Made with bulk nuts, seeds, and dried fruit

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Date: Friday January 15, 2016

Category: Winter

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