During the course of one’s lifetime we will all have eaten many meals whether alone or with others. Some which are ordinary and others quite special. The mere scent and taste of a certain food or even a photo can transport us back to a wonderful food memory which includes the people, the food and the location.

A Greek salad or horiatiki (villager salad) is what I love to make at home as often as possible. Its gorgeous colors and shapes of ripe tomatoes, green or red peppers, Kalamata olives, cucumber slices sprinkled with Greek oregano and lemon juice and completed with a glisten of olive oil and creamy feta cheese (made from goat and or sheep’s milk) are a feast for the senses. It is also take me back to my wedding and honeymoon on the Greek islands of Santorini and Crete and our recent trip to Naxos and Mykonos.

Watch the video below and join me as we enjoy a Greek salad by the Mediterranean sea at a Greek taverna, Alexandros, located in the Little Venice section of Mykonos:

» Click to watch the video

[Show as slideshow]

Our Greek village salad in Mykonos is another precious deposit into to our romantic culinary food memory bank.

Remember you can create or recreate your own wonderful food memory at home or while traveling as well.

– I want to share with you a simple and easy recipe to make your own Greek salad which I now call:

"A Grecian Goddess Greek Salad."

- Go to the recipe section of this website to view this and all the delicious recipes.

- You can also watch clips of another culinary travel memory we had in “A Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class” DVD which was filmed in romantic Santorini, Greece and chosen the #1 NY Times About.com culinary travel gift.

If you any questions or a culinary food memory you would like to share email me at cynthia@moderndaygoddess.com

Here is a recipe for quick and delicious Grecian Goddess Lamb Burgers to have anytime — indoors and especially for summer grilling. It is Greek food recipe I created with a modern day goddess twist. It starts with my Grecian Goddess Greek Salad to be placed inside the pita along with a small lamb burger. I like to use the word Grecian Goddess in the name of this recipe, because it is so delicious that after you eat it will make you feel like a Greek god or goddess! The ingredients in the recipe are some of the staples of a healthy Mediterranean diet, known for contributing to living a healthier and longer life. I just love the sweet crunch of the red peppers, refreshing cucumbers, succulent vine ripe tomatoes, creamy crumbly feta cheese and Kalamata olives that have been ripened in the Mediterranean sun. This recipe uses ground lamb which I have found prepared in a speciality markets here in Santa Barbara, California. You can also ask the meat department of your local store to prepare some for you. Lamb is the national dish in Greece.

For the Grecian Goddess Greek salad, I prefer to use sheep’s milk feta which can be milder in taste and softer in texture. If not, then try goat milk feta. If these are not available, then cow’s milk. In Greece, most feta is a combination of sheep and goat’s milk. For dressing, I use lemon, extra virgin olive oil and oregano. In the US, restaurants will often serve an American variation of the Greek salad which includes lettuce, but this Grecian Goddess Greek salad is a “Horiatiki Salata”, (Village Salad) which is most common in Greece and doesn’t include lettuce. The village salad and is my favorite salad. For vegetarians or vegetarian guests, serve only the Grecian Goddess salad with pita and feta (a good source of protein.) For a mini Greek vacation atmosphere, play Greek music from Zorba the Greek (Zorba the Greek), and dance your way to the table. As you eat your Grecian Goddess Lamb Burgers visualize yourself sitting in a taverna (small, traditional restaurant) on a Greek island overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. For some post-dinner Greek entertainment, watch the video I hosted in beautiful Santorini, Greece called A Greek Island’s Destination Cooking Class (DVD), which was voted the #1 by NY Times About.com Greek food Guide culinary travel gift. Opa!

Make the salad first, then the Greek Goddess Dressing, next the burgers and then assemble as per the instructions below:

A) Grecian Goddess Greek Salad

(To be enjoyed alone or inside the pita bread with the Grecian Goddess Burger and Grecian Goddess dressing)

3-4 tomatoes quartered
1 medium sized cucumber sliced and quartered
2 medium sized red peppers sliced
1/2 cup-1 cup Kalamata olives
6 oz feta cheese in cubes (preferably made from sheep’s and/or goat’s milk)
1 sliced, small red onion (optional)
3-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
A sprinkle of dried, ground oregano (preferably Greek oregano, if available)
Juice of 1/2 of a lemon (Medium size)
Garlic salt to taste

Mix bite sized ingredients and toss with olive oil, oregano, lemon and garlic salt to taste. TIP: For freshening the flavor of dried oregano, rub between the palms of your clean hands as you sprinkle it on your salad.

B) Greek Goddess Dressing

3/4 cup of plain, Greek Style, full fat yogurt
1/8 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon of garlic salt
1 teaspoon of fresh mint finely chopped
Drizzle olive oil to taste
1 teaspoon of honey
(LEMON)
Garnish with mint

C) Grecian Goddess Burgers

1 pound ground lamb or turkey if desired (I think ground Lamb works best)
1 teaspoon of garlic salt
1 tablespoon of fresh, chopped oregano (If using dried, use 1/2 tsp)
1 tablespoon of fresh, chopped spearmint or mint (If using dried, use 1/4 tsp)
1 tablespoon of plain, Greek Style Yogurt (full fat)
4-6 pita breads cut in half (I prefer thicker Pita bread)

Mix all ingredients, except pita bread, and form into small, ground meat patties. Cook in frying pan until done.

Assembling the Grecian Goddess Lamb Burger – Lightly warm the pitas in a toaster or an oven until soft. TIP: You can also double the pitas by cutting in half and placing one inside the other. First, spread dressing inside warmed pita. Second, put burgers in half and insert into pita halves. Third, place Greek Salad around inserted burgers. Use napkin or square foil to cover bottom of pita. Serve with extra Greek salad on the side. Enjoy! For more recipes and tips for celebrating Life, Love, Mediterranean Food and Travel, sign up for our newsletter at www.RomancingTheTable.com.

Here is my Grecian-Goddess Village Salad that my husband and I fell in love over and the host enjoyed during the interview. See the recipe. You can watch the trailer of our #1 New York Times’ About.com culinary-travel DVD, A Greek Islands Destination Cooking class, filmed in romantic Santorini, Greece as well as order a copy which makes a great gift for yourself or loved ones.

Wear these silk ivy leaf crowns to access your highlighted and magnificent self and feel like the modern day Greco-Roman god or goddess you were born to be. Great for romantic, Mediterranean date nights! Click Here to Order

[Show as slideshow]

[Pictured above] My husband Jim (of CelebrateGreece.com) and I were in New York as honored guests in the Greek Independence Day parade on Fifth Avenue and I was interviewed live by FOX’s MY9 TV. It was great fun crowning her during the interview with one of my goddess ivy crowns which I designed.