Fair Trade Mother’s Day Brunch and giveaway
Hi friends! Happy humpday! Hope you had some fun Cinco de Mayo adventures. I’ll be back later today with a recap of ours, but in the meantime, how about a little brunch date??
When my friends at Fair Trade asked me to participate in their virtual Mother’s Day brunch, I definitely wanted to join in the fun. I picked a recipe that’s quick to put together yet special enough for holiday. This one includes two of my savory favorites: California toast and sweet potato hash.
Sometimes the most delicious breakfasts are the simplest. The best part: the company surrounding you at the table. <3
For the California toast, I grabbed some brown rice bread to put in the toaster, pico de gallo, goat cheese and avocado. Next, I chopped two small red bell peppers, 1/2 a sweet onion, and 8 very small sweet potatoes.
(You can find Fair Trade avocados and bell peppers at Whole Foods)
I boiled the potatoes for about 5 minutes to soften them, then drained.
Next, I added them back to the same pot with 1 heaping tablespoon of coconut oil, the onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, the chopped bell pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika, salt and pepper. I cooked these on medium while the Pilot made perfect poached eggs.
To get each toast ready, I topped with sliced avocado, salt and pepper,
added the poached egg, then pico, crumbled goat cheese, and cilantro.
It’s my dream perfect savory brunch: something I’d happily order at a restaurant, but simple enough to make for a weekday quick breakfast.
My friends at Fair Trade kindly sent me a box of goodies, packed with treats from some of my favorite brands.
Here’s some more info on the Fair Trade mission, which has a significant positive impact on fair wages, safe working conditions, and environmental sustainability across the world.
Similar to my last post, they paired me up with a Fair Trade mom so I could learn more about her story and experience with Fair Trade. This is Basingwa Maria, an inspirational coffee farmer & member of the Dukunde Kawa Cooperative in Rwanda.
(doesn’t her beautiful spirit just radiate from her smile?)
Basingwa Maria started farming in 1974. She says that after her husband died in the war she poured her heart into her coffee trees. Coffee was her family’s sole source of income, and she had to make it profitable. She joined the cooperative in 2000, and with the increased income she has received from her fair trade coffee over the years, she has been able to bring running water to her home and invest in solar panels on her roof. She hopes to bring electricity to her house soon.She has also been able to diversify her family’s nutrition. They used to eat potatoes and beans everyday with no change, and they could not afford food at the market or oil for cooking. Now her family is able to buy food from the market and do not have to soly rely on growing everything they eat.
While she never attended school, she says that because of the cooperative all of her children were able to attend school and two of them are currently in university.
“After the war I never believed we could get this kind of life. Having this beautiful house, sitting with my children having discussions of how to improve our lives.”
She has twice won the cup of excellence award from her cooperative, and she says that her high quality coffee is due to following the agronomist’s advice and also from investing in cows which provide organic fertilizer.
My friends at Fair Trade offered to send one lucky reader the same package they sent me, filled with these awesome treats:
(Thank you to Simple Truth, Vosges, Cascadian Farm, Near East, Arrowhead Mills, Prana, Unreal, Eco Lips, Numi Organic Tea, Nutiva, Wholesome!, Lake Champlain, Bark Thins, Just Love Coffee Roasters and Whole Foods!)
Here’s how to enter:
Leave a comment below with your all-time favorite brunch spot or order
Pin an image from this post, and leave an extra comment with the link to your pin
I’ll pick a lucky winner this Sunday (5/10) at midnight (EST) and will announce the winner Monday morning.
Ready, set, go!
xoxo
Gina
This post is not sponsored. I’m just excited to spread the word about fair Trade and share some fabulous goodies with a lucky winner. xo
494 Comments
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I love a classic Eggs Benedict on gluten free english muffins!!!
i usually gravitate towards eggs benedict. last brunch date i surprisingly had waffles. whenever we’re near la jolla for brunch i drag my husband to Whisknladle.
I love veggie omelettes and bloody mary’s!
Pancakes or crepes with fresh fruit!
Without a doubt, if there are chilaquiles on the menu, that’s what I will order. Can’t turn em down!
Pin here!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/281615782925648469/
With two young children we savor saturdy and sunday mornings at home and we generally make a larger breakfast together instead of going out — usually eggs of some sort (omelets usually win), bagels and breakfast potatoes!
There’s a place in Dallas called BreadWinners that is AMAZE! Definitely my favorite brunch spot.
I love a good veggie omelette!
My favorite spot for breakfast or brunch is The Pork Store in San Francisco 🙂 Sooo yummy, every time!
That breakfast looks pretty perfect to me! Love poached eggs on top of avocado toast!
