I just love books! My dad gave me my first positive thinking book when I was ten and I’ve been hooked every since. It was the Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale – how one’s thoughts create our reality and if you can believe it you can achieve it. My father who was the son of Immigrant parents – and didn’t go to college said whenever he wanted to learn something he would see if there was a book written on it and there usually was. I feel the same way. I love reading a good book and I have quite an extensive library of books that have inspired me. Thank goodness for my library card because I’ve run out of bookcase space to hold more books. I see myself as an archaeologist of the soul – who enjoys unearthing my soul’s essence and inspiring others to discover the treasures within. Books have had a very positive impact on my life, which is part of the reason I was inspired to write my first book Diary of A Modern Day Goddess – a lighthearted guide to nurturing your body, mind and soul. I know the impact of positive words and ideas on one’s life and I wanted to share with other’s what I’ve learned so I could contribute to their well-being through the use of my writing, speaking, TV work and wisdom.

I have many books that I love but I just chose a few for this video. They include Broken Open, by Elizabeth Lesser which I learned about on Oprah, You Can Heal Your Life by self-help pioneer Louise Hay who discovered that loving one’s self is the way to heal every area of your life, The Success Principles by Mega-successful Coach and Chicken Soup for the Soul co-creator Jack Canfield who offers the tried-and true steps that make living a successful life attainable, Being a goddess who love to cook – The Oprah Magazine Cookbook – Yum!, the inspiring stories and recipes from – The Hallelujah Table by Dr. Maya Angelou who I had the honor of meeting when this gracious icon came to speak in Santa Barbara. Then The Daily Word of Unity’s prayerful affirmations, Time for Joy Affirmations and one of my favorite authors from the early 1900′s who was part of the New Thought movement – Florence Scovel Shinn’s The Game of Life. She has powerful affirmations and stories that always inspire me. One of her affirmations that I say often is may “The divine plan of my life now manifest under grace in perfect ways!” She defined the divine plan of one’s life as perfect health, wealth, love, and self-expression. So I hope I’ve inspired you to read, learn or remember your favorite books. Feel free to let me know what books have inspired you and I thank all of you who continue to share how my book has inspired you. It makes my heart very happy to know my words have helped or inspired you. From one goddess to another, I Bless You! Cynthia

I drove down from Santa Barbara, California to Orange County for a premiere party for the 2nd Great Food Truck Race that is airing Sunday nights at 9/8c on the Food Network. This second season has special meaning to me because my little sister Nicole is on the Seabirds Food Truck from Costa Mesa, California. They are an all girl vegan food truck serving up delicious organic vegan food and lots of girl power! The team is made up of Seabirds owner/chef Stephanie Morgan, raw vegan chef Raya Belna and my sister Nicole.

The Seabirds Food Truck women (L to R, owner Stephanie Morgan, Caroline, Raya Belna, my sister Nicole Daddona) and I (Cynthia Daddona, last on right) at the CA Premiere of the Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race." The men of The Lime Truck are (L to R) Jason Quinn, Jesse Brockman and owner Daniel Shemtob.

Cynthia Daddona (right) with sister Nicole Daddona (member of The Seabirds Food Truck) pose with the truck at the Premiere Party for the Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race."

The premiere party took place at the So Cal eco-mall and was hosted by The Lime Truck – another popular California food truck on the series that is from Irvine, California. The Lime Truck’s team is owner Daniel Shemtob, along with Jason Quinn and Jesse Brockman who are known for serving up tasty gourmet food.

Food montage featuring delicious dishes from the Seabirds Food Truck and the Lime Food Truck (both participants in the Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race.")

At the premiere we enjoyed sampling the food from the two trucks. From the Seabird Food Truck we had the delicious and organic tomato/watermelon salad with almond feta (dairy free), a vegan quesadilla, grilled asparagus and a vegan and raw food chocolate cupcake that was also gluten-free. It was a decadent delight! My husband also ordered the Lime Truck’s gourmet cuisine, namely, its popular Yum, Yum lamb – ground lamb and 10-hour cooked pork served with guacamole, Cotija cheese and fries that were also quite good.

It was a fun time had by everyone who enjoyed eating the delectables from the two food trucks, meeting the personalities and watching the show together while cheering whenever the Orange County trucks appeared on Great Food Truck Race.

Sisters Cynthia Daddona (RomancingTheTable.com) & illustrator/artist Nicole Daddona (member of the Seabirds Food Truck) pose on the red carpet at the Premiere Party for the Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race."

