Recipe: Apple-licious Salad

APPLE-LICIOUS SALAD

1 head romaine lettuce
1 medium red apple, Braeburn, Gala or other
1 medium yellow or green apple, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith or other
1 banana, thickly sliced
2 ribs celery, chopped
1/4 to 1/2 pound seedless grapes, halved
FOR THE DRESSING:
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons low-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar (or 1 teaspoon honey)
Pinch of salt and pepper
1/4 cup toasted chopped walnuts

TO PREPARE THE LETTUCE AND FRUIT:
Rinse lettuce in cool water. Separate leaves and pat dry with paper towels. Place a whole leaf on each of four to six individual salad plates. Tear the remaining leaves into bite-size pieces and place in a large bowl.

Core apples and slice. Add fruit and celery to bowl with lettuce, tossing to mix. Cover and refrigerate until 2 to 3 hours before serving.

TO MAKE THE DRESSING:
Whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar and sour cream. Stir in the sugar or honey, a pinch of salt and sprinkle of pepper. Taste for seasoning. Refrigerate until ready to toss with fruit.

TO PREPARE THE SALAD:
Two to three hours before serving, spoon some of the dressing over the fruit mixture. Carefully stir to mix. Sprinkle toasted walnuts over the mixture. Add just enough additional dressing to glaze the fruit, being careful not to add too much. The dressing should not be heavy. Cover and refrigerate up to 3 hours before serving.

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Adapted from source: The Accidental Gourmet - Weekends and Holidays by Sally Sondheim and Suzannah Sloan