lunch

So…. I alluded to it a little bit on here, and if you follow me on Twitter, you definitely have heard the news.

I’ve been on a WHIRLWIND of a VACATION!

I haven’t traveled in about 5 months, since I flew home for Christmas. However, in true NTTC fashion, I went ahead and took THREE trips this week. Go big or go home, right?

First Stop: Phoenix

It’s that time of year again… time to head to Montelucia for my 1st trip of the year. Truly, I couldn’t wait for this trip.

Having spent the past few weeks shopping for new bathing suits and picking up odds and ends, I was ready to get there on Friday morning. When I arrived I was THRILLED to find the weather to be ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. It was in the 80s and breezy… I couldn’t have ordered better weather.

As usual, my friend Donna met me there and we spent our days lounging by the pool, working on our tans, and catching up. We also took advantage of the poolside service… enjoying a lot of the Montelucia’s amazing (and healthy!) dishes!

One of many great things about visiting a spa is that the menus are full of healthy choices, and often have calorie counts included. The challenge with visiting a spa with one of your best friends is that it becomes difficult to count all of the liquid calories that go in. Especially when they are so tasty…

On Friday night, we went to our absolute favorite italian restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale. If you’re ever in Phoenix, you HAVE to try Marcellinos… they have the most exquisitely delicious homemade pasta. We even got to eat on the patio because the weather was so mild.

You might not recognize Donna and I above… we just stepped out of the salon moments before that picture was taken. As for the pictures of the food, we split the most delicious pear, arugula, parmesan salad. I’ll be making this at home soon. It was that good. The dish to the right is the best pasta I’ve ever had in my life: Caco di Pepe – - Homemade parmesan cracked pepper linguini in a tomato ragu with pancetta and caramelized onions. I order it every time I go to Marcellinos, and it never disappoints.

After indulging in extra cocktails and pasta meals, we make sure that we get our sweat on. The spa has the most gorgeous yoga studio, and I took complete advantage of its offerings. I love yoga in the desert. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t have poolside yoga on the schedule for the weekend… maybe next visit! Next visit, I’ll also need to try that beautiful mountain again as well…

Saturday was another pool day… and we did something fun at the spa, too. A little peek at the future, we had our cards read. I love exploring new age and spiritual learnings. Donna and I have both been at unique crossroads… and really enjoyed our readings as a result.

Wait a second… I know what you’re thinking. We didn’t have massages?? Oh, fear not… we scheduled those for Sunday morning after yoga. I always get my massage and body scrub from Angela, and as usual, the service was phenomenal, relaxing, and just what the doctor ordered. Living in a VERY dry climate, a body scrub at the beginning of summer is always amazing to get my skin in shape for sundresses that the warmer season will bring. The pictures below are from outside Joya Spa and from its rooftop pool.

The worst part about visiting Montelucia is that it always comes to an end. Donna and I have our tentative fall plans to return, since that’s the only way I am able to leave the property without tears.

After three and a half days in paradise, I reluctantly headed to the airport for the second leg of this trip.

To Be Continued…

Who Gets this Excited??

So much to post....

Five Things Friday

Smoky Pulled Turkey Wraps

I feel a little ridiculous saying that this is a recipe.

Three ingredients + One Crockpot. It’s THAT easy. SERIOUSLY.

But it was WAY too clever not to share. It has two ingredients… and is cooked in the crockpot. I’ve made two batches to date, and I plan on making more.

It started when I saw this at the grocery store. I don’t usually buy the turkey tenderloins, but I had a coupon for it so why not? So glad I did…

I never make the tenderloin because I’m not always sure what to do with it. But I have quickly realized that I am overcomplicating things.

Without further ado, let me share with you the EASIEST turkey BBQ recipe you’ll ever make, and one you’ll keep coming back to. I’ve made it twice and I have more tenderloin for another batch in the freezer!

Smoky Pulled Turkey Wraps

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

1 Jennie-O Applewood Smoked Turkey Tenderloin

1/2 onion

Pam cooking spray

Flatout Light Flatbread Wrap

Fresh Spinach

Tomatoes

1 wedge Laughing Cow French Onion Flavor (or flavor of your choice)

BBQ Sauce

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Slice your onion.

2. Prepare your Crockpot by spraying it with Pam cooking spray. (This makes it MUCH easier to clean in the end.) Add onions to the bottom of the pot, and add one of the two tenderloins in your Jennie O package.

3. Place the lid on the Crockpot and fire it up on low for 6-8 hours, until turkey tenderloin falls apart and onions are caramelized and delish! Once time has expired, stir the meat and watch it fall apart, or use my fun blender method to shred your turkey.

4. Spread your wedge of Laughing Cow on the flatbread. Add the spinach and tomato as well.

5. Add about 1/4-1/2 cup of shredded turkey to the flatbread, and top with BBQ sauce. Roll it up, and it will look gorgeous like this!

As you can imagine, making the pulled turkey is just one of many ideas… you could add the turkey to salad, or enjoy it inside a sandwich thin topped with my famous Mustard BBQ Sauce and with a side of my WW Cole Slaw.