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 french toast! I don’t make it at home, so it is always a treat!
I usually order some type of scrambled eggs when I go out. I love breakfast!
My favorite is very similar to yours – wheat toast, fried egg, sliced avocado, garden fresh tomatoes, salt & pepper, and locally grown strawberries for dessert.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/269653096415508471/
Pinned!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/250372060510510857/
i love anything that has eggs with veggies and protein mixed in, so my go-to for brunch is always some kind of omelet, scramble, or frittata!
Favorite brunch spot “Le Peep” (it’s in NJ)
http://pinterest.com/pin/130674826664899212/
Brookside in Exton, PA
Heidi Swanson’s baked Oatmeal from Super Natural Every Day…. holy yum
Yolk in Chicago is a true gamechanger. When the food comes and everyone goes silent for a full 30 minutes til their plates are clean, you know it’s good!
My favorite brunch place is here in Durham, NC. Scratch Baking. They use all locally sourced ingredients and everything is just amazing. My favorite thing they serve is a duck egg sandwich with bacon jam. Best thing ever.
Sweet potato pancakes, fresh fruit bowl and dark, good quality coffee 🙂
Brunch out is usually a treat so I go all out with an egg order, fruit, and side of french toast! YUM!
I used to live in Boston and Zaftigs was my favorite! You had to get there early but it was worth it
Brunch is my favorite meal. There is nothing that makes me happier than brunch with my loved ones. Favorite meal has to have something savory…omelettes with lots of veggies, and avocado toast with mimosas.
My favorite place is The Nosh in Phoenix, AZ. They have the best bagels and pancakes!
Brunch? It’s got to be a mimosa, and smoked salmon eggs benedict. A mighty combo!
My favorite is Golden West in Baltimore!
Brunch isn’t really a thing where we live so we have lots of brunch dates at home. Frittata, quick bread and fruit (and lots of strong coffee and maybe a mimosa) and you are done.
I love a good omelet for brunch. I can never master the flip without turning it into an egg scramble at home lol.
My favorite is an omelet with peppers and fruit
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/285697170088378023/
I miss my favorite brunch spot in Berkeley, CA called Saul’s jewish deli. They had the best seasonal scrambles and fresh latkes with sour cream and apple sauce. That would totally hit the spot for this year–my first mother’s day as a mom (I have a 6 month old daughter)!
I recently tried huevos rancheros for the first time and it’s definitely become my new favorite brunch order!
My favorite brunch spot is Empire Brewing Company. The Bloody Mary’s, brunch fajitas and breakfast pizza are the best!
I love love love frittatas for brunch with fresh juice!
poached eggs on crispy sourdough with butter and avocado, and salt and pepper. yum. oh and home fries.
I love omelets!
I really can’t decide what to order… Probably scrambled eggs with veggies and cheese or yoghurt parfait with fresh fruit and granola! I would Love your breakfast- I think I have to try.
In true New Mexico fashion, my ideal brunch is huevos rancheros, beans, bacon or sausage, side salad, red chile (or green depending on my mood) and cheese. Yeah.. OK I’m gonna go make that right meow and stuff my face! mmmmm
ha ha – NM represent! I love NM brunch foods!!
I live in NM, so my favorite local style brunch order is either a breakfast burrito smothered with green chile or huevos rancheros!
I love a good omelette for breakfast. Also, pancakes mmmmmmm
I love brunch at home. My husband is like my short order cook so he will whip up anything that I have in mind, french toast, pancakes, soyrizo and eggs, etc!
My favorite brunch spot is the Blue Moose Cafe! 🙂
Pinned! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/65794844532775504/
My favorite brunch is veggie omelette and fresh fruit!
My favorite brunch spot is Founding Farmers!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/78179743508592051/
one of my favorite spots is actually The Mission in San Diego – have you guys made it there yet? The Zen Breakfast is my faaaaaavorite.
we LOVE it but haven’t been since we moved here. need to go back!
Brunch for me is all about the perfect breakfast potatoes! My favorite spot, La Tartine in Redwood City CA, has them down perfectly. A mimosa also helps!
One of my favorite brunch foods would have to be Eggs Benedict because I could never make it as good at home!
Every weekend we have “brunch” at home with our two little boys. We have one request for pancakes, one for the waffle maker and two orders of bacon 🙂
hmm, im trying to think of favorites. i always get something new though… ) oh, shakshuka, and acai bowls are what i remember now 🙂
French toast!
I’m not much of a brunch eater, but when I do go out the ‘red flannel hash’ with roasted beets, sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions at the Duluth Grill is a real winner…especially with a sunny side up egg on top.
My spot would be at my grandmother’s home- who sadly is no longer alive. She made biscuits every morning – they were the best ever!
I pinned (yum, avocado toast!) https://www.pinterest.com/pin/33495590954965612/
All-time favorite spot is The Olde European in Pullman, WA. Second favorite is Holo Holo in Honolulu. Favorite brunch item to make at home is aebelskivers!!
My favourite place to brunch is this little ranch just on the outskirts of the city limits. They have the best brunch buffet with amazing ambiance. It’s a little hidden gem and I love it.
Eggs Benedict is my favorite brunch meal!