Recently I went to Palm Springs with a bunch of my friends & we stayed at the cutest, most incredible little private hotel called The Marley.  

Everyone had to cook a meal each night & my friend Niel decided he was going to make his favorite quinoa bowl that my friend ( his wife ) Faith always raves about. She’s a pescatarian & such a health eater. She’s super strategic about her meals so I was super excited to try it.

So while we all sat outside drinking skinny margs, Niel got to work in the kitchen & whipped up this amazing meal. The meal consisted of quinoa, kale, homemade hummus, delicious dates & tons of other yummy things.  All I can say is that you will not be sorry after you make these delicious, vegan quinoa bowls. I’ll be making these at least once a week.

Niel is one of my favorite friends & someone who I’ve traveled all over the world with. So it’s special to bring him on the blog. You should also know he’s the founder of Influence.co, the world’s largest community of influencers, creators & the people that work with them.

If you’re an influencer you have to check it out. Oh, & Michael & I each did an interview with Influence.co so be sure to check out mine here, & Michael’s here.

Ok with that I’ll let you get to Niel’s recipe for vegan quinoa bowls. It’ll rock your world.

♡♡♡

This quinoa bowl was inspired by hundreds of Australian coffee shop lunches with my wifey Faith, who I met in Sydney. If you have been to Australia then you know the best things about it are the coffee & the food ( & the hot women named Faith ). Not only does every coffee shop serve food, but they serve the most amazing, inventive & colorful bowls & salads. This is my take on this Australian staple.

The bowl itself is really easy to make, something you can experiment with, & works because it brings together a lot of little flavors that go nicely. We like to make all the side dishes ( the mezze ) & then let each person stack it the way they like. I’ll say up front that I’m a “dash of this” or “3 count pour of that” kind of chef so these measurements are estimates at best. With these flavors it’s pretty hard to go wrong even if you switch the measurements around to your taste.

The process is pretty basic – put the quinoa on & then race to see if you can make everything else before it’s done. Extra points if you can clean the kitchen by then too.

Niel’s Australian Quinoa Bowls:

Ingredients:

+ 1 cup quinoa
I like the thicker darker quinoa that doesn’t turn into mush when cooked.

+ 2 tbsp rice vinegar
substitute with any type of white vinegar.

+ 2 tbsp soy sauce
we prefer to use liquid aminos which are the same.

+ 1 tsp mirin ( optional )

+ 1 tsp toasted sesame oil

+ 2 large carrots

+ ⅓ cup dried cranberries
substitute golden raisins or plain old brown raisins if that’s what you got.

+ 3 tbsp olive oil
any level of virgin you want.

+ 3 lemons

+ ½ teaspoon white pepper
substitute with ground black pepper as you like.

+ 2 tsp cumin
1 tsp for the chickpea delight & 1 tsp for the hummus.

+ ½ tsp oregano

+ ½ tsp thyme
dried is fine.

+ ½ tsp parsley
dried is fine.

+ veggie patties ( optional )

+ dates ( optional )
preferably pitted.

+ 2 cans of garbanzo beans

+ ⅓ cup tahini 

+ 6 cloves garlic

+ 1 tsp salt

+ 1 tsp zatar ( optional )
I make my own but you can also buy it in the store or even just use a pinch of sumac. This spice blend will change your life once you know about it. Here is a great recipe from Cookie and Kate. 

+ 1 avocado

♡ Quinoa Prep ♡

Get that quinoa on the stove. Cook the quinoa however your package tells you. Try to keep it from cooking too long & being mushy.

Prepare the flavor mix. In a small bowl mix the rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, mirin & toasted sesame oil. Set aside until the quinoa is done.

♡ Veggie Patty ♡

We love to bake a veggie patty while the quinoa is cooking. I do it at 425F on a metal cooking tray so we get the outsides nice & crunchy. Our favorite is Dr. Praegers Kale Veggies Burgers, but you can use whatever you like.

Now, make the mezze sides…

♡ Carrots & Cranberries ♡

Peel the carrots & then grate them like you’d grate parmesan cheese ( the biggest side of the grater ). Mix the cranberries into the grated carrots. So pretty!

♡ Lemon Pepper Kale ♡

In a medium saucepan on low heat, put a tablespoon of olive oil, squeeze the juice of a lemon, add the pepper. Take the kale & either rip off the leaves if it’s super leafy or snap off the bigger part of the stems if you want to keep some. Roughly chop the kale & drop it in. Stir it to coat it & then cover it to steam the hell out of that kale & make it soft. When the kale is fairly wilted you can stop.