Eating healthy and delicious food is a joyful topic between my sis and I that comes from growing up in an ethnic family who loves to eat! So when Nicole comes to visit us in Santa Barbara it is great fun for me to create recipes with options – that includes Mediterranean for my husband and I and vegan for Nicole. When I returned from my visit to the Mediterranean where they love to savor times at the table, I was inspired to create RomancingTheTable.com which celebrates life, love, food, travel, wisdom and romance. I’m also married to an American-Greek who loves to eat and lucky for him I love cooking and creating happy, delicious and healthy times at the table. Best of all I love having Nicole assist me in the kitchen while we chat about life and celebrate our culinary sister connection. I was so glad to be with her on her special night.

The Great Food Truck Race is an entertaining and fun foodie series that will leave you hungering for more episodes each week. The series began last week and will continue until a winner is selected from the 8 trucks that compete against each other in different cities. The truck with the lowest amount of food sales is eliminated each week and the grand prize winner receives $100,000. The trucks competing this year are The Seabirds Food Truck, The Lime Truck, Café Con Leche, Hodge Podge, Korilla, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Devilicious and Sky’s Gourmet Tacos. You can read more about the trucks on the Food Network website.

So tune in to the Food Network on Sunday nights at 9/8c.

One of my extra romantic and healthy Date Night Mediterranean Meals with my Greek god on the beach in Santa Barbara, California Photo by RomancingtheTable.com

This month is National Mediterranean Diet Month (Med Month!) created by Oldways, a world-renowned source of Mediterranean diet information, “to highlight the healthy Mediterranean Diet and its lifestyle practices.” It is based healthy foods “that have traditionally been consumed by people living in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.”

To me, every month is Med Month! As an American Italian-Greek, married to an American-Greek who loves to eat, I’m often found in the kitchen cooking delicious Mediterranean meals and testing recipes for date nights, my blog, my upcoming book and my website (RomancingTheTable.com). I strongly believe in an Oldways’s quote on how the Mediterranean diet affects your love relationships, “You need to eat well to love well.”

Research that began on the Greek island of Crete after World War II proved that the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest in the world. It is often described as the “gold standard for healthy eating” and has been proven to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and increasing brainpower.

Oldways created the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid along with the Harvard School of Public Health. According to the pyramid, we should eat mostly vegetables, legumes, grains, fruits, herbs, spices, and healthy fats such as olive oil on a regular basis. Seafood should be eaten at least twice a week, poultry, diary, and eggs consumed daily to weekly, and red meats and sweets should be on the menu less often. Being physically active and enjoying meals with others is also an important part of the pyramid and the Mediterranean lifestyle. Below are images of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid along with a Vegetarian Diet Pyramid.

Mediterranean Diet Pyramid by Oldwayspt.org

Vegetarian Diet Pyramid by Oldwayspt.org

I’ve found that delicious and healthy Mediterranean meals with quality time at the table definitely contribute to my happy and healthy marriage. Each week, my husband and I take turns planning our weekly date nights (I’m lucky that he can cook, too!) The person whose week it is makes a Mediterranean dinner and chooses an arts and entertainment activity for the night. We occasionally save up and go out to one of our favorite California-Mediterranean restaurants. The ultimate Mediterranean eating experience was when we were in Greece to produce our #1 NY Times About.com culinary travel DVD - A Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class DVD that took place at a top gourmet Greek restaurant. Back home, when we sit at the table we love recreating a Mediterranean atmosphere with a delicious and healthy Mediterranean Meal. To date, my husband Jim and I have been married for five years and if you count the year of our engagement, we’ve had over one year (365 days) worth of date nights in total. That’s a lot of romantic eating! You can do the same by downloading the Date Night Scheduler HERE.

My Grecian Goddess Greek salad that was inspired by the salad we shared on our first dates causing love at first Mediterranean bite!

Oldways also has a Mediterranean Foods Alliance, which I enjoy being one of their culinary advisors. We’ve all teamed up to put together a list of vegetable recipes for Med Month. You can find my info and recipe here, the fourth from the bottom. For more information on National Mediterranean Diet Month by Oldways go here.

I send you Goddess Blessings for your own romantic and healthy Mediterranean date nights! Click here for extra tips on creating a romantic atmosphere for your date night meals. Write me and let me know about your own culinary date nights.

