Waldorf salad

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."

-- Groucho Marx

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Waldorf Salad

A Waldorf salad is traditionally made with fresh apples, celery and walnuts with a dressing made from mayonnaise. It is usually served on a bed of lettuce.

This salad was first created between 1893 and 1896 at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City (the precursor of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel which came into being with the merger of the Waldorf with the adjacent Astoria Hotel, opened in 1897).
Oscar Tschirky who was the Waldorf's maitre d' hotel had developed or inspired many of its signature dishes. He is widely credited with creating the recipe. In 1896, the Waldorf Salad appeared in The Cook Book by "Oscar of the Waldorf" The original recipe did not contain nuts, but they had been added by the time the recipe appeared in The Rector Cook Book in 1928. The salad became popular enough that Cole Porter featured it in his 1934 song "You're The Top".

Today there are many variations of the Waldorf salad. Chicken or turkey. grapes or dried fruits can be added. For a more interesting taste, the mayonnaise can be improved with seasonal herbs. To make the salad more healthy, the mayonnaise can be replaced with yogurt. 

Waldorf Salad

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped, slightly toasted walnuts
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 2 cups sliced in half red seedless grapes
• 3 apples chopped-leave on skins
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 TB. lemon juice
• I package of cranraisins
• 1 package of field or spring greens

Directions:

• Whisk mayo and lemon juice; add ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper
• Mix in rest of ingredients except greens
• Refrigerate till serving
• Serve apple mixture on greens