♡ Chickpea Delight ♡

Thoroughly wash a can of chickpeas while debating with your partner the difference between chickpeas & garbanzo beans. Put them in a bowl, squeeze in the juice of a lemon, 1 teaspoon cumin, the oregano, thyme & parsley. Mix it together in the bowl. That’s it.

♡ Hummus ♡

Repeat after me. I. Am. Going. To. Make. My. Own. Hummus! Seriously this scared the hell out of me until I did it the first time. I now make hummus at least once a week & it’s better and cheaper than anything you can find in the store. I have taught many people in my family how to do this. It’s a game changer as hummus goes with so many meals & is so good for you! It takes less than 5 minutes, I swear to you. But if you don’t have time at least add some yummy plain hummus to the quinoa bowl as it really brings it all together. Okay, let’s do this.

How to Make Hummus:

Drain & thoroughly wash a can of chickpeas & set aside. Put the tahini, garlic, lemon juice of one lemon, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp cold water, 1 tsp cumin & 1 tsp salt into a blender & blend it for 30 seconds. Scrape the sides down with a spoon. Add the chickpeas in. Blend. Keep adding little bits of cold water until you can blend it on HIGH consistently. Scrape the sides down one more time then let it blend for a minute. This last long blend is what will give it the creamy taste. Garnish the top of the hummus with a sprinkle of Zatar or sumac.

♡ Cucumber, Tomatoes & Dates ♡

We just slice cucumbers & grape tomatoes & add them to give a nice cold crunch & texture. We love to cut up some pitted dates as well.

♡ Prepare it All ! ♡

The last step is to pour the quinoa flavor mix into the quinoa & thoroughly stir. This gives a nutty, salty, Asiany flavor that grounds the rest of the citrus-based mezze. It’s so good you’ll want to eat a bowl of it ( hence the name ). 

We like to lay the flavored quinoa out flat, put the burger patty on the top, put half a chopped avocado on top ( or a whole one if you’re Australian ) & then lay the mezze around the quinoa on the plate. That way you can mix & match flavors as you like.

That’s it! You’re officially ready to open an Australian coffee shop!

♡♡♡

So there you have it. The best, healthy, very Australian-esque quinoa bowls of your dreams. Feel free to add 100 slices of jalepeño to spice things up.

Be sure to follow @nielr1 & @faithyheart, plus @influenceco ESPECIALLY if you’re an influencer. Like,  we all need to stay up to date on everything you need to know as a creator & influencer, right?

x, lauryn

+ check out the chic birthday party we threw for Faith. 

++ scope the travel vlog from our south of France trip with Faith & Niel.

SHOP THE POST:

The post The Vegan Quinoa Bowls of Your Dreams appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

Oh hi, hello. Are you ready for another very specific post on how I like my oatmeal?

Not only is this NOT your basic bitch oatmeal…this is an oatmeal that will really GET THINGS MOVING. Let me tell ya, if you’re constipated, this is the oatmeal for you. This oatmeal has magic powers & it literally goes through your mouth & to your butthole VERY quickly. HA!

I’ve been eating this oatmeal 5 days a week for the last couple months & I’ve noticed a huge difference in my energy, skin & regularity ( wink wink, you know what I mean ). You should also note that it’s really fucking good. This is one of those breakfasts that you’ll keep going back to. I’m a big fan of sticking to the same recipe- I don’t like to mix it up too much. I have my staple foods that I like to stick to. When it comes to breakfast in the morning I don’t want to use my energy thinking of what to eat. We like it simple & to the point.

I used to do intermittent fasting & would break my fast with this oatmeal. Right now I am not intermittent fasting because I just have so much going on that I feel like I need something substantial in the morning.

Anyway, let’s get to the specifics of the oatmeal:

The first thing I do is boil some water on the stove. Right now I’m using this nonstick pan that was recommended to me by Jule The Bee. This pan was also approved by my friend Ingrid- they both raved about it, so I had to get it.

Ok, so then I take 1/4 cup of Nature Path Smart Bran cereal & add it to the hot water. Then I add 1/4 cup of GG Sprinkles & some sliced peaches. I also throw in some boysenberries & raspberries toward the end so they cook for a minute on top of the cereal ( it’s nice to have warm berries for this oatmeal ). BUT, it’s important to put the peaches in before the berries, because they’re harder & need more time to cook.