Photo by RomancingTheTable.com

Dark Leafy Greens are an important part of the Mediterranean Diet. Research that began on the Greek Island of Crete in the 1940’s and later included the rest of the Mediterranean, determined that the Mediterranean Diet contributes to living a longer life. My grandfather who migrated from Italy to the US, ate bowls of steamed greens with olive oil and garlic and lived to be 97. My husband Jim’s Greek Yia, Yia (Greek for grandmother) who migrated from Greece to the US lived to be 101 and her sisters that are living are in their 90’s. When you ask them what contributes to living a longer life – they answer Horta! (Dark leafy Greens picked in the fields and eaten daily in Greece and cooked with olive oil and lemon.) This recipe was inspired by meeting the three Yia Yias and eating delicious horta in Greece. Listed first is a classic recipe for greens and the second is one I created with a Mediterranean twist by adding several spices and feta. Click here to see a video filmed in Santa Barbara and Crete that includes how to make my award-winning horta recipe!

Classical Greek Horta

2 lbs of Greens:
Suggestions of Greens to choose from:
Swiss Chard
Kale
Spinach
Dandelion – (Here in the United States, I’ve found that the white or green stemmed dandelions and especially the younger/shorter ones are less bitter than the red stems).

Feel free to combine different greens as well.

(Whenever possible buy organic greens to avoid ingesting the pesticides – if not available soak and rinse greens several times)

1 1/2 cups of water
Extra Virgin Olive oil
Salt to taste
2 lemons
(optional – 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder)

P r e p a r a t i o n :
Cut the Greens into bite size pieces. Wash several times in bowl with water to remove any soil. If using kale with thick stems tear the leaves off the stems and discard stems.

In a large pot, add water, bring to a boil and add greens. Cover. Boil until stems and leaves are soft depending upon which greens you use. Check after 10 minutes by tasting to see if greens are tender and continue up to 20 minutes. Add more water if needed. Strain water from greens and return to pot. Add juice of two lemons, one turn of olive oil, salt and mix. Let sit for a few minutes in warm pot with flame turned off. Serve on plate or in bowl.

This makes 5 to 6 servings. Make extra since it tastes delicious the next day.

Dandelion Leaves Tip: If you want to make dandelion greens only (a bitter green) – use younger leaves if possible. Whatever length you use, I have found that by cooking dandelion greens in a steamer you reduce bitterness and follow directions to season with lemon, olive oil and salt above while still hot. Dandelion also taste milder when combined with another milder green such as Swiss Chard.

Mediterranean Goddess Greens
(Horta with a Mediterranean Twist)

Photo by RomancingTheTable.com

Eat your cooked greens as much as possible each week and you’ll feel like a healthier goddess. This is also a wonderful recipe to get your loved ones to also eat their greens. The extra ingredients of spices and feta caused my father-in-law who doesn’t like to eat greens to ask for seconds. One mother of two who tried the recipe told me that her children loved making and eating the greens with feta.

Ingredients:

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon of turmeric
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground fennel
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper

1 1/2 cups of water
1/4 teaspoon of salt or salt to taste
2 tablespoons of Olive oil

Use these greens of your choice:

3 bunches of Swiss Chard (regular or red or yellow colored stems)

(2 bunches of Swiss chard and 1 bunch of kale – flat leafed versus curly)

or Spinach (2 pounds)

I find that the Swiss chard alone or Swiss Chard with Flat Leaf kale works well for this recipe. If not available use Spinach.

(Whenever possible buy organic greens to avoid ingesting the pesticides – if not available soak and then rinse greens several times)

1 lemon – juiced

A delicious option: 1/2 cup of Feta cheese crumbled on top of cooked greens while still hot and before serving (use sheep’s milk or sheep-goat mixture for true Greek taste)

To prepare:
Cut the Greens into bite size pieces. Wash several times in bowl with water to remove any soil. If using kale with thick stems tear the leaves off the stems and discard stems. For Swiss chard add stems to pot.

In a large pot add all the spices including garlic powder except for the salt. Stir together and cook and cover over Medium heat for 30 seconds to release the aromas.

Add water, salt and Greens, then olive oil and stir together. Cook on Medium heat until stems and leaves are soft depending upon which greens you use. Check after 10 minutes and stir again. Taste to see if greens are tender and continue cooking up to 20 to 30 minutes. Add more water if needed. Strain water from greens and return to warm pot with burner off. Squeeze lemon juice on greens. Add crumble Feta cheese and toss lightly. This can also be made without the feta for those who prefer dairy-free. Place in serving plate. Taste delicious warm.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

For more recipes, videos, and tips for celebrating Life, Love Food and Travel with a Mediterranean twist, visit www.RomancingTheTable.com.

