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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Favorite brunch is Paramount in Boston. So good!!
I recently found a new favorite cafe – the family who owns it is from Columbia and it’s a great menu of typical American breakfast items with a Latin American twist. My favorite order is the “Cachapas Venezolanas with Cojita cheese” or corn pancakes. So sweet and delicious, best post-run food ever! Plus I get to practice my Spanish with the waitstaff!
This probably is gonna sound sad but my favorite brunch is Cracker Barrel
We discovered this cute restaurant called Rachel’s Creperie and I love it. In fact, my hubby is taking me there for a Mother’s Day breakfast this weekend!
Here’s my pin: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/124904589642199896/
I love going out for brunch – Eggs Benedict is the best!
Those potatoes look so good! Brunch is definitely my favorite. My favorite brunch spot is The Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta. My favorite dish there is definitely the Gulf Shrimp n’ Grits. They are to die for!
I pinned! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/215961744607980344/
My favorite brunch spot is my kitchen- eggs with corn tortillas and homemade chile, yum!
Le Petit Triangle in Cleveland!!!
I like a cheese omelettes for brunch.
Pin-
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/170925748334400355/
My favorite new brunch item is eggs, bacon and avocado on toast.
I pinned on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/201184308330508310/
My favorite brunch item is a really good Belgium waffle. 🙂
I love brunch, especially Crème brûlée French toast with grand marnier and orange zest
I am never able to eat brunch because I am at work, so I usually eat snack cakes for brunch. It isn’t the healthiest option, but they can be eaten while I work. If I could though, I would love an omelette or egg burrito.
I pinned this at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/258394097347471631/
Here is my pin: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/540643130243845828/
Fav brunch order is from C Casa in Napa — scrambled eggs with goat cheese, garnished with avocado, fingerling potatoes and peppers, and served with two — handmade! — warm corn tortillas. YUM.
I love ordering salad with scrambled eggs and fruit
I LOVE eggs benedict. Wish there was a great dairy-free, wheat-free sauce!!!
My favorite place for brunch is Black Walnut Café. Thanks for the chance!
I love simple hard boiled eggs with an interesting condiment. Like pico de galo 🙂
I pinned this:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/442056519651426296/
Favorite brunch order is vegetarian eggs benedict!
I love a crab cake Benedict (preferably with a mimosa)!
I’ve never been out for brunch! It’s not such a big thing here in the UK. BUT I do love a good savory breakfast with avocado toast, fried eggs and veggies!
My favorite brunch order is belgian waffles topped with tons of fresh berries and whipped cream.
Banana & walnut pancakes from Big Sky with a side of eggs and fruit. Perfect after a long Sunday run!
My all time favorite brunch item is cream cheese and orange stuffed French toasts! 🙂
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Pinned and here’s the link:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/53269208069924061/
amy [at] utry [dot] it
I love any kind of egg scramble. I love eating eggs at home but rarely as a go to for breakfast. I am much more of a oatmeal and peanut butter girl. Eating breakfast or brunch out is always such a huge treat. Bacon + Eggs + fresh coffee…and I didn’t have to make it?…YESSS PLEASE!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/bookmarklet/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffitnessista.com%2F2015%2F05%2Ffair-trade-mothers-day-brunch-and-giveaway%2Fcomment-page-10%2F%23comment-2986147&media=http%3A%2F%2Ffitnessista.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F%2F2015%2F05%2Fcalifornia-toast-1-of-1-4.jpg&is_video=false&description=Fair+Trade+Mother%E2%80%99s+Day+Brunch+and+giveaway
Fable in Vancouver, BC is my absolute favourite place for brunch!
I love eating healthy but I can’t help but order pancakes (no syrup, just butter), bacon, and black coffee when I’m out for brunch!
Favorite has to be some kind of spinach and ham quiche – delicious!
Gluten free waffle or eggs… and FRESH FRUIT. Whatever is local and in season. For me, fruit is the star. My fav brunch spot would have to be this lovely little Costa Rican spot in the jungle with, surprise, a fantastic array of fresh local fruits they pulled down out of the canopy that morning. It was an amazing experience! Also, pinned. :). Beautiful brunch, btw. Cali toast is a favorite, but I’ve never added an egg! Can’t wait to try!
http://pinterest.com/pin/158259374382686884/
Pinned 🙂
My favorite brunch spot is beans and cream in our hometown.
I pinned!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/bookmarklet/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffitnessista.com%2F2015%2F05%2Ffair-trade-mothers-day-brunch-and-giveaway%2Fcomment-page-10%2F%23comment-2991610&media=http%3A%2F%2Ffitnessista.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F%2F2015%2F05%2Fcalifornia-toast-1-of-1-4.jpg&is_video=false&description=Fair+Trade+Mother%E2%80%99s+Day+Brunch+and+giveaway
My favorite spot is Hash House A Go Go in Vegas. I haven’t had a breakfast there that I haven’t liked. But a little more close to home, I like Green Eggs Cafe – their red velvet pancakes are divine.