I cook with music and it must be there from the moment I draw my knife. I normally keep my mini hi-fi tuned to our local station Class 95FM with non-stop love songs from the 80s and 90s. These are songs with the power to arouse my emotions and awaken all my senses to create the right aroma, taste, texture and color for my dish with love.
Along with music, tasting a glass of wine when I am cooking increases the sensation to elevate the whole process to a different level. It keeps my momentum going when I need to take short breaks while waiting for the fragrance of the garlic to infuse into the olive oil or when my marinara sauce is simmering away with fresh basil, onions, garlic and Italian canned tomatoes.
Something that adds to the happiness is to appreciate all the ingredients in front of me. I give huge respect to the farmers who had put in hard work to plant, rear and cultivate all the beautiful produce that are able to help me create my dish. No ingredients are to be taken for granted. Every grain of rice, every dash of black pepper is precious and should be treated with great value.
When you cook with passion and love, people can taste it.
gotasté 
Lovely photos, and yes, there’s nothing worse than a meal cooked by someone in a bad mood – that’s when things get burnt 🙂
Thanks! And you are absolutely right. Cooking is my way to distress from a crazy day at work. It makes me happy every time 🙂
yea. cool photos. gold 90fm is good too. heh!
Gold is good too but Class is nearer to my era. hahahaahhaha
Love your photos; as always! Passion comes from within and listening to music and slowly feeling the aromas of the foods cooking, accent those passions so much more. I see it in your writing and your pictures; wonderful!
Thanks Judy! I am so happy that you can connect with what I am trying to say. And you have definitely helped to express it even more beautifully.