Additional Bio info:
Cynthia is an award-winning on-camera personality, lifestyle journalist, Author and Mediterranean home cook. Her Romancing the Table®.com blog/website celebrates life, love, food and travel with a Mediterranean twist. She is also the co-producer and host of #1 NY Times About.com culinary travel DVD – A Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class that was filmed in Santorini Greece. Cynthia is an American Greek-Italian who enjoys celebrating her heritage and living in Santa Barbara with her American-Greek husband James, a documentary filmmaker. She is also the author of Diary of A Modern Day Goddess®, – a lighthearted guide to creating a life that nurtures your body, mind and soul. For recipes, podcasts, videos, tips and DVD go to www.RomancingtheTable.com and www.CelebrateGreece.com.

If sharing this recipe please credit recipe to its creator – Cynthia Daddona www.RomancingTheTable.com Thank you!
© C.Daddona 2011

Watch this video filmed in Santa Barbara and Crete that includes how to make my award-winning horta recipe!

Eating a consistent amount of greens – raw and lightly cooked or steamed can help you live a longer life! I now realize this is what contributed to the longevity of my Mediterranean relatives. Greens are a staple of the Mediterranean diet, one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. My Grandfather Benny (originally from Southern Italy and former Greek colony) ate a green salad fresh from his garden and bowls of steamed spinach splashed lavishly with olive oil as often as possible and lived to be 97 years old.

Grandfather Daddona by Dianne Daddona.

My husband’s Greek Yai Yai (grandmother) Jean loved talking about and eating her horta. She lived to be 101 years old. Her sisters eat horta as well and are now in their 90′s. I was thrilled to make my classical horta recipe and my other horta recipe with a twist for Jean and my mother-in-law Helen months before Jean passed away. My father-in-law who doesn’t like eating greens, even enjoyed eating his greens.

Cynthia smiling after talking horta with a Cretan Yia Yia (Grandmother)

Filming a video about the Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle at Kosta Mare Palace Resort & Spa

What joy I had was when I found out that my greens recipe was selected as 1st place in the 2nd Annual Mediterranean Diet Recipe Contest sponsored by Oldways, a culinary think tank advocating a return to healthy, traditional old ways of eating. Their letter said: “Congratulations. We thoroughly enjoyed making and tasting your Greek Horta recipe!” I gave my greens recipes with some twists of spices and the option of adding feta to a friend of mine who made them at home and she loved them and so did her children.

I am especially thrilled that there was a Greens recipe selected since it celebrates my passion for showing others how eating from the Mediterranean diet can be healthy while also tasting delicious. Most of all I was inspired to create RomancingTheTable.com after visiting the Mediterranean and seeing how they savor times at the table.

UPDATE: This month Oldways is sponsoring Mediterranean Month and we are eating our greens as usual but a bit more this month. Here is a post I wrote about how we are celebrating Med. Month at our house during our date nights.

The Mediterranean diet includes an abundance of food from plant sources, including fruits and vegetables, grains, beans, nuts. There is also an emphasis on fish and replacing butter for extra virgin olive oil, a heart-healthy fat. Meat and dairy are eaten in small amounts. There is also a vegetarian meatless Mediterranean Diet Pyramid. Research that began on the Greek Island of Crete after WWII confirmed that the Mediterranean Diet is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world that contributes to longevity. Research then expanded to Italy and other parts of the Mediterranean. Of course exercise and the enjoyment of sharing food around the table contributes to one’s well being as well.

Whenever possible eat seasonally fresh and locally grown food which maximize the health-promoting nutrients, minerals and antioxidants of the foods. I am a big advocate of eating organic and local whenever possible since it supports the farmers, the environment and a healthy and pesticide free body! As an American Greek Italian married to an American Greek who loves to eat food of his heritage — we eat the Mediterranean diet on a consistent basis. Since we live in California, our menu is often an organic California-Mediterranean menu. We like to eat the way our grandmothers and grandfathers ate back in their native land – which would be naturally organic and seasonal. You can often find organic produce at your a local farmers market or CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) program in your area that offers a weekly subscription to a farm’s harvest by checking out localharvest.org.

Check out this video I did as AphFoodite™ – the Greek goddess of food, romance and love – that was filmed in Crete.

What brought us to Crete? My husband Jim and I were delighted when the Pan-Cretan Association of America (through the Greek Trade Office and the Greek National Tourist Organization) invited us on a press trip to the wonderful island of Crete during the summer.

