WALDORF SALAD

Waldorf salad is a refreshing summer side dish, more so minus the marshmallows sometimes included. Here's a classed-up recipe from the fabulous Web site www.epicurious.com. It was originally published in Bon Appetit in September 1999.

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup dried tart cherries

1 cup boiling water

½ cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons sour cream

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon sugar

4 Granny Smith apples, cored, cut into ½-inch cubes

1 1/3 cups very thinly sliced celery

1 1/3 cups red seedless grapes, halved

Romaine lettuce leaves

Chopped pecans (plain or candied)

DIRECTIONS

Soak cherries in 1 cup boiling water until softened, about 10 minutes.

Drain.

Whisk mayonnaise and next 3 ingredients in large bowl.

Add apples, celery, grapes and cherries; toss. Season with salt and pepper.

Arrange lettuce on platter.

Spoon salad over. Top salad with pecans.