How to Throw a Besties Brunch

This Besties' Brunch has it all: a frittata, baked goods, fruit salad, a smoothie, and greens --- and the best news... all the food + flowers + cards can be found at your local Safeway!

#TeamNosh girls love to get together

And we love to eat. 

So, it was an easy yes, when we were asked to put together a delicious Besties' Brunch Menu! Here are our tips and recipes on how to throw a fabulous Besties' Brunch:

1) Serve up something hearty. 

Leigh Ann from @mydiaryofus made this fabulous frittata with pancetta, peas, and asparagus. Hellllllllllllllo, Spring! We love the in-store O Organics brand at Safeway! They have so many fresh (and frozen) veggies + fruit to choose from.

spring pea frittata wth pancetta

2) But, make sure you have some vegan / gluten-free items too (like these muffins). 

Lexi + Beth from @crowded_kitchen created this seasonal stunner ---> Strawberry + Rhubarb Muffins using some of the O Organic's baking items, like coconut sugar, bourbon vanilla, and baking soda. You can grab the full muffin recipe over on their blog. And, if you want a hearty vegan option, check out their VEGAN frittata.

strawberry rhubarb muffins

3) Bring adorable notes for your besties. And serve fruit salad.

I made this fun fruit salad with a maple lime vinaigrette and then took it to next-level AWESOME with these O Organics Coconut Snacks. The coconut is toasted with chia seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds and is totally addictive (on fruit salad annnnnnd by the handful!).

<<leaves computer, mid typing to get said coconut snacks... they're that good.>>

I also love that Safeway has such a beautiful floral department with orchids, so many succulents, and fresh blooms and a party section with Papyrus cards, banners, decor, etc. It really is a one-stop shop for throwing a fabulous brunch!

fruit salad with lime vinaigrette

4) Blend up a smoothie (and/or cocktail).

Ale from @piloncilloyvainilla just came out with her own smoothie E-book (in Spanish), so it's no surprise that we put her in charge of making the smoothie! Just start with your favorite milk and add a banana, nut butter, and whichever O Organics' berries you have on hand. Easy peasy and delish!

blueberry and raspberry smoothie

5) And don't forget the greens!

Em from @thepigandquill created this beautiful Spring breakfast-y salad with hard boiled eggs, roasted potatoes, and fresh fruit.  One thing's for sure: you won't go hungry at this besties' brunch!

spring salad with roasted potatoes

And if you do want to add something boozy, check out this Roasted Strawberry Frosé:

O Organics® products are available in my area exclusively Safeway, and you can also find them at all of the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including: ACME Markets, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, and Carrs/Safeway. Visit SAFEWAY.com to find a store near you and discover more meal prep tips and recipe ideas.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Safeway. The opinions and text are all mine.

Spring Frittata with Pancetta, Peas, and Asparagus

Spring Frittata with Pancetta, Peas, and Asparagus

Description

Spring Frittata with Pancetta, Peas, and Asparagus

Ingredients

10 Eggs
2 tablespoons Milk
1 teaspoon Salt
1⁄4 teaspoon Salt
1⁄2 teaspoon Pepper
1 tablespoon fresh dill
6 slices pancetta
1⁄2 cup O Organics frozen peas
6 asparagus stalks (diced)
1⁄2 cup Cremini mushrooms (sliced and stems removed)
1 cup sliced leeks
1 cup white cheddar cheese
  avocado oil spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat an oven proof skillet to medium heat. (I love using a cast iron for this)
  2. Add pancetta and cook until browned and crisp, remove from the pan.
  3. Add leeks to the pancetta grease and season with 1/4 Teaspoon salt.
  4. Sauté for 2 minutes until leeks begin to soften, and then add in mushrooms and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
  5. Add diced asparagus, peas, and pancetta to the veggies and stir to combine.
  6. In a large bowl whisk eggs, milk, dill, shredded cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper until yolks and whites are combined well.
  7. Spray the skillet with pure avocado oil spray to prevent sticking, and pour egg mixture into the pan and stir to evenly distribute veggies in the eggs.
  8. Bake for 15-18 minutes until eggs are cooked though.
  9. Serve immediately.