Filming a segment about the Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle at Kosta Mare Palace Resort & Spa

Cynthia at the Minoan Palace of Knossos

During our visit to Crete, we enjoyed the beauty, romance, culture, history and cuisine of Crete. Back in 2006, we spent part of our honeymoon in Elounda, Crete after being married in a Greek island wedding in Santorini. We were very happy when we returned to Crete and had the opportunity to visit a variety of wonderful new locations. We discovered that Crete has something for everyone – from the finest hotels, located on the magnificent Mediterranean Sea, to the agro-tourism farms/wineries to the archaeological splendors of Knossos Palace and the Herakleion Archaeological Museum.

We particularly enjoyed the hospitality shown to us whether it was from an owner of a hotel, agro-tourism farm, or even a psaro-taverna (fish restaurant).

Cynthia smiling after talking horta with a real Cretan Yiayia.

Click here to see a video filmed in Santa Barbara and Crete that includes my award-winning horta (greens) recipe.

2011 UPDATE: This month is also National Mediterranean Diet Month (Med Month!) created by Oldways, a world-renowned source of Mediterranean diet information, “to highlight the healthy Mediterranean Diet and its lifestyle practices.” It is based healthy foods “that have traditionally been consumed by people living in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.” In celebration of Med Month I have also posted my video on Romantic, Healthy and Delicious Mediterranean Date Nights with recipes.

The quintessential romantic table at Manousakis Winery (Nostos Wines) near Chania.

Agreco Farms, an agro-tourism site.

Oldways created the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid along with the Harvard School of Public Health. According to the pyramid, we should eat mostly vegetables, legumes, grains, fruits, herbs, spices, and healthy fats such as olive oil on a regular basis. Seafood should be eaten at least twice a week, poultry, diary, and eggs consumed daily to weekly, and red meats and sweets should be on the menu less often. Being physically active and enjoying meals with others is also an important part of the pyramid and the Mediterranean lifestyle.

James and Cynthia enjoying fish, horta, Greek salad and Octopus seaside in Crete.

One of my extra romantic and healthy Date Night Mediterranean Meals with my Greek god on the beach in Santa Barbara, California Photo by RomancingtheTable.com

This month is National Mediterranean Diet Month (Med Month!) created by Oldways, a world-renowned source of Mediterranean diet information, “to highlight the healthy Mediterranean Diet and its lifestyle practices.” It is based healthy foods “that have traditionally been consumed by people living in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.”

To me, every month is Med Month! As an American Italian-Greek, married to an American-Greek who loves to eat, I’m often found in the kitchen cooking delicious Mediterranean meals and testing recipes for date nights, my blog, my upcoming book and my website (RomancingTheTable.com). I strongly believe in an Oldways’s quote on how the Mediterranean diet affects your love relationships, “You need to eat well to love well.”

Research that began on the Greek island of Crete after World War II proved that the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest in the world. It is often described as the “gold standard for healthy eating” and has been proven to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and increasing brainpower.

Oldways created the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid along with the Harvard School of Public Health. According to the pyramid, we should eat mostly vegetables, legumes, grains, fruits, herbs, spices, and healthy fats such as olive oil on a regular basis. Seafood should be eaten at least twice a week, poultry, diary, and eggs consumed daily to weekly, and red meats and sweets should be on the menu less often. Being physically active and enjoying meals with others is also an important part of the pyramid and the Mediterranean lifestyle. Below are images of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid along with a Vegetarian Diet Pyramid.

Mediterranean Diet Pyramid by Oldwayspt.org

Vegetarian Diet Pyramid by Oldwayspt.org

I’ve found that delicious and healthy Mediterranean meals with quality time at the table definitely contribute to my happy and healthy marriage. Each week, my husband and I take turns planning our weekly date nights (I’m lucky that he can cook, too!) The person whose week it is makes a Mediterranean dinner and chooses an arts and entertainment activity for the night. We occasionally save up and go out to one of our favorite California-Mediterranean restaurants. The ultimate Mediterranean eating experience was when we were in Greece to produce our #1 NY Times About.com culinary travel DVD - A Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class DVD that took place at a top gourmet Greek restaurant. Back home, when we sit at the table we love recreating a Mediterranean atmosphere with a delicious and healthy Mediterranean Meal. To date, my husband Jim and I have been married for five years and if you count the year of our engagement, we’ve had over one year (365 days) worth of date nights in total. That’s a lot of romantic eating! You can do the same by downloading the Date Night Scheduler HERE.

My Grecian Goddess Greek salad that was inspired by the salad we shared on our first dates causing love at first Mediterranean bite!

