However, I am married to a man who, unlike myself, has a high appreciation for lettuce. He, while not quite as hardcore as my sister, is still perfectly content to eat salads that consist simply of leafy green lettuce and dressing. In fact, he usually prefers this to a salad loaded with a multitude of nuts, dried fruit, vegetables, and fruit. So, he was skeptical at the very mention of Waldorf Salad. And as I mixed the lettuce-free salad and whisked the creamy citrus dressing, I became more and more sure that the entire, large bowlful of Waldorf would be mine alone, to eat over the course of several days. Instead, Dan and I were more than a little pleasantly surprised by this salad's ability to satisfy our very different salad preferences. I don't suppose that he liked it more than his beloved bowls of iceberg and vinaigrette, but it certainly passed the test and was enjoyable enough for him to eat with multiple dinners.
Personally, I liked just about everything that this lettuce-less salad had to offer. First off, mixing Cheddar cheese and apples is always a good place for my Yankee taste buds to start. The combination of ingredients was crunchy and delicious, blending the sweet and the savory for a mix that was both filling and interesting. Even aside from its tastiness, I think that Waldorf is rather endearing in other senses as well. It's a rather fun word to say, which always raises a food's likability ever so slightly. Plus, it sparks my imagination. Perhaps it was partially as a result of the recent royal wedding, but as I was mixing up my Waldorf salad, I kept thinking that Waldorf seemed like a rather fitting name for a charming British town. I can just imagine the rolling green hills and towering stone castles that would exist under the fair leadership of one graceful and beautiful Princess of Waldorf, who, I'm quite certain, would encourage lettuce-free living throughout the land.
Starbucks recently had a "Happy Hour" special. For about a week, you could order a frappucino and get it for half the price from 3-5pm. This was extremely exciting for me since I am a huge Starbucks fan. This special event was to encourage customers to get creative and mix & match the ingredients for their frappucinos. There was even a little form to fill out, letting you get as specific as you wanted.... "Let's see...I'll have a coffee frappucino: Three shots of carmel syrup, an extra shot of espresso, 2% milk, light on the whip and a drizzle of chocolate to top it all off." I didn't actually order this, but it definitely is a possibility!