Then I drain out the mixture with a colander & transfer it to a bowl. It always looks like A LOT of cereal because it expands ( we want this, because this is what it does in your stomach to keep you feeling full for a long time ). I add in some Malk– this is an almond milk that I love with only 3 ingredients….almonds, Himalayan pink salt & water ( I like the unsweetened one in a blue container ). For a bit of sweetness ( & more fiber ) I add fiber syrup & to balance my blood sugar I add some Ceylon cinnamon. To keep it cute, I’ll also garnish with one peach slice. (( Sidenote: the fiber syrup I love is sold out everywhere, but this brown sugar is great to use too. ))

You should know I like to eat this with 1 egg or some egg whites. I like to have fiber & protein together in one meal because the fiber will help push the protein through your body, which is really good for you.

This breakfast is SO FILLING, you won’t believe how full you’ll feel. The GG Sprinkles have hardly any calories- they’re pure fiber which is why you go to the bathroom. I can promise you that you’ll feel completely satisfied with this breakfast- I can’t stop thinking about it, I can’t stop talking about it, & I can’t stop eating it every morning. I feel like screaming it from the rooftops.

Again, if you struggle with constipation, fiber is your BEST FRIEND. Add a ton of fiber to your diet immediately. 35-40 grams of fiber a day is what I aim for- there’s no such thing as too much fiber.

After eating this breakfast I feel like I’m ready to conquer the day.

Just for the record, here are some benefits of each ingredient:

♡ GG Sprinkles – low carb, high fiber, keeps you full & keeps you regular, lowers cholesterol, helps control blood sugar level.

♡ Peaches – rich in Vitamin A, C & important minerals like potassium, fluoride & iron.

♡ Berries – packed with antioxidants & fiber & help fight inflammation.

♡ Cinnamon – balances blood sugar level, fights inflammation, packed with antioxidants, improve insulin sensitivity.

♡ Almond milk – low calorie dairy milk alternative, low in sugar, high in Vitamin D, & a source of calcium.

Hope you guys loved my very specific, fiber-filled peaches & cream oatmeal. I can promise you this will get things moving. Pair it with some protein & it’ll keep things tight & right for summer.

I’m a creature of habit, but have fun with it. Try it with apple & cinnamon, pomegranate seeds or swap out the almond milk for Greek yogurt. TSC Hot tip: add some vanilla to the Greek yogurt.

Let me know what you guys think & for more recipes like this, check out TSC Body.

x, lauryn

+ If you haven’t tried my 3 ingredient pancakes yet, scope them out here.

++ Check out the easiest 2 minute Mason jar breakfast here.

SHOP THE POST

The post Fiber-Filled Peaches & Cream Oatmeal That Very Much Helps With Constipation appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

Ok guys, today we’re talking about Jennifer Aniston’s pizza. If you haven’t heard of this, you need to get on board. I learned about this pizza back in the day when I was bartending. I met Jen’s hair stylist and he told me this is her go-to pizza order.

Naturally, I had to try it – but instead of using a normal carb-filled crust, I like to use a cauliflower pizza crust, which I think Jen would TOTALLY approve of.

She is all about balance – I heard she loves margs but is also very much into yoga and the low carb life – which is just so TSC, right?!

This pizza is filling, delicious & fresh. You should also know that one serving of this cauliflower crust has 1g of fiber, 8g of protein ( thank you egg whites – all of the ingredients are TSC-approved ) – and only 1g of carbs. My favorite is the spicy jalapeño crust though, if we’re getting specific.

All of the Cali’flour Foods crusts are grain free too. That’s always a plus.

While we’re here I also need to tell you guys about their crackers. They have zero carbs and are just INSANE – ( but that’s a whole other post ).

Ok, ok, on to the recipe. According to her stylist, this is her exact order:

JENNIFER ANISTON PIZZA RECIPE

Ingredients

+ 1 pizza crust
+ 3/4 c Rao’s sauce
+ 1 diced bell pepper
+ 1/4 c black olives
+ 1/4 c sliced onion
+ mozzarella cheese
+ 1 handful arugula
+ chili flakes, to taste
+ garlic gloves, to taste
+ squeeze of lemon
+ optional: add artichokes for extra fiber.

+ directions: preheat oven to 400, place the crust on a non-stick baking pan and bake for 10-12 mins. Let it cool for about 10 mins before adding toppings. Spoon sauce over pizza crust. Top with bell peppers, onions, olives, and mozzarella cheese. Enjoy as is, or bake for another few mins. Take out of oven and top with fresh arugula, LOTS of lemon and chili flakes. Enjoy!

+TSC HOT TIP: Rao’s Arrabbiata sauce is my FAVE. You guys know this though. The ingredients are on point and it goes perfectly with the jalapeño crust. If you can’t find Rao’s sauce, Luciano’s  is perfect too.

If you love Jen as much as I do, you’re gonna love this pizza. Cauliflower pizza in one had, skinny marg in the other – you know Jen would approve!

