February is American Heart Month and the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day is the gift of heart health. Sure, retailers have been showering us with red hearts and romantic notions, but besides a luscious box of chocolates and bouquet of red roses, consider a gift straight from the heart, by treating those you care about most to a brunch filled with deliciously healthy, incredible egg dishes to help boost heart health and raise awareness for American Heart Month.
Poached Eggs with Smoked Salmon
With campaigns like Go Red for Women and National Wear Red Day, the American Heart Association hopes to increase awareness and educate women on the reality of heart disease as well as encourage them to put their health first. Why is the American Heart Association focusing on women when according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States? Because heart disease is still largely thought to be a man’s problem, yet, it is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year, more than all forms of cancer put together.
The American Heart Association offers 7 simple steps for prevention include practicing healthy lifestyle habits such as eating right and exercising daily. These lifestyle changes, along with not smoking, and knowing your numbers (cholesterol, blood pressure) can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Kale and Poached Eggs with Hoppin’ John Salsa
When I was approached by Eggland’s Best to organize an EB Brunch for National Heart Health Month, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. While working toward my certification in Family and Consumer Sciences (aka Home Economics), I learned in my nutrition classes that eggs are the most complete natural food and are not the dietary demons they were cracked up to be – eggs contain 6 grams of protein, healthful unsaturated fats, and are a good source of choline and lutein.
Eggs can be incorporated into a heart-healthy diet, and are one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. Eggland’s Best eggs contain more than 2X the heart healthy Omega-3 fatty acids than ordinary eggs, 2X more Vitamin D and 10X more Vitamin E, a vitamin associated with reducing the risk of heart disease. I seriously LOVE eggs and find that a hard boiled egg for breakfast sticks with me longer than oatmeal or my homemade granola. On the weekends, Don and I enjoy a more leisurely breakfast/brunch and I jazz up poached eggs with other deliciously healthy ingredients like crispy kale and smoked salmon (click on the photo to go to the recipe).
I’m fortunate to have a lot of foodie friends who also care about heart health and brought one of their favorite eggy brunch dishes to my virtual “Be Mine” Brunch for you to enjoy 🙂 If you’d like the recipe, just click on the recipe title. And don’t forget to Pin It to your Pinterest boards to save it!
Smoky Tomato Bacon Chipotle Deviled Eggs
Blueberry and Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast
This scrumptious blueberry stuffed french toast is a proven crowd pleaser! ~ Creative Culinary ~
Just look at those gorgeous tomatoes! A tart after your heart – rich in antioxidants and packed with flavor! ~ Louise Mellor ~
Weekends were made to linger over homey individual servings of baked crispy hash browns, topped with your favorite omelet ingredients and eggs. ~ Never Enough Thyme ~
Zucchini, Onion, and Goat Cheese Feta Frittata
Garden fresh zucchini and spring onions, chopped and sautéed, then layered over three fresh eggs. Finished with sprinkle of goat cheese feta. ~ Rustic Garden Bistro ~
Tuscan Baked Eggs with Lentils
Gently baked eggs on a bed of lentils in spicy Arrabbiata sauce works for brunch or a quick weeknight supper. ~ Shockingly Delicious ~
Inspired by the cuisine of Azerbaijan, this hearty dish combines chicken with eggs in a fragrant turmeric sauce. ~ She Paused 4 Thought ~
Hungry for more info? Harvard Medical School separated Fact from Myth regarding egg nutrition and heart disease in their publication.
Disclosure: Eggland’s Best compensated me for this post with a gift card and box of goodies. As always, my opinions are my own.
Lana
Great round-up, Priscilla! Very versatile and creative:) Thanks for including my dish, too!
I already “like” you on FB!
Lana
I “like” EB on FB:)
Geez Louise!
wow, now that’s a lot of recipes- now I’m starved!
Frieda
I have two favorites: Bacon & Cheese casserole and German pancakes, which my boys call, “PopEye Pancakes!”
Frieda
Oh, I liked your page on FB and Liked EB on FB as well!
