If Music be the Food of Love, Play on

I promised myself I won't blog about my work. Yes, I made it Rule No. 1 when I got myself hooked in this blogging world. Since writing is my way of relaxing from the hurly-burly of my job, I told myself my blogs will only be about my hobbies --- cooking, crochet, dogs, plants, (family? maybe...) and personal journeys. I've mentioned that in my notes About this Site and About the Author.

Well, I can't help mentioning how my involvement in a government project has kept me real busy the past weeks (months actually!) almost bringing me to panic mode at times, enough to set me scratching myself all over, that would call for some doses of antihistamine.

Last Friday, we finally celebrated the launching of the project although in reality the real work has just barely begun! And so that day, I had to go home earlier than usual to take that much needed rest. I enjoyed a bit of luxury by sleeping from 7:00 pm till 5:00 am! My first after a long while!

But then, there's still the best luxury to culminate the week--- that of having Saturday breakfast with Billy, my husband, while enjoying classical music on air. Simply majestic! Such soothing and comforting music! I have always loved listening to classical music even as a child but it was my first time to listen to these violin concertos straight from "The Four Seasons" and Venice Baroque album by Antonio Vivaldi. The selections are part of the Venezia Art-Photobook and CD package that Billy brought home after coming from a 10-day trip to Venice where he presented his research paper in mathematics.

If you would like to enjoy the selection in full, just play the video below while reading on.

Billy goes home every Saturday from a week-long work from the University of the Philippines, Los Banos, Laguna. Hmmm... Yes, I'm a week-end wife! And this is precisely why I cherish Saturdays and Sundays because it's the only time our whole family could be together!

The Saturday breakfast would usually consist of the famous Jollibee "Pinoy Langhap Sarap" (Filipino Smells Delicious) Chicken Joy meal. I would make a combination from the variety of meals so that my kids and I get to have a taste of everything from the assorted chicken, corned beef and beef tapa meals, with fried egg and rice.

For this Saturday, I imagined myself seated in one of the best concert halls in the world while having breakfast which I concluded with the chocolate cupcake baked by our eldest daughter, Ayana Grace.

I arrived home Friday night to find her baking these but the sleepiness overpowered my enthusiasm to have a taste of it. Well, I can say that Ayana Grace has been growing up fast in my kitchen laboratory these past days and weeks. The cupcakes don't only look good, they taste good as well! Just enough sweetness despite the icing. Sssshhhh....I hate to confess that I, myself, am not good at this craft of making icing. Doesn't that call for a partnership in the near future?

Hope you enjoyed your weekend! I enjoyed (and still am enjoying) mine. :)

By the way, did you like the violin selections? What classical music do you like best?
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Note: The title of this post is a quote from Shakespeare's work, "Twelfth Night" where Duke Orsino in Act 1 Scene 1 says:

"If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it; that surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die..."

Pesto Spanish Sardines Pasta: A Remake

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Ensaladang Mustasa

It's back to work today, after five days of rest, something I've been looking forward to. As if the long Christmas holiday vacation was not enough :) Well, days just seem to fly so fast! Thanks to the additional non-working holidays brought about by the Pope's visit to my country, the Philippines. I had time to relax, stay at home, bond with family and yes, sort picture files in my computer. In between social networking, of course, I cooked for my family. With my husband home, there has to be fish and vegetables on the dining table. There was a bunch of mustasa (mustard) leaves left in the vegetable bin. What could be a better and perfect partner to fried fish than Ensaladang Mustasa (Mustard Salad)? Very simple and easy, here's how I did it. Ingredients: 1 bunch of mustasa leaves Rock salt 2 medium-sized tomatoes, sliced 1 small onion, sliced thinly 3 tbsps vinegar Iodized salt, ground pepper and sugar to taste Steps: 1. Cut mus

Ensaladang Alugbati (Malabar Spinach Salad)

This post appeared in my Facebook memories today. I'm glad it did! I featured this salad in my FB page a year ago. Alugbati (Malabar Spinach) Salad (Ensaladang Alugbati). This came up when I received for the first time this bouquet of alugbati from Erik, my officemate. He shares with us fruits and veggies fresh from his garden.

Garden Chef's Needle and Pen

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