Dessert first + Fair Trade giveaway

Hi friends! Hope your weekend is off to a wonderful start. 

This afternoon, I have a delicious dessert combo to share + an awesome giveaway from my friends at Fair Trade. Once again, they’re hosting a virtual Mother’s Day brunch, and asked us to create a recipe using fair trade ingredients. The first things that came to my mind? Chocolate, coffee, and bananas.

Brownie with banana soft serve a delicious and super healthy dessert


Don’t get me wrong: I LIVE for egg dishes at brunch. It’s one of my favorite foods ever, and this is the recipe I submitted last year. As much as I go crazy for egg dishes, especially topped with a ton of salsa, dessert is #2. If I could have eggs and chocolate all day (ok, and wine), that would be a dream come true. 

But for today, let’s have dessert first.

Brownie with bana soft serve 3

I wanted to create something on the healthier side that tastes like a decadent treat. It feels indulgent, but this dessert is packed with healthy fat from almond butter, protein from fresh eggs, and a deep cocoa flavor. The banana ice cream tastes wonderful with the rich almond butter brownie,

Almond butter brownies

and to finish it off, sprinkle with your favorite crumbled candy or chocolate chips.

Brownie with bana soft serve 2

 Here’s the recipe if you’d like to give it a try! (* = ingredients you can find that are Fair Trade)

-1 batch of almond butter brownies, using almond butter*, cocoa powder* and espresso powder*

-3-4 frozen bananas*

-1/2 tablespoon cinnamon*

-1/4 cup of your favorite chocolate candy. I used Marich Salted Caramels*

 1. In a food processor, process the bananas, cinnamon and chocolate candy until a smooth “ice cream” forms.

2. Top the brownies with the ice cream, and sprinkle with extra candy or chocolate chips.

3. Serve and enjoy!

Brownie with bana soft serve

If you’re interested in learning more about the Fair Trade mission, here’s what it’s all about:

-Fair Trade seeks to empower family farmers all over the world. Funds are used in a democratic basis (so each community determines how to allocate the funds) to improve farmers’ quality of life. Here are some of the benefits:

Farmers learn and implement sustainable farming practices

Workers are fairly compensated, and able to work in safe conditions

Women are guaranteed health care, rights, and freedom from harassment

Revenues are set aside to build schools and help maintain enrollment

Farmers are given market-based tools to lift themselves out of poverty and

workers and their families gain access to health care, medicine and proper nutrition.

As much as I admire their mission, I especially love that they support and empower women in the farming industry. 

FairTradeWomen Full Infograph

5 Ways FT Empowers

Once again, they paired me up with an inspirational farmer to learn more about her story.

This is Isabel Uriarte Latorre, 58, from Cajamarce. 

2013 02 CECANOR 31

Isabel is CECANOR‘s Finance and Commerce Manager, and checks the coffee plants of a local Agua Azul member. Isabel has been involved in social justice movements in her native Peru since the 1970s, having been part of a student movement and later numerous labor unions. She is one of the founders of CECANOR and developed the revolutionary Cafe Femenino, a select brand of coffee made only by women.

2013 02 CECANOR 68

She states: “The purpose of Cafe Femenino is to make visible the contribution women make not only to the household economy, but the community and to the umbrella organization CECANOR.”  Through Isabel’s leadership, CECANOR has developed wonderful assistance programs. Health, education and tech assistance projects all benefit the female farmers and their families through introducing new farming techniques, providing health screenings, sex-education campaigns in rural schools, and improving the productivity of credit programs. 

Isabel Uriarte Latorre

When asked about the advantages of being certified by Fair Trade, Isabel explains: “The certification and subsequent prize money is vital for our success. It allows us to provide rural coffee growers a steady price that sets a solid base for economic budgeting both at the family and community levels. In addition, positive results turn into incentives for the growers to produce higher quality coffee, and many are also seeing the positive aspects of organic farming – economically and health wise.” Cafe Femenino currently has 645 producers.

You can read more about her incredible story here and the Fair Trade FairHer campaign, celebrating the women of fair trade.