Oldways also has a Mediterranean Foods Alliance, which I enjoy being one of their culinary advisors. We’ve all teamed up to put together a list of vegetable recipes for Med Month. You can find my info and recipe here, the fourth from the bottom. For more information on National Mediterranean Diet Month by Oldways go here.

I send you Goddess Blessings for your own romantic and healthy Mediterranean date nights! Click here for extra tips on creating a romantic atmosphere for your date night meals. Write me and let me know about your own culinary date nights.

Oscar®-winning actress Sophia Loren looking stunning on the red carpet for her Academy Tribute at the Samuel Goldwyn

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science tribute to Sophia Loren, hosted by Billy Crystal at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, was a moving event filled with laughter, tears and love for the world’s most beloved Italian film goddess. An audience of a thousand attendees enjoyed the beautiful evening of film clips, photos and personal remarks from friends, family and colleagues plus an intimate Q&A with the legendary star who continues to be a stunning woman of beauty and talent at age 76.

The Academy put together the tribute along with the help of CineCitta Luce from Italy to mark the 50-year anniversary Sophia Loren’s first Oscar®. In 1961, she broke tradition to earn the first Academy-Award ever presented to a lead performer in a non-English speaking role for Two Women. Then in 1990, the academy presented an Honorary Oscar® to Sophia acknowledging her as being “one of the genuine treasures of world cinema.”

TV Host, Author and Greco-Roman Actress - Cynthia Daddona of RomancingTheTable.com® in Beverly Hills at the Academy Tribute honoring Sophia Loren

Sophia, has been and still is an inspiration to me. She grew up in the slums of a small Italian village near Naples. My grandfather was also born in a small village near Naples. While growing up Sophia was so thin she was nicknamed the “stick.” As a young girl, I too, was teased for being thin and told I had “chicken legs.” I am of Greco-Roman descent and when I told my Italian aunt I still remember her saying “Don’t worry Cinzia, they used to call Sophia Loren a “toothpick” and look at her now! You too will blossom.” My aunt was right because a year later I did. Sophia inspired me to celebrate my feminine beauty, performing talents in TV and Film and cooking Mediterranean food with love. Today, I celebrate many of these topics by hosting RomancingTheTable.com® – a celebration of life, love, food, film and wisdom.
One of my most cherished cookbooks is Sophia Loren’s Recipes and Memories cookbook that includes family recipes and memories from her life and acting career. To me, Sophia represents a magnificent Mediterranean goddess of grace, beauty, talent and passion for life that is timeless. I completely agree with her quote that sums it up: “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”

The Cover to Sophia's Recipes and Memories Cookbook (published in 1998)

Opening the tribute was former Academy President Sid Ganis, who I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing in the past. He introduced the Billy Crystal, the host for the evening, as someone who appreciated “feminine beauty” as much as he did. Crystal, an eight-time Oscar® Show host, kept the audience laughing when he opened with a rapid fire Italian and English description of Sophia’s beauty. He then described the time he first met Sophia, which was after he hosted the Oscars® in 1991. Billy said when he was 13, Sophia was his first true love even though she didn’t know it. Sophia had requested Billy to be the host of her tribute. Billy did an impersonation of how Sophia called him “Billeee” in her velvety Italian accent. His impression brought lots of laughs along with his other jokes of the evening that included “Just thinking of Sophia’s beauty could help keep an air traffic controller awake at night!”

Oscar®-Winning Actress Sophia Loren with Comedian, Actor and Eight-Time Oscar® Host Billy Crystal during an Academy Tribute to her

The tribute continued with a love fest of comments about Sophia’s beauty and acting talent along with recollections of the first time colleagues and friends ever saw her. Christian De Sica, said he would always remember seeing Sophia for the first time when he visited the set film of It Started in Naples and she was dancing and singing the song “Americano.” The film starred Clark Gable and Christian’s father Vittorio, who was an actor before becoming a director. Vittorio De Sica went on to direct Sophia toward her first Oscar® in Two Women, then in Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, winner of the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award, and also in Marriage Italian Style with Marcello Mastroianni for which Sophia received her second Oscar® nomination. Christian described the collaboration between his father Vittorio and Sophia as “the milk and coffee that creates a perfect cappuccino.”

John Travolta commented that: “Some delicious things came out of Italy and the most delicious was Sophia!” When he saw Sophia for the first time on Houseboat with Cary Grant he said: “I was vibrating from the waist down and I got chills that were multiplying!” The admiration continued with comments from Rob Marshall who directed Sophia in the film Nine.

