Sweet Sunday

Sunday was a great and relaxing day, which is how Sundays should be!

There was one minor snafu: I almost passed out in church.  Somewhere between the "peace be with you's" and communion I started getting tunnel vision, really dizzy, broke out in a cold sweat, and my ears felt like they were going to explode.  The song book was used to fan myself as I sat while eveyone else stood.  So embarassing!  But very Gone With the Wind.  I kept thinking of the term "vapors", as in "I got the vapors!”

The moment passed and I recovered.  I think my vapors may have been brought on by head congestion and lack of coffee, so I took sudafed and drank coffee when I returned to my parents' house. (which explains why I didn't sleep well last night!)


When I saw ribeyes sitting out, intended to be our lunch, I was thrilled!  On my way to my parents' I thought, "I hope we are having red meat." I've been craving it and rarely cook it myself.   I considered making a ribeye salad, but instead had steak, a baked potato with full fat sour cream and cheese, 2 rolls, and a side salad.  Oh and a rice crispy treat with another cup of coffee for dessert. (Oops! My 3rd cheat on sugar free January.)  I don't regret indulging one bit....sorry I'm not sorry. 


After lunch, while my sister and mom played Family Feud on the Wii, I spent the afternoon reading the latest issues of my two favorite magazines, Southern Living and Garden & Gun.

Favorite article: one about new twists on spinach salads.  I couldn't find the article online, but I did find a few of the recipes.  Check them out here, here, here, and here.

This recipe also caught my eye.   The plum salsa sounds divine!

Favorite article: a New Orleans native wrote about to go cups and flasks.  It made my heart smile!  It's this type of article that makes me LOVE this magazine.

Runner up: Tie between this piece on Lyle Lovett (probably because this A&M alum agrees the Aggies should NOT move to the SEC) and the "50 Best Southern Bars".  I've decided to add every one of these bars to my bucket list!

My garmin actually read over 8 miles.

But the best part of my Sunday was the reinstatement of the long run.  My next half marathon is only a month and a week away, so I need to get serious about training.  8 miles on this humid, windy Sunday afternoon.


Since I'm pretty much bored with every bit of music on my ipod, I listened to a book on tape while running.  It made the almost hour and a half fly by!  This is what I listened to…

Hilarious!  Some of it reminds me of my own dad, which made me laugh out loud while running.  (I’m sure people I passed thought I was insane!) I think the funny short story format is perfect for running.   My next book on tape may be this one…

Max Tucker’s other book, I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, was ridiculous, oh so funny, and very vulgar/offensive.  But I enjoyed it. 

Any David Sedaris would also be a good choice.

Do you ever listen to books on tape?  What is your perfect Sunday?

The Harlequin & A Piece of Cake

Friday night, I celebrated my great-aunt and great-uncle's 50th wedding anniversary by joining my family for dinner at The Harlequin.

There was a recommittment ceremony, but I skipped that part of the celebration because a) it was all the way in Sulphur and b) I wouldn't have been able to CrossFit at 4:30 and be showered in time. 

50 years of marriage is truly an accomplishment.  My parents have been married for 34 years and my maternal grandparents have been married for over 50 years.  My paternal grandparents were married until my mawmaw passed away, and my pawpaw never remarried. I feel blessed to have such successful role models when it comes to marriage. I know without a doubt that if I one day do get married, it will truly be until death do us part.

Back to the food.

My sister and I arrived to the party after everyone else.  It was a little chaotic when we walked in, because the private room was in use by another group and there were more in our group than the restaurant expected. 

They moved as fast as they could to add tables to our little corner of the restaurant and get everyone seated.

The Harlequin is sort of a Lake Charles institution.  It is a family owned steakhouse, passed from generation to generation.  The walls are adorned with family portraits and various Louisiana themed memorabilia (There is quite an homage to the King Pin, Earl K Long). 

There are 2 smallish dining rooms and the bar area.  I love that the restaurant is broken up this way, because it makes the experience much more intimate.

Service was slow, but that is expected with such a large group.  By the time we were served our entrees, I was almost too tired to eat.

I ordered the 7 oz. filet, medium rare with a side of sauteed mushrooms.  It came with the house salad, which was iceberg greens and one cherub tomato.  I opted for the poppyseed vinagrette and did not like it at all.   It tasted like red onions.   Although, every single bite of that salad was devoured because I was famished.  (My sister liked the dressing so I think it was just a matter of my tastebuds' aversion to red onion.)

My steak was cooked to perfection.  I took the bacon off, and cut right in.  The outside had a crisp sear and the inside was buttery smooth.  Exactly how I like my steak.  The mushrooms were good, but a little salty for my taste.

No one else was overly impressed with their meal. 

 

What everyone was impressed with was the wedding cake.  It was from A Piece of Cake.

There were 2 layers: pineapple and traditional wedding cake.  I devoured nibbled a piece of the traditional. (had to carb load for my long run the next morning, right?!?)

The cake was fluffy and light, while the icing was almondy and sweet without being too sugary sweet.  I hadn't had cake this good in a long time. 

I wonder if they sell cake by the slice?  That could be trouble...



My final assessment - 

If you are looking for somewhere to have a nice steak dinner with a good atmosphere, the Harlequin might be your place. 

If you are looking for somewhere to buy a delicious cake, A Piece of Cake is your place!


Do you prefer to eat steak in a restaurant or at home?
At home.  Not my home, but my parents home.  A la Chef Dad. 

Do you have will power against wedding cake?
I can't ever go to a wedding and skip the cake!