Hosting A Healthy Mother’s Day Brunch

Mother's Day is such a special time of year to honor the women in our lives who have been instrumental in molding and shaping us into who we are today. Gathering around a meal is such a beautiful time to love others through community and fellowship. With busy lives and schedules that tend to make getting together difficult, Mother's Day is the perfect opportunity to bring together the women in your life and what better way to do that than with a brunch!

We have pulled together some of our favorite health inspired recipes to make your gathering as delicious and guilt-free as possible.

Farro with Cranberries, Pecans, Goat Cheese and Coconut

Farro is an ancient grain with a nutty flavor similar to brown rice. It is rich in fiber, magnesium and vitamins A, B, C, and E. It's similar to and can also substitute quinoa, brown rice or couscous.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water
• 2 cups farro** – use quinoa or brown rice for gluten-free
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup pecans pieces
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese (fig goat cheese is my favorite) – optional
• 2 Tblsp olive oil
• (Add some diced chicken to make it a meal)

Directions

Put 4 cups water and 2 cups farro in a large pot. Bring to a boil, turn down heat to low and cook until farrow firm but cooked through. Drain. Allow farrow to come to room temperature then add dried cranberries. Put the pecan and coconut on a large oven safe tray. Spread it into a thin layer and place in a preheated oven at 275 degrees. Cook until golden brown about 5 minutes (be careful can over cook quickly). Just before serving add olive oil, pecans, goat cheese and coconut to farro. Stir gently and serve.

Serves 4-5

Sweet Potato Cakes

The sweet potato is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. They are an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene and can do wonders for the skin). They are also a very good source of vitamin C, manganese, copper, pantothenic acid and vitamin B6. Additionally, they are a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, niacin, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and phosphorus.

Ingredients

• 3 sweet potatoes cooked until soft
• 1 cup thawed organic corn
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Directions

Mash up sweet potatoes and add all ingredients to it. Stir until well blended. Add coconut oil to pan. Form sweet potato mixture into small patties and place in pan. Cook on one side until browned and then flip. Cook on other side until browned.

Servings: 6 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

The beauty of soup is that you can make it the day before and reheat. Soup just tastes better the next day too.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups diced chicken
• 1 cup diced onion (can use yellow, white or red)
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups of corn (fresh, frozen, or from a can)
• 1 (15 ounce) can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 (28 ounce) can of crushed tomatoes
• 4 cups of chicken stock
• 1/2 tsp cayenne powder
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 cup of cilantro
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

A simple dish—we’ll toss everything into a pot, cook it down, let it cool and then put it into the freezer.

Heat up a large pan on medium-high heat with your olive oil. Once the pan is hot and the oil is sizzling, then toss in your diced onions and garlic. Cook until onions are translucent. Then add in your cooked chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and chicken stock. Stir together and turn heat down until simmering. Then add in all your spices—cayenne pepper, oregano, paprika, lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes and then serve! Top with cilantro as desired.

Serves 4 – 5

Fruit Crisp

This is a yummy dessert that is not too heavy or sweet making it the perfect treat to serve for brunch.

Ingredients:

• 10 ounce bag frozen blueberries
• 2.5 cups strawberries, sliced
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 cup organic oats
• ½ cup pecans or nut of choice
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 1/3 cup flaxseeds
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°. Add sliced fruit into a dish and set aside. Melt coconut oil. Add oats and pecans to blender and lightly chop. Add oats and pecans to melted coconut oil. Add vanilla, syrup and flaxseeds and stir. Sprinkle fruit with cinnamon. Put the mix into the dish with the fruit heating the dish in a preheated 375 degree oven for 40-45 minutes.

Serves: 6 – 8

Refreshing Vitamin Infused Sparkling Water

No brunch is complete without a refreshing beverage and you don't need sugary drinks or sodas to make it special. Sparkling waters are a great alternative as they are light and provide that bubbly kick you love.

There are many ways to make vitamin infused sparkling beverages:

• Start by adding cubes of ice to a glass
• Next add your favorite citrus elements like lime, lemon, orange or grapefruit
• Next add your favorite fruits like strawberries or pineapple
• Next add your favorite herbs like crushed basil or mint
• Last step is to pour the sparkling water over ice, fruits and herbs. The fizzing and bubbling from the carbonation will naturally blend the flavors together.

You can even create a beverage bar with glasses, bottles of sparkling waters and different fruits and herbs cut up in bowls and let your guests create their own!

Tablescape

Putting together a Mother's Day brunch isn't complete without a spring-inspired tablescape to go with it! Beth at HomeStoriesAtoZ has put together an amazing post full of beautiful ideas that won't break the bank so be sure to check out all of her budget-friendly tips and video for creating an affordable tablescape that is sure to make your guests feel extra special.

We hope this post has inspired you to bring the women in your life together for a day of togetherness and fellowship. Use it as an opportunity to encourage your guests to bring a friend, reach out to women you have met but would love to get to know better from your church, child's sports activities and neighborhood. There is no greater gift than sharing our time and the love of Christ.