There were also taped video messages from Tom Hanks, Director Lina Wertmuller with Giancarlo Gianninni from Italy and a passionate Roberto Benigni who sang praise to her by changing the lyrics of O Sole Mio to O Sole Sophia. In 1998, Sophia presented an Oscar to Roberto Benigni for his role in Life is Beautiful and he will always be remember for walking across the back of chairs of the audience to express his passionate joy. Italian Model/Actress Jo Champa, who helped produced the event, said “Thank you from all of the women you have empowered by inspiring us to dream big.” Her son Eduardo Conti said that beyond his mother’s timeless beauty and talent is a mixture of “courage and humility” which gave her the strength to leave her small village in Italy. He was tearful as he said Sophia continues to inspire us all. Eduardo directed his mother in the 2002 film Between Strangers. Her son Carlo Ponti Jr. was also in the audience.

Sophia being kissed by her two sons Carlo Ponti Jr., (left) and Edoardo Ponti (right) on the red carpet at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Tribute honoring her in Beverly Hills, California

The audience enjoyed film clips from Sophia’s varied films along with home movie footage from the sets of It Started in Naples and Boy on A Dolphin which was filmed in Greece (Hydra, Athens, Rhodes and Delos). Crystal introduced the home video footage with humor by saying “Now you will see Sophia at the Parthenon, which is the real one and not the restaurant in Culver City.”

Sophia’s versatile talent of being able to act in dramatic, comedic and romantic films led her to star alongside top leading men. Her most frequent co-star was Marcello Mastroianni who she starred with in 13 films. They included Marriage Italian Style, Yesterday Today and Tomorrow, A Special Day (winner of the Foreign Language Film Academy Award) which were produced by Sophia’s husband Carlo Ponti who also produced Dr. Zhivago. Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia also appeared together in a spoof of her famous strip scene in (Pret a Porter) by Robert Altman. Other leading men included Cary Grant (Houseboat), Clark Gable (It Started in Naples), Charlton Heston (El Cid), Gregory Peck (Arabesque), Marlon Brando (A Countess from Hong Kong directed by Charlie Chaplin), Paul Newman (Lady L), Anthony Quinn (Attila), Peter O’Toole (Man of La Mancha) and Richard Burton (The Voyage). In her personal life, Sophia’s long marriage to producer Carlo Ponti not only gave life to wonderful screen collaborations but also to her two sons Carlo Jr. and Edoardo.

When the stunning Sophia took the stage she received a standing ovation. “Words can not describe my emotions right now. I am so grateful to the Academy and all my friends who shared their words. It is hard to imagine 50 years have passed since the first Oscar® came to my home, an event that changed my life completely. It helped me believe in myself, encouraged me and gave me opportunities that pushed my artistic boundaries.” Sophia said the tribute was as much for her as it was for husband Producer Carlo Ponti who discovered her at a beauty contest at age 14. “My husband not only gave me the courage to follow my passion but also believed in me when I didn’t.” (Carlo passed away in 2007 at the age of 94. They were married for 54 years.)

View the Academy’s Videos of the tribute here

During the Q&A – Billy Crystal helped put an emotional Sophia at ease with his humor by asking her, “I hear there isn’t any good pizza in Los Angeles – where do you go to get a good slice?” Sophia was at first quiet and then laughed. Billy garnered another laugh when he reminded her “You wanted me to be the MC!” And when Sophia mentioned that she only placed second in a beauty pageant – he quipped with disbelief: “What kind of beauty contest was that?” He also asked Sophia: “Can you believe its been so long and that people loved you the first time they saw you?” She commented: “ I was born for this – when I don’t work for a year or two, I don’t feel well. We all need to do what we were born to do!”

She ended the inspiring evening by saying “I hope to see you in another 50 years to celebrate my 100th year anniversary. God bless you all!” To Sophia I say – Grazie Mille Sophia! (A thousand thanks in Italian) We hope to see you again too. You have blessed us all with your talent, beauty and wisdom and may God continue to bless you and your family!

– Cynthia Daddona www.RomancingTheTable.com

The basis for having the life we desire begins with appreciating and loving oneself. This creates the good vibrations and healing that will help us manifest our dreams that can include inner joy, happy relationships, abundance, attracting one’s soulmate, creativity and much more. Above is an inspiring & fun video on how I put to use some of the techniques discussed in my book Diary of A Modern Day Goddess to learn how to love myself more and manifest dreams. The idea of having a date with oneself has definitely contributed to my well-being. I wrote about this in my book and also for the LA Times. I love receiving the many comments about how great people feel afterward. One woman said she bought herself orchids as part of her date and one guy said he took himself out to his favorite restaurant. I sent myself flowers and acted surprised when they arrived! And my date was perfect because I had felt like I had known myself my whole life!