A couple of years ago, my husband and I found this hole in the wall place in Savannah, GA that served the most delicious crab cake eggs Benedict. We went back to a couple of months ago and were unable to find the place anymore! I was so disappointed, but I’ve been looking at recipes to hopefully remake it.
my favorite brunch spot is Elizabeth Street Cafe in Austin, TX
wow wow wow. that woman’s story really makes you grateful for the everyday things taken for granted. i really pay attention to Fair Trade certified products more now than any other label.
my fav brunch order includes anything with smoked salmon, eggs+egg whites, fruit, toast, and great coffee! this usually comes in the form of an omelette, and one great place in Ottawa serves huge fresh cinnamon buns as well, cut in half and toasted. nom nom nom!
Hi Gina,
That Sweet Potato hash looks to die for! I am a lover of corned beef hash, but its not exactly the healthiest meal on the block :). Thank you for taking the time to share this recipe. Your blog really inspires me as a new blogger to keep posting and delivering great content. I am pretty sure my mom will enjoy this hash on Sunday. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
-Stephanie
CohesiveFitness.com
Breakfast/brunch is hands down my favorite meal of the day. If I am home my favorite meal is oatmeal with pumpkin and almond butter. If I go out, lately I’ve loved getting poached eggs with toast and veggies. I can’t make poached eggs so it feels extra special to order them when we go out. I find that usually the best breakfast spots are the small local diners, I’m a sucker for weak, watery diner coffee, which my husband thinks is gross!
What a wonderful story!
I’m usually an at-home brunch person, but I always enjoy a fresh cinnamon roll from a local bakery.
You nailed it for me, poached eggs on roasted potato with fresh avocado and srirachi and a side of ripe watermelon and berries!
Ooh! Favorite brunch order…. smoked salmon, some crispy potatoes, sliced fresh fruit and hot coffee!
An omelet and a mimosa – perfect!!
Either French toast stuffed with fruit or a big chorizo omelet!
Caramelized banana waffles from Sable in Chicago!
California toast looks amazing! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/366128644683623988/
My favorite brunch spot is a little diner in Ann Arbor, MI. I love their french press coffee and chorizo omlet with a side of fresh greens!
My absolute favorite brunch spot is my mom’s house hands down!
Eggs Benedict!!! My absolute favorite!
Eggs benedict, always my go-to order no matter where I go!
Omelets are usually it for me!!! I LOOOVE ones with goat cheese. Had an amazing one in Geneva, IL!
Dim sum! Best. Brunch. Ever.
Any breakfast that involves eggs! I love ordering poached eggs at restaurants- they’re my favourite plus I’m too intimidated to try making them myself at home!
Favorite brunch spot would be a restaurant called The Place!
I’m intolerant to eggs, so I’m usually good with a nice portion of bacon and fruit/oats. Mmmm! So good!
Eggs Benedict or french toast.
I am from Canada – nothing beats a breakfast poutine with a poached egg on top!
Breakfast potatoes!
I always look for a veggie omelet with avocado 🙂
Here’s my pin:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/69172544253575885/
There is an awesome spot for brunch here in St. George, called George’s Corner, that is awesome. Their Huevos Rancheros are amazing.
I love when places have unique Eggs Benedict on the menu! I love trying different variations of a favorite 🙂
I always struggle deciding between savory vs. sweet brunch options (I want it allll), but usually end up with some sort of eggs. We recently tried a new to us local spot that offers all sorts of amazing waffles, both sweet and savory-think traditional and blue corn waffles rancheros! I went with the buttermilk waffles with bacon mixed in the batter (OMG) with scrambled eggs on top and syrup on the side, and a side of fruit. It was GLORIOUS!
Pin here!!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/279575089344402386/
The best and most favorite of my family is when I made carrot cake pancakes with a dairy free cream cheese sauce. It was so so yummy.
I also like to eat at A Good Life Cafe. I haven’t eaten a brunch there, but would like to one day.The pictures of their waffles look amazing and they offer gluten free options which is important to me and they also offer fresh juices and smoothies
Blueberry French toast stuffed with lemon curd! I had this in Denver and Chicago and now, when I see blueberry and lemon anything, I’m on it! Happy Mother’s Day!
My favorite brunch is huevos rancheros …. favorite brunch place is the Edina Grille in MN (and their breakfast gnocchi is aaahhh-mazing!)
Here’s the link to my pin! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/285274957622962664/
I generally stick with something a little more savory, such as a bacon/avocado omelet, when I go out, but a big plate of banana pancakes will catch my eye often!
i love a classic brunch- scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon and pancakes on the side!
I agree, it’s who you have at the table that makes a brunch great:) or any meal. I love a delish slice of a tasty egg bake with fresh fruit……and good coffee and o.j. What a great giveaway!
I love to order pancakes! I never want to take the time to make them at home, so they’re a special treat when I’m out for brunch.
My favorite Mother’s Day brunch spot is either Biscuits or The Nosh (followed then by Kneaders) here in the Phoenix, AZ area. I would LOVE to win this giveaway, as it looks like it is FILLED with a horde of amazing and delightful items (many of which I’ve never yet tried) in cooking and baking!