Yields 8 Servings

Fruit Salad with Maple Lime Vinaigrette

Fruit Salad with Maple Lime Vinaigrette

Description

Fruit Salad with Maple Lime Vinaigrette

Ingredients

  ---FOR THE DRESSING---
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup (or sub honey (not vegan))
  Splash of Lime Juice
  pinch cracked black pepper
  ---FOR THE SALAD---
6 cups assorted fruit*
1⁄2 cup O Organics' Coconut Snacks (for topping)

Notes

* For this fruit salad I used approximately:
1 container strawberries
1 container raspberries
1 container blackberries
1 container blueberries
3 clementines, peeled + sectioned
2 kiwis
1 cup cubed pineapple
1/2 cup green grapes, sliced
1/2 cup red grapes, sliced
a few melon balls of white flesh dragonfruit

Instructions

  1. Combine all the dressing ingredients in a cup. Whisk together until emulsified. Set aside. 
  2. Cut up all the fruit into bite size pieces. Pur in a large bowl.
  3. Pour the dressing, stir, top with coconut snacks, and serve immediately.

Yields 6 Servings

Berry Smoothies

Berry Smoothies

Description

Berry Smoothies

Ingredients

1 cup dairy-free milk of choice
1 Banana
1 tablespoon Peanut Butter (heaping)
3 tablespoons oats
1⁄2 cup O Organics frozen raspberries
1⁄2 cup O Organics frozen blueberries

Instructions

  1. In a high speed blender, combine the milk, banana, almond butter and oats. Blend until smooth. Pour half of the smoothie into a pitcher or large class. Add the raspberries to the remaining half in the blender. Blend on high until combined. 
  2. Pour this raspberry smoothie mixture into 4 small glasses (about half full). 
  3. Then, pour the remaining smoothie from the beginning back into the blender and blend with the blueberries. Serve over the raspberry layer.
  4. Enjoy!

Yields 4 Servings

Smoked Salmon Brunch Bowls

Smoked Salmon Brunch Bowls

Description

Smoked Salmon Brunch Bowls

Ingredients

1 1⁄2 pound O Organics baby gold potatoes (halved or quartered into roughly equal-sized pieces)
1 bunch Asparagus
1 bunch red kale
8 ounces smoked salmon
2 pink grapefruits (trimmed of peel and sliced into half moons)
1 pint Strawberries (quartered)
4 medium or hard boiled eggs
  extra-virgin olive oil
  Himalayan pink salt
  chopped chives (for serving)
  grapefruit honey dijon dressing (recipe below)

Instructions

  1. Roast the potatoes: Toss potatoes generously with olive oil and pink salt. Spread in an even layer on a baking sheet and roast at 425F for 30-40 mins.
  2. Grill the asparagus: Meanwhile, toss asparagus with olive oil. Heat an indoor grill pan to med-high and grill asparagus in a single layer, tossing occasionally, until charred in places. Remove to a plate and set aside until cool.
  3. Prepare dressing according to recipe below. Remove tough stems from kale and tear into bite-sized pieces. Toss kale generously with about half the dressing, reserving the rest.
  4. Assemble the bowls: Divide dressed kale evenly between four bowls. Top with roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus, smoked salmon, grapefruit, berries and eggs. Drizzle with additional dressing, scatter with chives and serve. Enjoy!

Yields 4 Servings

Grapefruit Honey Dijon Dressing

Grapefruit Honey Dijon Dressing

Description

Grapefruit Honey Dijon Dressing

Ingredients

1⁄4 cup grapefruit juice
3 tablespoons O Organics honey mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 pinch black pepper
1 pinch pink sea salt
1⁄4 cup Olive Oil

Instructions

In a small food processor, combine grapefruit juice, mustard, honey, salt and pepper. Slowly stream in olive oil until combined and slightly thickened.

Yields 4 Servings