Terra
I could eat eggs everyday, but I don’t, LOL! I have two favorite ways of eating eggs. When I was in Tucson AZ, I discovered about Huevos Rancheros, and also Chorizo and egg burrito. They both are sooooo delicious! Hugs, Terra
Terra
I follow you and also Eggland’s Best on Facebook! 🙂
Dorothy at Shockinglydelicious
Thanks for including my Cilantro Pesto Fried Egg at your virtual brunch! What a nice collection of dishes at the table. I can’t decide what to make first!
Lisa
I love every egg dish in this round-up, and I actually have started buying Eggland’s Best recently..unless another brand is on sale. That said, heart disease is rampant on my father’s side, so I try as best I can to eat and keep healthy through exercise. If I had a FB, I’d like you and Eggland, but I don’t. I still hope I win, though!
Kari
I already “like” you on FB. My favorite egg dish is quiche but I also like a great fried egg on toast.
Carolyn
I love eggs, I eat them almost every day. They got such a bad rap in the 80’s during the cholesterol worry craze but they are SO good for you! Great post.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Many delicious and healthy lunch ideas.
Shelby Barone
My favorite is the: Huevos con Chorizo Tacos I follow on Facebook. 😉
Priscilla
Congratulations, Shelby! You’re the winner! I’m emailing you now.
Nancy
Wow, I had no idea heart disease was the #1 killer in American women. Love your round, some really great looking recipes.
5 Star Foodie
These are some awesome dishes with eggs and a nice giveaway!
Claire
Liked & my favorite egg dish is omelet!
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina
Like you on FB!
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina
Like EB on FB!
Barbara | Creative Culinary
I did like you on Facebook but I actually liked you before. 🙂
Now I’m HUNGRY!
Kiri W.
What a beautiful round-up! Thank you for sharing all these gorgeous recipes 🙂
Emily @ Life on Food
I like on FB. Your tacos look amazing. I like an occasional fried egg but my favorite is heuvos rancheros.
Lori Menichetti
Like you already! huevos Ranchero’s are my fave!
I like EB too.
Kathleen Nelson
I have followed you since the site was created! Great recipes 🙂 Also went & liked EB on FB. I love a good fritatta or Med style omelet. Will try your Salmon wrapped poached egg recipe.
Julie @ Sugarfoot Eats
I’ve liked you on FB & I’m going with eggs Benedict.
Julie @ Sugarfoot Eats
I’ve liked Eggland’s Best on FB too!!
Anita
I already “like” your page on FB — my favorite egg dish is anything with poached eggs is my fave
Charity S
Like She’s Cookin’ on Facebook (charity s) I love an egg casserole with sausage.
Charity S
Like Eggland’s Best on Facebook.
charity s
Kim
Already like She’s Cookin’ on Facebook. 🙂 MY favorite egg dish is simple: scrambled with cream and milk with some fresh backyard herbs.
[K]
Magic of Spice
Great and informative post, and amazing round up…what a brunch this would be 🙂
Kim
And liked Eggland’s Best on FB, too. 🙂
[K]
Jamie
What a great roundup of brunch recipes and surely inspirational. I need to get cooking more dishes like this. I have long wanted to create a baked egg dish with spinach and cheeses.
RavieNomNoms
Look at all that lovely food! Such great meals on here. I am pretty sure that I would love every single thing on this page 🙂
Jackie
These foods look absolutely delicious! It’s so important that people know ways to keep their heart healthy and by eating right and knowing which foods and recipes will strengthen that is good to know. SkinnyScoop is curating this awesome list of resources, tips, and recipes for staying heart healthy…you should add this post to it > http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/SkinnyScoop_Staff/staying-heart-healthy
FreeSpiritEater
Congratulations to the winner! These dishes looked awesome and made me wish I could have that for breakfast instead of the plain ol’ oatmeal and scrambled eggs I endure each morning lol Have a lovely day!
Alice D'Antoni Phillips
All fabulous recipes! Man, I’m ready to make them all!! xo