Enjoy this low carb pizza and tag me in your stories when you’re making it so I can stalk you.

x, lauryn

+ If you love this pizza, you’ll love this pasta recipe.

+ More healthy recipes here.

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SUPER STAR PIZZA

The post HEALTHY PIZZA CRUST: CAULIFLOWER JENNIFER ANISTON PIZZA RECIPE appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

It’s been a HOT MINUTE since we’ve discussed GG crackers. I mean sure, they’re the star of the show frequently on IG STORIES but like we need a recipe post here & there, you know? The blog is a good way to showcase the FULL STORY!

For those of you who need a refresh, GG CRACKERS are the fiber-filled crackers that help you stay fuller longer while keeping your gut healthy. That’s just the beginning. We even had a whole podcast where we really went deep on why fiber is essential. FIBER can come from many sources but GG’s are an efficient way to add fiber & I just like them- weird but I actually think they’re good. If you don’t love them, think of them as a vehicle for protein, not a bread replacement. GG crackers may be bland but MAN OH MAN are they versatile.

My latest obsession is brought to you by Nedi from Healthy with Nedi. She’s appeared on The Skinny Confidential before and she shared her cauliflower muffins, vodka martinis and beauty tips. NOW she’s sharing her FIBER-FILLED BLUEBERRY WAFFLES- these are straight from her eBook with F-Factor founder, Tanya Zuckerbrot. She has become a friend in real life from Instagram which is nuts. I very much love her & HER RECIPES! She’s a very cool girl & someone you want to watch on IG Stories ( trust me, follow her: @healthywithnedi ). She also happened to gift me my favorite perfume in the WORLD- if you’re looking for a new scent, it’s insane. Anyway, you can stalk her eBook here– there’s SO MANY GOOD SKINNY RECIPES. I got the eBook & I have been using it every day.

Goodies you’ll find in Nedi’s eBook:

+ 39 F-Factor Step 1 approved recipes
+ includes breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees, side dishes, soups, salads, delicious cocktails ( YUM ) & desserts.
+ all recipes are high fiber, high protein, and low in net carbs
+ the recipes will keep you feeling full & satisfied for a long time
+ ideal for those looking to shape up & drop a few pounds

If your mouth is watering, don’t worry. These waffles can be whipped up in like 5 minutes- I make them a few times a week. AND you probably have all the ingredients on hand.

So with that let’s get right to it.

Fiber-Filled Blueberry Waffle

INGREDIENTS ( serves 1 )

+ 4 plain GG crackers, pulverized
+ 4 egg whites
+ 1 tbsp plain yogurt ( I use Coconut Cult )
+ 1/2 tsp baking powder
+ 1/4 tsp cinnamon
+ 1/4 cup blueberries
+ coconut oil cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1. In a mixing bowl, combine the pulverized GGs with the egg whites, yogurt, baking powder, cinnamon and blueberries. Mix well.

STEP 2. Heat the waffle maker, spray with cooking spray and add in the waffle batter. Cook on low to medium setting until the light goes green.

STEP 3. Heat a sauce pan over medium heat and add raspberries and fiber gold syrup (Sukrin). Mash the raspberries and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir constantly for 2 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds. Top waffle with syrup and enjoy!

TSC BERRY SYRUP

+ your favorite berry ( raspberry, sometimes boysenberry, sometimes both (REBEL) )
+ lemon
+ chia seeds
+ Sukrin fiber syrup

DIRECTIONS

+ Mash berries up with a fork, squeeze lemon in the ‘mash’, add a few ( a fewwww ) drops of syrup, & mix it all together. Microwave for a few seconds & it turns into a syrup-y mixture that’s kind of like an amazing berry delight compote.

The whole thing gets me all nostalgic because it totally reminds me of the Knott’s Berry Farm boysenberry syrup I used to scarf down with buttermilk Eggo waffles circa 1994. Tsk-tsk, but #TBT.

More simple, skinny recipes like this in TSC book.

BEFORE YOU GO: you must, like MUST check out Healthy With Nedi’s feature on The Skinny Confidential Body Guide. She shares my special skinny eggs over easy in the post.

ALRIGHT, how do you guys use GG crackers in creative ways? I’m ready for new ideas to keep it fresh- you know how I like it.

x, lauryn

+ MORE: fiber french toast | Healthy With Nedi x F-Factor

SKINNY WAFFLE ESSENTIALS:

The post FIBER-FILLED BLUEBERRY WAFFLES BY HEALTHY WITH NEDI appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

Over the past few weeks life has been busy. Crazy, even. Non-stop. Does anyone else feel this way?