Date nights have become a big part of my life and feeling good about oneself. I’ve combined this along with using vision boards to manifest many of my dreams including finding true love. Because of this, I married for the first time at age 44 in a beautiful Greek island wedding. Since then my husband Jim and I have enjoyed a wonderful soul mate relationship with weekly date nights for the past 6 years. And while my husband and I love having wonderful date nights together, I still practice the act of self-nurturing by having dates with myself. This isn’t always easy to schedule but is especially needed when my inner goddess is stressed and wants to rest or play. I do this because I get a happier life, which translates into my husband getting a happier wife!

Remember, my dear goddesses, self-love is the basis for having a good relationship with yourself and others. So take yourself out on a date and/or make yourself a vision board and let me know what happens! (Send pictures!)

The menu is lemon chicken, rice with spinach, Grecian goddess salad and Greek yogurt with berries and mint.

One of the definitions of romantic is “imaginative.” So use your imagination to create wonderful times at the table, whether you’re eating solo or with a loved one for date night. You can tap into a romantic state of mind at the table and in your life by appealing to the senses. Use colors that appeal to you in your clothes, table décor, food and home. Be inspired by what you read, watch and listen to. Attend a great movie, restaurant and cultural events – many which are reasonably priced. Take turns creating romantic meals for each other at home. Eating together can be an intimate act that opens the heart. And a very loving way to a woman and man’s heart is through the stomach – via food. Celebrate the joy of life! Play soothing music while you eat and, most of all, consciously use positive words at the table when thinking to yourself or speaking to those you love – an important factor for romance and good digestion!

Single people often ask me how to attract romance and true love into their life. I remind them that romance and love begin with you! The way you treat yourself and kindly love yourself determines the quality of your life, your health and the people, experiences and mate you will draw to yourself. My book, Diary of A Modern-Day Goddess, asks, “Why not have a love affair with yourself?” Say nice things to yourself, make yourself a nice meal and, yes, you can even take yourself out on a date! Go somewhere special or create a special date for yourself at home. Send yourself flowers and act surprised when they arrive! Enjoy a delicious meal at home eaten on your good dishes!

I used to have regular date nights with myself even when I was single and lit candles in special candlesticks I bought for the occasion. I used my date nights as a time to appreciate and accept myself and to think about the qualities I wanted in my future mate. I would also visualize our dinner date nights using the same candlesticks. It worked, because I eventually found true love and married my husband Jim who has the qualities I wanted. Today, we light the candles in the candlesticks on our table as part of our date nights at home.

To me, a romantic table includes loving words, a sensual atmosphere and a meal fit for gods and goddesses. Check out my Goddess and Date night kits that include 2 ivy crown(s), a date night scheduler, a recipe and What I Love About You” Appreciation Cards to enhance your date nights. For singles and couples, there is my Modern Day Goddess kit that includes a crown, my book, goddess certificate and my Mediterranean Culinary Goddess kit that includes my Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class DVD, a recipe and certificate.

When I did research as to what creates a happy marriage, one of the main things was spending consistent quality time together. My husband Jim and I make sure to have quality table time together by sharing meals. With two home-based businesses, life can be very busy. So I created a date night scheduler we use and you can too. On Sundays, Jim and we look at our schedule to plan a romantic date night meal for Saturday evening and also one night during the week to watch our favorite TV show. You can choose another night if Saturday isn’t available. For couples with families have a romantic home date night after the kids go to sleep. We each take turns creating affordable romantic dates, which means home-cooked meals, made with love, are on the top of our list. This allows us to save up for special events and occasions when we want to go out to a nice restaurant or buy tickets to an event. Good health is important to us, so we also eat organic whenever possible and from our favorite California & Mediterranean cuisines. I’ve created some recipes on my site you can use for your date night meals that are healthy and delicious.

I’ve also created an acronym to help you with your date nights – using the word DATE:
D – Dinner: Make it or make a reservation.
A – Atmosphere: Create it with home candles, soothing music, a flower, some color on the table.
T – Take turns to create romantic date nights and meals. Discuss the choices.
E – Enthusiasm: Show it at the table with your efforts and words of appreciation.

Remember, food and quality spent around the table creates a sacred connection to those you love! So live joyfully, love deeply and eat healthy – to assure many more happy & loving times! If this has helped you, I’d love to hear about your happy and romantic times at the table. Feel free to write to me at Cynthia@moderndaygoddess.com.