Pacific Northwest Outreach, Community partner

More than 40 years ago by Don Cline founded Pacific NW Outreach with the mission of “working hand in hand with Native Americans… physically and spiritually.” Located in Gresham, Oregon, the nonprofit organization aims to spread the Word of God to Native Americans while also providing physical assistance to relieve pain and hunger.

The organization is not sponsored or supported by any particular denomination, church, or agency; instead, it is funded through donations made by the local community. They collect and distribute food, clothing, vehicles, furniture, and other household items that have all proven to be very effective in meeting the needs of minorities who have historically experienced great difficulty in adjusting to a different culture and society. Commodity items are distributed to communities across the Pacific Northwest on multiple eighteen-wheelers.

Pacific NW Outreach also operates a Community Store in Gresham, Oregon that serves the greater Portland and Vancouver areas. Customers enjoy a wide selection of goods – from groceries to household goods – at a low price. Sales from the Community Store help provide the financial support necessary to fulfill the organization’s mission in outlying communities.

Houston’s is happy to support Pacific NW Outreach with a donation including a Torani Real Fruit Lemonade and Real Cream, Two Leaves and a Bud tea, and a variety of olives, onions, sauces, and syrups. Donations such as this one benefit many local communities directly and through sales at the Community Store.

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Images: Blue Hills Church Food Pantry facebook page

Blue Hills Church in Kansas City is committed to being “A place to love. A place to grow. A place to experience God.” As such, they are also committed to the spiritual growth and development, educational training, economic empowerment, and social advocacy of their local community.

As a part of their commitment to their local community, Blue Hills Church started a food pantry to benefit those in need within their congregation and community. They work in conjunction with Harvesters Community Food Network (another Houston’s donation recipient) and other independent donations.

Houston’s was able to provide Blue Hills with a variety of Monin and Torani syrups, Torani Real Fruit Lemonade, Sipp soda, and Umpqua Oats Oatmeal. The nearly 260-pounds of donations will help fill the food pantry and provide warm/cold beverages for community members in need.

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The 64-ounce polycarbonate container is break and crack resistant. Sturdy and strong, the container rinses clean with the kitchen’s power rinse but is also dishwasher safe. Its hefty size is ideal for large quantities but still blends smaller amounts to the perfect consistency.

Vita-Mix backs its commercial Vita-Prep blender with a three-year warranty on motor base parts and one-year warranty on labor, simply contact a service representative at 800-437-4654.

From fresh, whole ingredients to blended goodness in a single flip of the switch, the sleek, compact Vita-Mix Vita-Prep is the perfect accessory for your kitchen

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908 Commercial Blender. Photo courtesy of Hamilton Beach.

How many blended beverages does your establishment concoct each day? If the answer is “About one to fourteen” then do we have the blender for you!

The tried and true Hamilton Beach 908® Commercial Bar Blender is a no-frills, well-made blender that is recommended for blending one to fourteen beverages per day. Compact yet sturdy, the 3/8HP motor easily blends smaller ice cubes with liquid ingredients, blending up daiquiris and other frozen beverages in just 25 seconds. Two speeds allow for precision blending and versatility—go from high speed to low speed with one easy flip of the toggle switch. The perfect choice for your bar or coffee shop.

Photo courtesy of Hamilton Beach.

The unit comes standard with the base, a break-resistant 44-ounce polycarbonate container with easy-to-read measurements, Sure Grip™ feet, and stainless steel blade assembly—everything you need to start whipping up amazing drinks for your guests. The 908® Commercial Bar Blender is backed by a 1-year parts and labor warranty. All this at a comfortable price that will fit your budget beautifully.

Hamilton Beach also offers replacement parts for the 908® Commercial Bar Blender—so you can replace the parts without having to replace the entire unit.

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Start the evening off right by serving up tropical smoothies, with the summer taste of fresh strawberry and banana, combined with the tropical favorite pineapple and coconut.

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE

Photo courtesy of Coco Lopez.

Makes about 2 ¾ cups

Ingredients:

• 1 (15-ounce) can Coco Lopez® Cream of Coconut
• ¾ cup pineapple juice, chilled
• ½ cup fresh or frozen unsweetened strawberries
• 1 small banana, sliced
• ¼ cup light rum
• ¼ cup lime juice
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 cup ice cubes

Instructions:

1. In blender container, combine all ingredients except ice; blend until smooth.
2. Garnish as desired, Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers.

After buttering up your friends with a tasty cocktail, it’s time to move on to some snacks to ward off impending hunger.  Keep the theme going with some tasty sausage with Coco Lopez® Cream of Coconut.

TROPICAL SAUSAGE BITES

Makes about 40 appetizers

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds smoked link sausage, sliced
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 (20-ounce) can juice-pack pineapple chunks, drained, reserving juice
• ½ cup of Coco Lopez® Cream of Coconut
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 green or red bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and halved

Instructions:

1. In large skillet, brown sausage. In small bowl, stir together cornstarch, reserved pineapple juice,
2. cream of coconut, mustard and garlic powder; mix well. Add to sausage in skillet. Cook and
3. stir until thickened. Add pineapple, bell pepper and water chestnuts; heat through.
4. Refrigerate leftovers.

What’s better than a cookout on a hot summer day?  Fire up your grill and entice your friends with a taste of the tropics, all on a convenient kabob.

GRILLED CHICKEN KABOBS

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of Coco Lopez® Cream of Coconut
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons chicken instant bouillon
• 1 teaspoon marjoram leaves
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 pound skinned boneless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
• Red or green bell pepper chunks
• Fresh pineapple chunks

Instructions:

1. In small bowl, combine cream of coconut, lemon juice, bouillon, marjoram,
2. garlic powder and crushed red pepper. In plastic bag or shallow dish, pour
3. over chicken and peppers; cover. Marinate in refrigerator 4 to 6 hours.
4. Remove chicken, pineapple and peppers from marinade; arrange on skewers.
5. Heat marinade thoroughly.  Grill or broil as desired until chicken is done, basting
6. frequently with marinade. Serve with hot cooked rice if desired. Refrigerate
7. leftovers.

And for the grand finale, how about a favorite with a twist?  Tempt your guests’ taste buds with an ice cream version of a piña colada before you send them packing.

PIÑA COLADA ICE CREAM

Makes about 1 ½ quarts

Ingredients:

• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
• ¾ cup Coco Lopez® Cream of Coconut
• 3 tablespoons of light rum
• 3 cups (1 ½ pints) whipping cream unwhipped
• 1 (15 ¼ ounce) can juice-pack crushed pineapple, well drained
• ½ flaked coconut, lightly toasted

Instructions:

1. In large bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk, cream of coconut and rum. Stir in remaining ingredients.
2. Pour into ice cream freezer container.  Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Freeze leftovers.

And so there you have it.  A coco-nutty, fun day filled with good friends, good food, and Coco Lopez® Cream of Coconut.  For these recipes and more, pop over to the Coco Lopez® website, and when you are ready to place your order, be sure to contact us at http://houstons-inc.com.

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