We are living half time in LA & half time in San Diego so buying a ton of groceries just isn’t the vibe right now. In fact, the vibe is either take-out, cauliflower pizza, mason jar to-go meals ( coming to TSC BODY GUIDE in February! ), or Blue Apron.

I like Blue Apron very much- we know this, we’ve discussed it before. The whole process is seamless. You get to pick your protein ( or do the vegetarian route ) & they send over these mouth-watering recipes with perfectly measured ingredients so you’re not wasting food. AND you get this legit chef card- a card that makes you feel like, YOU GUESSED IT, a real chef.

The first 50 people to sign up for Blue Apron here will get $40 off your first two weeks!

LAST WEEK’S MENU WAS SOMETHING I COULDN’T PASS UP BECAUSE IT INVOLVED WHOLE 30! Blue Apron was kind enough to send me their Whole 30 meals to try & lemme tell ya, they’re good.

How do I know?

Well, I don’t mean to brag but I cooked them myself.

For me.

AND Michael.

This is kindddd of a big deal because I can be rather selfish & make spicy cauliflower pizza for my selfish self, leaving Michael with crusty takeout. But at least I’m self-aware?

Anyway, Blue Apron makes me feel like Suzy Homemaker but like an efficient, business boss 2018 Suzy Homemaker. I mean sure the apron is on ( & it’s blue! The irony- right ), the placemats are out, & a homemade meal is on the table! But times have changed. I’m a new aged homemaker- I’m most likely listening to a podcast while I whip up my perfectly portioned meal that was delivered fresh to my doorstep.

You know how I like it!

But back to Whole 30. What’s Whole 30? Well it’s wholesome, nutritious foods that will help you kick off the New Year with a CLEAN PLATE. Just what we want. Think: dairy-free, grain-free, no sugar added, paleo-friendly, fresh goodness.

The entire situation is chef-designed too so basically you’re a chef. But a clean, healthy one.

The chicken kale salad was the standout here for me. Michael would disagree & say the steak was his favorite. Both are amazing- but the salad was MY VIBE. Of course I added some lemon, a few slices of avocado, & enjoyed it with a glass of rosé. YOLO.

What are your quick, easy, ‘fake it til you make it’ cooking tips?

We do need to address this apron– isn’t it CUTE! If I were an apron, this is what I would be. It’s the perfect denim & so perfect for the chef who’s not really a chef but basically a chef- you know? Ellen of Hedley & Bennett sent it to me after I met her at a Create & Cultivate event. She’s a badass boss entrepreneur- I very much respect the business she’s built. You can check out her kitchen swag here.

What else? I am curled up in my ride or die blanket next to Pixy who’s snoring & we are about to watch Ozark. Has anyone seen it? My latest is to eat popcorn with lemon pepper & Cholula sauce– thanks to my friend, Gillian, I am addicted.

OH! LET’S keep this post between us because Michael thinks I actually made him a steak dinner from scratch.

Chat tomorrow! Happy Sunday,

x lauryn

SHOP THE POST: apron | bodysuit | hoops | meals

+ this post is in collaboration with Blue Apron. As always all opinions are my own.

++ more recipe posts here.

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BE A REAL CHEF, EFFORTLESSLY

The post HOW TO TRICK YOUR BOYFRIEND INTO THINKING YOU’RE A CHEF appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

PIZZA!

BUT LIKE PIZZA THAT TASTES JUST LIKE BAGEL BITES.

Remember Bagel Bites? I feel like I ate them after 632 margaritas in college at 3 AM. They were so good. I mean who knows what was in them- the point was: too much alcohol + 3 AM + hunger pains= BAGEL BITES.

But here’s the thing: I’m boring now & need something to replace them…at 8 PM. Time’s have changed, man.

So after hanging with Tanya of The F-Factor Diet ( if you haven’t listened to her episode of the podcast you’re seriously missing out. She is just fucking fabulous & so smart ), I found out the importance of fiber.

Tanya is a HUGEEEEE fan of fiber. And a huge fan of mini pizzas before dinner.

That’s right, she actually said that. And she’s a gnarly dietitian. Her logic is basically: ruin your appetite before dinner. So she eats these GG pizzas. She gave me the recipe & I figured I’d share it with you. The main reason is every time I make the “recipe” on Snap or IG Stories you guys want to know the “recipe.”

And it’s not even a recipe. It’s embarrassing how easy is it. Try it & I feel like you will immediately get what I”m talking about. I mean see?

