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.

California toast  1 of 1 4

Sometimes the most delicious breakfasts are the simplest. The best part: the company surrounding you at the table. <3

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Sweet potato hash  1 of 1 2

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. 

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(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.  

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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. 

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To get each toast ready, I topped with sliced avocado, salt and pepper, 

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added the poached egg, then pico, crumbled goat cheese, and cilantro. 

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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. 

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My friends at Fair Trade kindly sent me a box of goodies, packed with treats from some of my favorite brands. 

Fair trade gift  1 of 1

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.

Basingwa Maria

(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:

MD Blogger Box Goodies

(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!)

FairTradeBrunch LockUp

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

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494 Comments

  1. Andrea on May 7, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    Favorite brunch is Paramount in Boston. So good!!

  2. Laura W on May 7, 2015 at 7:10 pm

    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!

  3. Jenny McDaniel on May 7, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    This probably is gonna sound sad but my favorite brunch is Cracker Barrel

  4. Madeline on May 7, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    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!

  5. Madeline on May 7, 2015 at 7:35 pm
  6. Susan Christy on May 7, 2015 at 8:00 pm

    I love going out for brunch – Eggs Benedict is the best!

  7. Starla B on May 7, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    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!

  8. Starla B on May 7, 2015 at 8:05 pm
  9. Virginia on May 7, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    My favorite brunch spot is my kitchen- eggs with corn tortillas and homemade chile, yum!

  10. rachel on May 8, 2015 at 7:19 am

    Le Petit Triangle in Cleveland!!!

  11. Kelly D on May 8, 2015 at 11:19 am

    I like a cheese omelettes for brunch.

  12. Kelly D on May 8, 2015 at 11:20 am
  13. Dandi D on May 8, 2015 at 11:45 am

    My favorite new brunch item is eggs, bacon and avocado on toast.

  14. Dandi D on May 8, 2015 at 11:47 am
  15. Wendy R. on May 8, 2015 at 2:05 pm

    My favorite brunch item is a really good Belgium waffle. 🙂

  16. Renee C. on May 8, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    I love brunch, especially Crème brûlée French toast with grand marnier and orange zest

  17. David on May 8, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    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.

  18. David on May 8, 2015 at 3:45 pm
  19. Renee C. on May 8, 2015 at 3:45 pm
  20. Jen on May 8, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    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.

  21. nadya kotik on May 8, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    I love ordering salad with scrambled eggs and fruit

  22. Erin L on May 8, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    I LOVE eggs benedict. Wish there was a great dairy-free, wheat-free sauce!!!

  23. greentopiaries on May 9, 2015 at 1:45 am

    My favorite place for brunch is Black Walnut Café. Thanks for the chance!

  24. Jill on May 9, 2015 at 2:36 am

    I love simple hard boiled eggs with an interesting condiment. Like pico de galo 🙂

  25. Jill on May 9, 2015 at 2:37 am
  26. Beth on May 9, 2015 at 5:28 am

    Favorite brunch order is vegetarian eggs benedict!

  27. Amber on May 9, 2015 at 7:02 am

    I love a crab cake Benedict (preferably with a mimosa)!

  28. Katy on May 9, 2015 at 10:04 am

    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!

  29. Katie M on May 9, 2015 at 8:05 pm

    My favorite brunch order is belgian waffles topped with tons of fresh berries and whipped cream.

  30. Kerry on May 9, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    Banana & walnut pancakes from Big Sky with a side of eggs and fruit. Perfect after a long Sunday run!

  31. Amy Tong on May 9, 2015 at 11:28 pm

    My all time favorite brunch item is cream cheese and orange stuffed French toasts! 🙂

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  32. Amy Tong on May 9, 2015 at 11:29 pm

    Pinned and here’s the link:
    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/53269208069924061/

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  33. Sarah on May 10, 2015 at 4:37 am

    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!

  34. Katie G on May 10, 2015 at 8:39 am

    Fable in Vancouver, BC is my absolute favourite place for brunch!

  35. whitney on May 10, 2015 at 5:23 pm

    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!

  36. em on May 10, 2015 at 5:44 pm

    Favorite has to be some kind of spinach and ham quiche – delicious!

  37. Cortney on May 10, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    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!

  38. Cortney on May 10, 2015 at 6:10 pm
  39. Kristen on June 3, 2015 at 5:01 pm

    My favorite brunch spot is beans and cream in our hometown.

  40. Kim N on June 4, 2015 at 6:49 am

    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.

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