And now, it’s giveaway time! 

FairHer Giveaway Photo

One lucky winner will receive the same goodie package they sent me with treats from all of these companies:

Wholesome

Allegro coffee

BarkTHINS

Lake Champlain chocolates

Nutiva

Numi Organic tea

Guittard Chocolate Company

Frontier Natural chocolates co-op

Marich chocolates

Barefoot & Chocolate (this tastes like frosting in a jar…)

Alter Ego (my fave truffles)

Nourish Organic (this lotion is my newest obsession)

Eco Lips

Spectrum Natural

TCHO

Fair trade goodies

The lucky winner will be chosen Monday night at midnight EST and announced in Tuesday’s morning post.

Emter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ready, set, go!

xoxo

Gina

I was not compensated to write this post, but I received a giant box of goodies that we’ve been enjoying quite a bit. 😉 I’m always thrilled to spread the word about the Fair Trade mission.

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220 Comments

  1. Diana on May 8, 2016 at 8:10 am

    My favorite brunch order is poached eggs over roasted veggies or sautéed spinach, all topped with hot sauce!

  2. Michelle on May 8, 2016 at 9:32 am

    Can’t wait to try your recipe! Great giveaway!!

  3. Kristi on May 8, 2016 at 9:38 am

    I love brunch! Chicken and waffles are my favorite splurge. I also adore a veggie packed omelette!

  4. Amy Thees on May 8, 2016 at 9:45 am

    I always order lunch at brunch and usually it involves a chicken sandwich with either avocado or something spicy.

  5. Jeanne on May 8, 2016 at 9:58 am

    Love anything with eggs!

  6. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment on May 8, 2016 at 10:09 am

    The almond butter brownies look awesome. Thank you for spreading the word about the Fair Trade mission. So important. xo Lauren

  7. Jessica on May 8, 2016 at 10:13 am

    I love ordering an omelet for brunch!

  8. Angela on May 8, 2016 at 10:40 am

    My favorite brunch order is a huge veggie filled omelet with a side of roasted potatoes!!

  9. Grace on May 8, 2016 at 10:52 am

    Huevos rancheros with extra avocado

  10. Elena on May 8, 2016 at 10:54 am

    The recipe sounds delish-can’t wait to try!

  11. Crystal Sell on May 8, 2016 at 11:09 am

    Usually some sort of a variation of an egg salad!

  12. Cheryl on May 8, 2016 at 11:19 am

    My favorite brunch order is a frittata.

  13. Laura @ SheEatsWell on May 8, 2016 at 11:23 am

    I love a good fancy avocado toast with runny egg!

  14. Caitlin on May 8, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    Cheese & Veggie egg scramble with green salad on the side to balance 🙂

  15. Kelly S on May 8, 2016 at 1:22 pm

    Thanks for the info on the story behind fair trade, as I now realize how ininformed I was on the subject. Thanks also for the delicious looking brownie ‘a la mode’ recipe! Hope you have a great Mother’s Day!!

  16. Kristen Y on May 8, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    I love eggs Benedict!

  17. Phoebe on May 8, 2016 at 2:18 pm

    I love corned beef hash (homemade, of course) with runny poached eggs for brunch.

  18. Hilary on May 8, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    My favorite brunch is eggs Benedict or over easy eggs on sweet potatoes. I roast sweet potatoes every week and top them with eggs for breakfast and it hits the spot every Time!

  19. Vicki L. on May 8, 2016 at 3:29 pm

    Omelette with spinach and feta, and fruit on the side.

  20. Amy L on May 8, 2016 at 3:33 pm

    For brunch I like fried cornmeal mush, eggs over-easy, and sausage or bacon.

  21. Jen on May 8, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    If someone else is making it, I’d take French toast for bunch, with fresh strawberries! If I’m cooking, it’s always eggs.

  22. Sarah on May 8, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    my favorite brunch order is a fried rice dish with a poached egg served on top from a local restaurant here in Nashville. It is even better served with a tomatillo bloody mary! Sounds like a weird combo but it is delish!