{ SUBSCRIBE TO TSC YOUTUBE CHANNEL }

TSC GG FIBER-FILLED PIZZA

+ RAO’S spicy pizza sauce
+ GG bran crackers
+ vegan cheese OR goat cheese OR cottage cheese
+ lemon
+ fresh basil
+ chili flakes

+ directions: plop it on the cracker ( you know the sauce & cheese ), broil at 325 degrees for like 2 to 4 minutes, & let cool for a second. Pull it out of the oven. Then add basil, chili flakes, and lemon. Option to add peperoncini.

These pizzas are filled with fiber & protein from the cheese ( just choose your cheese wisely! ). They’re the ideal snack to keep you satisfied. Especially during the holidays.

You should know I’m very much about this sauce- the sauce really makes the whole situation. Rao’s always comes thru for me- their sauce has minimal ingredients. It’s kind of like that friend you love who’s straight to the point? That’s Rao’s. I’m into their spicy sauce, pizza sauce, & roasted garlic sauce. You kind of can’t go wrong here.

Basil. You have to go fresh. Don’t do fake basil. Dried doesn’t work either. Basil is such a good staple. It’s on my weekly list. First of all, it’s so good in Kombucha with lemon & a little turmeric. In a weird way it’s like a cocktail, but not. Basil is queen- use it in smoothies, pastas, on GG pizzas, & in your sparkling water. It’s just one of those things that adds flair to any situation. Mint is another one of those herbs that’s fab for spicing something up, but I feel like that’s a different story.

OK! So that’s my latest GG cracker go-to.

If you’re confused on what GG’s are, read this post. AND PLEASE! Listen to the podcast with Tanya. It is life-changing.

You have to try GG French toast too— LIKE IT’S SO GOOD.

It’s almost 1 AM so I probably should get off the computer to spare my eyes, right? Going to take my makeup off ( with grape seed oil! ), change into my Justin Bieber tour sweater, & climb into bed to read.

Sounds like heaven to me. Wish I had a plate of GG Pizza though? It would bring back memories of Bagel Bite nights. IT’S JUST 1 INSTEAD OF 3 AM!

HAPPY WEDNESDAY,

x lauryn

+ outfit details: top | hoops

++ for more healthy videos: STALK TSC YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

{ photos | video }

MAKE YOUR OWN SKINNY PIZZAS AT-HOME:

The post HOW TO: GG SKINNY, FIBER-FILLED PIZZAS appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

ARE YOU READY TO HAVE FRENCH TOAST ON THE MENU…WHENEVER YOU WANT…?

You know I need to get creative when it comes to food because I sure AF have a sweet tooth. So I’m sure it’s NO shock to you that French toast is most certainly on the menu.

A lot.

In fact you could even do pancakes too but I feel like that’s a whole different post for another day. Today we’re talking skinny French toast.

Not just skinny, but UBER SKINNY. So skinny in fact, it’s almost unbelievable. It’s like 100 calories, 10 carbs, & barely any sugar for 5 slices.

I know, right? Where do I sign you up?

First things first, here’s a visual for you:

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Easy French Toast

TSC GG Cracker French Toast Recipe

+ 3 eggs

+ unsweetened almond milk

+ GG bran crackers | plain & honey raisin

+ lemon

+ ghee butter / coconut oil

Optional GOODNESS:

+ magic seeds

+ cinnamon

+ nutmeg

+ collagen

+ directions: combine eggs & unsweetened almond milk.  I did mention am not using measuring cups but if you want the exact measurement – it’s 1/2 cups of almond milk in a 3 eggs ratio. Whisk & let gg crackers soak in mixture until soggy, 1-2 minutes and you’ll have bread in egg mixture.  Heat pan with ghee or coconut oil. If you don’t have those in your kitchen, a cooking spray or even melted butter will do although it has more saturated fat.  Cook each cracker in medium heat for about 2 minutes on each side. Top with TSC 5 second syrup. 

For the toppings, I mix together raspberries, chia seeds, lemon, and a little tiny bit of maple syrup and pour it on top of my French toast.  My leftover eggs milk mixture, you can cook them separately.  Add a pinch of salt to taste.  Use them as sides to your easy French.  That’s it!  Quick and easy!

Yes. You see, my favorite, favorite way to make French toast lately is with GG Crackers. What are those you ask? Well don’t be silly, we discussed them– remember? If you don’t remember- get it together & get yourself some GG’s. They’re filled with fiber ( a fiber-filled podcast episode is coming out in a few weeks ). Regardless, every girl should get on board with fiber. Fiber x protein= weight loss. This is a fact- don’t ask me though! Ask the doctor we just interviewed ( like I said: coming soon, so get excited. JAZZ HANDS ).

If GG’s aren’t your thing, I got you covered. Duh. Just check out this TBT dime of a recipe.

