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 eggs benedict for brunch. This looks so good! I might be making it tonight for dinner.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/175007135496419923/
the best giveaway I’ve seen!!! there is a place in Ashville, NC Sunny Point Cafe that is AWESOME – breakfast or brunch!!!! best hash, eggs, well anything. they even have a garden off the back, everything is so fresh and delicious! You have to go early or you’ll be stuck in a line!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/208643395213378416/
Can’t wait to try the sweet potato hash!
Favorite brunch food = veggie omelette with whole wheat toast. ORRRR your recipe for banana oat pancakes 🙂
Love her story! So inspiring what she has accomplish for herself and her family. My favorite brunch item is definitely pancakes!
A little cafe I used to go to in Boston (since closed down – sad!) had a raspberry, nutella and cream french toast. I will take dessert disguised as breakfast any time 🙂
Broccoli & Cheddar Omelette or Quiche are usually my go-to brunch!
I love this spot called ‘Another Broken Egg’ and get a big ol’ omlette and lots of coffee! YUM.
I LOVE having pancakes with peanut butter and strawberries with a side of eggs! 😀
There’s an awesome breakfast spot in Portland, Maine called Brea Lu and they have the most amazing yet creative breakfast options! Last time we went, I ordered the omelette with artichokes, sundried tomato and pepperoni.
Favorite brunch item is definitely Ina Garten’s hash browns. Your sweet potatoes look like an awesome, healthy alternative. Can’t wait to try!
What a wonderful story – thanks for sharing! I love digging into a brunch of blueberry pancakes (after a good morning workout, of course).
My favorite brunch spot is The White Rose. They have the best bloody Mary’s!
Good morning and thank you for your continuously wonderful posts that make me smile!
My favourite Mother’s Day Brunch (and every brunch) would be the classic french toast with lots and lots of berries on the side. Yum! 🙂
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My favorite brunch my family and I make on Christmas morning: eggnog French toast, sautéed apples with cinnamon and rum and chicken sausages. Of course there’s coffee and sometimes even champagne!
I almost always go savory for brunch -love eggs benedict and omelettes!
Favorite brunch spot in DC is Founding Farmers and favorite spots in San Diego are Great Maple and Hash House/Tractor Room!
Bintliff’s in Ogunquit Maine is my favorite brunch spot!!!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/216102482096852945/
Our current favorite place for brunch is Bette’s Diner, which is in West Berkeley. Their menu is different every time we go and it’s always unique, fresh, and delicious.
My favorite brunch is pancake Sunday in our house! It’s the best!
Favorite brunch spot: My friend Elena’s house. She makes the BEST brunch!
I don’t have a favorite brunch spot but I have a spot I’d like to try. In our little town there’s an awesome raw, vegan restaurant that does a Sunday brunch. I need to check it out!!
I don’t brunch out very often, but I really enjoy an amazing place here in KC- Beer Kitchen. YUM
Just to make everyone’s mouth water look at the menu for Bintliff’s
http://www.bintliffsogunquit.com/menus.shtml
no I do not work there or have any affiliation it just Great!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/101049585365920739/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472666923368128011/
I love Mimi’s Cafe for breakfast…I usually order the Cobb Salad. It’s my favorite salad and I love the way they make it!
We also have a place called the Avocado House down the street from us…..Everything Avocado and absolutely amazing!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/172051648241613483/
My favorite brunch is perfectly poached eggs. This giveaway looks amazing!
All the french toast!
I love a good omelette stuffed with veggies for brunch! So many great brunch spots in NYC, but I particularly love Cafeteria <3
I’m obsessed with huevos rancheros of just about any kind! My favorite ones in Atlanta are at the Flying Biscuit, and in my new adopted hometown, Nashville, Tavern huevos are the best!
I usually can’t stay away from the stuffed french toast 🙂
Favorite brunch food= BREAKFAST TACOS (with grilled plantains of course)
Brunch is my favorite! I’m always torn between sweet or savory so I love when I go with someone who will order the other and we can share…best combo is a big glorious waffle and then eggs with potatoes and toast 🙂
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/269934571392319868/
Hoping to try the sweet potato hash this weekend!
My favorite brunch spot is the Waypoint Café in Camarillo, California!
All time fav breakfast spot is Butters in Scottsdale! Their veggie skillet is bomb with perfectly crusted potatoes underneath all the cheesy veggie goodness, topped with perfect over-medium eggs.
Now that I’m drooling, I need to plan another trip out there soon (I live in CA)
Stuffed French Toast…Every time…until recently….since I haven’t been doing eggs. But If i could….
Best place I ever had brunch was broken yoke in San Diego years upon years ago!
Eggs Benedict and a Mimosa! YUM! What a great giveaway
https://www.pinterest.com/meganclaw/what-is-beauty/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/471259548484890416/
There is a place in New Orleans called dantes kitchen which has the best biscuits I’ve ever had and house made jellies and a crab and Bree omelette! It’s awesome!
My go to brunch order is always some version of eggs benedict!
The best brunch order I’ve ever had is salmon eggs benedict. YUM!
My favorite brunch spot is root down in Denver. Bottomless blood orange mimosas & a focus on fresh creative foods.
Here’s my pin: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/528539706245596034/