Autumn Apples and Waldorf Salad

Apple picking is one of my family's favorite events in the fall. The rows of trees, short enough for even my youngest to reach, create a natural sanctuary for the four of us to savor the fruit of the season.  A number of my favorite dessert recipes center around apples: apple pie, apple dumplings, apple crisp, but I'll save those recipes for another, cooler day.  Today, I'm going to share with you an often forgotten apple salad that is elegant enough to serve in fine restaurants but can easily be made and enjoyed at home.   

The Waldorf Salad.

Waldorf Salad

4 Red Delicious Apples cut in  1/2" cubes, keep the skin on, it looks gorgeous in this salad

2 stalks of celery also cut in 1/2" cube

1/2 cup of Craisins

1/2 cup pecans broken, I like to roast them lightly in a pan before adding to the salad

lemon juice from half a lemon, this keeps the apples from browning

1/2 cup of Hellman's Mayonnaise

3 Tablespoons of sugar

We want to mix up the dressing for the salad first, to allow the sugar to dissolve, if you rush this you'll have a gritty salad.  Mix the mayonnaise with the sugar and stir every 5 minutes while preparing the remaining salad.

Core and chop the apples, celery and add to a large bowl.  Sprinkle with the lemon juice to keep from browning.  Roast your pecans in a dry skillet and break them up ( you can add them now or wait until  you serve the salad).  Add the Craisins.  Check the mayo mixture, taste it, is the sugar dissolved?  Yes?  Okay, now add it to the salad and coat everything well.  It should be a light amount of dressing. Just enough to make the salad creamy.

That's all there is to it.  A beautiful fall salad fit for kings. 

And if you get the chance to go apple picking, please do, it's a wonderful experience.  And nothing is better than a super fresh apple right off the tree. Enjoy Autumn.