Alternatively, you can opt for any sandwich bread for French toast.  Stale bread is a great option for French toast as it is already nice and dry. If you like to have a sweet fragrance, add vanilla extract to your eggs milk mixture. Use the same direction I mentioned above with your bread slices.  Cook each side until it’s golden brown.  You can also use an oven to cook your bread.  Place your soaked bread on a baking sheet – single layer, do not overlap.  Bake your bread in preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes or until golden brown.

Anyway, YES, the French toast situation will be your new breakfast choice ( lunch & dinner too? I love breakfast for dinner- so sue me ). In my experience, it’s an excellent breakfast pick for when you’re trying to tighten up BUT STILL WANT CARBS!

And so on…

Like sweets! And brunch vibes! And sugary bread!

Though of course it’s not sugary or carby at all. Mwahahaha. Evil.

Between this recipe gem and TSC 3 Ingredient Pancakes you guys are set, right?

Anyway, what’s new- how are you guys doing? I’m thinking of doing a San Diego meet-up. Who’s in? I mean I planned TSC NYC meet-up in 2 days so I’m trying to get ahead here & actually give you guys some time in advance. How’s a month? Good enough? You tell me?

What’s been going on here? We are home in San Diego. Working, hanging with our dogs, working out, the usual. Nothing spectacular. This weekend we’re doing a beer tasting so that should be a rager. Not really, but we are old like that. What else? Oh, Pixy got doggy acupuncture for her bad knees & IT HELPED SO MUCH. She was acu-stoned. & already walking better. We did it at the Animal Healing Center in Sorrento Valley, if you’re interested for your dogs/cats.

You should also know I’m playing Christmas music.

That’s all.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY,

x lauryn

+ outfit details: cross necklace | pants ( similar ) | top 

++ for more healthy videos: STALK TSC YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

{ photos | video }

GET THE SKINNY ON GG FRENCH TOAST:

The post HOW TO: MAKE THE BEST DAMN SKINNY FRENCH TOAST OF YOUR LIFE appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

WHO DOES NOT LOVE PEACHES? Especially in summer? Just everyone in the world.

Peaches are my obsession. I would eat 24850239845 a day if I could. The taste of a peach is just perfection. Especially one in the summer.

The Nanz has always said to get FREESTONE PEACHES, specifically though, heard of them?

Basically they “have fruit that falls right off the pit. These peaches are perfect for eating, canning, and freezing. You just slice the peach down the middle, and pull it right off the pit. They’re available Mid-June to Mid-August.”

HELLO MID-ISH AUGUST.

Anyway, I teamed up with the lovely Lindsay of Week Night Bite to create this recipe. Lindsay & I did sort of a recipe swap here. She made TSC Sangria. Go check out her blog, especially if you could use a good porch drink.

NOW, if you’re looking for a salad to go with that sangria, lucky you:

Summer Peach and Tomato Caprese

Adapted from Week Night Bite

1/4 cup red onion, sliced
3 ripe peaches or nectarines, pitted
2 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup baby mozzarella balls, halved
2 tbsp fresh basil
Pink Himalayan salt & pepper to taste
( Option: I added avocado too! )

Dressing:

1 tbsp sherry vinegar
1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp raw honey
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

+ Directions: first mix all the dressing ingredients. Chop all salad ingredients and mix together in a salad bowl. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss well. Optional: Drizzle your favorite balsamic reduction over the top. Add salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with extra basil over the top.
Enjoy!

* can we please just go ahead & note that I’m kind of OBSESSED with these to-go dressing containers? They’re just right for the office. If you need some Kardashian to-go salad containers, check these out.

I need to get on here & really write…I feel like I’ve been distant & I have a lot to share! In the next two weeks I will get my ass in front of a computer to let you guys in on what’s been up. In the meantime, this peach salad will hold you over.

Trust me, I made it 3 nights in a row. It really is the most refreshing, ideal summer salad.

My girlfriend, Erica is over so we’re going to drink sparkling wine & eat salmon sushi rolls. Currently trying to plan a very NON-PENIS STRAW bachelorette party. Please keep the wedding tips coming. They’re really saving my life.

Happy Thursday, lauryn x

+ for similar recipes, scope TSC MEAL PLAN | champagne blush candle. 

{ pics }

SHOP LAURYN’S KITCHEN:

The post Summer Peach & Tomato Caprese Magic…But Really, Magic appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

LENTILS, LENTILS, LENTILS.

They’re full of benefits like fiber, minerals, vitamins, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, they keep everything moving, if you know what I mean. Winky, winky.

Lentils are your friend.