    • Crystal on May 9, 2016 at 5:04 am

      what restaurant? This reminds me of what a lot of Hawaiian restaurants serve for bfast 🙂

  23. Lisa Ponto on May 8, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    A breakfast burrito or omelet with lots of veggies. I’m more of a savory kind of brunch gal.

  24. Layla on May 8, 2016 at 6:20 pm

    I always order eggs at brunch. I love eggs Benedict.

  25. Erin @ Her Heartland Soul on May 8, 2016 at 6:28 pm

    Eggs benedict!

  26. Tori on May 8, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    I love ordering eggs benedict because I never have it at home, but it’s so delicious!

  27. Nour on May 8, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    Oats w egg whites and bacon!

  28. ikkinlala on May 8, 2016 at 7:32 pm

    My favourite brunch order is crepes with fresh fruit.

  29. Debbie on May 8, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    Any mexican-style egg dish with a side of pancakes “to share” 😀

  30. Katie on May 8, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    I am an omelette and breakfast potato girl all the way! 🙂

  31. Kelly M. on May 8, 2016 at 8:29 pm

    I love a hearty veggie and cheese omelet!

  32. Keeley on May 8, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    omelet 🙂

  33. Kimberly on May 9, 2016 at 12:40 am

    I love breakfast sandwiches at brunch – give me some hearty bread, avocado, & eggs, and I’m a happy girl!

  34. Nikki on May 9, 2016 at 3:41 am

    Waffles

  35. Debbie on May 9, 2016 at 4:49 am

    Waffles!

  36. Crystal on May 9, 2016 at 5:02 am

    My favorite brunch order is a veggie omelet and a mimosa 🙂

  37. Carly J Maxwell on May 9, 2016 at 5:03 am

    Omelette with all the veggies and feta cheese!

  38. Sara on May 9, 2016 at 5:06 am

    That sounds delicious! And the fact that they are such high quality ingredients with a purpose makes it so much better!

  39. Allison M on May 9, 2016 at 5:09 am

    My favorite brunch order is always a veggie omelette with potatoes, classic and so yummy!

  40. Mina on May 9, 2016 at 5:37 am

    My favorite brunch order is a huge Belgian waffle piled high with berries!

  41. Amanda P. on May 9, 2016 at 5:42 am

    I recently just tried the TCHO coconut crisp chocolate (that is in the picture) and it is delicious. It is important for everyone around the world to earn a fair wage. The future of our food is in the hands of those who take care in producing it. We need to support these farmers whenever possible. Thanks for this post! 🙂

  42. Sara S on May 9, 2016 at 6:01 am

    Avocado toast with pink salt and crushed red pepper flakes and a black bean burrito with tons of salsa more avocado (because why not?) and peppers and onions wrapped up in a tortilla! YUM!

  43. Samantha on May 9, 2016 at 6:01 am

    I love breakfast/brunch at our local First Watch. I can count on some healthy options there!

  44. Morgan on May 9, 2016 at 6:10 am

    Eggs benedict!

  45. Tristica on May 9, 2016 at 6:16 am

    Love some type of egg dish for brunch! Awesome giveaway!

  46. Claire on May 9, 2016 at 6:37 am

    My favorite brunch item – when done right – is shakshuksa. I’m also a huge fan of egg and avocado sandwiches. Thanks for the giveaway and for supporting/promoting fair trade!

  47. Amy on May 9, 2016 at 6:42 am

    A place I used to live near in Boston (which has sadly closed), had THE most delicious nutella, raspberry and cream stuffed french toast…dessert for breakfast for the win 🙂

  48. Stephanie B. on May 9, 2016 at 6:46 am

    I think you can’t go wrong with eggs, potatoes, sausage, and some sort of toast or English muffin! I love egg casseroles, too.

  49. Amanda on May 9, 2016 at 6:50 am

    My favorite brunch order is a giant fruit salad. Fresh out-of-the-oven bread is a close second.

  50. Sarah Daniels on May 9, 2016 at 6:52 am

    i love an eggs benedict. In baltimore we replace the ham with crabcakes and it is the best 🙂

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