& when you mix them with avocado ( hello healthy fats!! ), fresh herbs, & some olive oil…

YES PLZ.

This recipe comes from my friends, Megan & Peggy, over at Curry Girls Kitchen. They’re a mom & daughter team who I’ve known since I was born! I adore them both & their recipes are spot on. Highly recommend them all.

AND UM they EVEN DO A FUNFETTI gluten-free cake… I feel like I need to make this next? Funfetti is so festive & nostalgic, this cake is calling my name!

Anyway, this recipe is easy breezy.

Curry Girl Kitchen Lentil Tabouli Salad
by: Megan & Peggy

{ serves 2 }

Ingredients:

1 cup lentils, cooked
1/2 cup tomato, diced
1/2 cup Hot House cucumber, diced
1/4 cup green onion, diced
Handful fresh parsley leaves, minced
3-4 tbsp olive oil
1 Lemon, juiced
Pinch of Celtic sea salt

+ directions: mix ingredients together & enjoy. It gets even better as it marinates. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Watch the recipe video HERE for more info.

+ Note: I added avocado to the recipe!

You can keep this in your fridge for a few days of quick & easy lunch recipes. Just throw it in your Kardashian salad bowl & you’re good to go really.

You should know when eating lentils that “they’re a good source of potassium, calcium, zinc, niacin and Vitamin K, but are particularly rich in dietary fiber, lean protein, folate and iron. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that eating plenty of nutrient-dense foods like lentils can lessen your risk of many serious medical problems.”

They’re known as one of the world’s healthiest foods. Just make sure you’re cooking them yourself and not getting them from a can filled with random unhealthy ingredients.

ALSO, Curry Girls Kitchen & I did a virtual recipe swap! How 2016 of us, right? They whipped up a sandwich from The Skinny Confidential Book which happens to be one of my favorites: The Half Ass Sandwich. YUM.

Be sure to follow Peggy & Megan on Instagram. They share tons of different recipes, including gluten free & dairy free ones!

Hope you’re all having a very relaxing Sunday. I’m off to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday which will include lots of Kombucha & champagne gummy bears.

Chat tomorrow, lauryn x

{ PC }

The post Yes PLZ! Unreal Lentil, Avocado, Tomato Salad appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

Just when you thought Best Foods was the same as organic mayo…

…& realized: NO, OH NOOOOO. IT’S VERY DIFFERENT.

Because JUST watch the video of The Nanz. She takes her mayo very seriously.

Yes, that’s right. The Nanz is back in action, people.

She is ready to go with her feisty, sassy egg salad.

For the record, this isn’t any old egg salad.

This is THE childhood egg salad. Egg salad that you should really make this weekend. The kind that will win friends & influence others. Her egg salad is THAT good though. It’s really the perfect combination. I use organic mayo, but apparently I know nothing?

LET’S ALSO APPRECIATE the fact that she still very much uses index cards.

You know, you know— those recipe cards? Back in the good, old days when people used to write stuff down?

Like with a feather quill pen.

I kid, I kid.

But seriously index cards are so #TBT, right? Just about as #TBT as the music I listen to & the restaurant we went to tonight ( MADEO…you’re 200 years old but I’m obsessed ).

Regardless, I’m kind of into the vintage, chic, older vibes lately, so please— bring on the index cards. Gotta love the classics.

Anyway, I feel like I have no words here other than to introduce The Nanz.

We filmed this video a couple of months ago ( SWOLLEN ) but we had SO much fun that I had to share the experience.

Overall, she’s such a bright light in my life so I’m thrilled to showcase a bit of her spirit with you guys:

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Ok, now we’re asking you: what do you want to see The Nanz cook next? She can really whip up anything. Index cards & all.

Let’s not choose a recipe with mayo though?

She does make a mean meatloaf…thoughts?

Is there anything your grandparents cook that we can re-create on The Skinny Confidential? She would love to share a recipe special to one of you guys =).

Also, The Nanz wakes up every morning & logs on to her computer. She has TSC as her default ( set by yours truly ) so give her a shoutout below ( SHE LOVES ( LOVES ) COMMENTS! ). I’m thinking of going over to her house this weekend & teaching her how to respond to comments…this may or may not require drinking copious amounts of chilled rosé.

Anyway. Thanks for making my grandma feel special guys! She loves you ALL.

lauryn, x

+ get to know The Nanz…& her famous pecans.

++ more recipes like this in TSC Bombshell Body Guide.

{ photos | video }

SHOP THE SKINNY CONFIDENTIAL’S POST:

The post THE NANZ is BACK! And She Comes Bearing Her OG Egg Salad. appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.