Apple - Macadamia Slaw

I came up with this recipe as a take on a Waldorf Salad...  The traditional Waldorf Salad calls for lettuce, apples, walnuts, raisins, lemon juice, sugar and mayonnaise.  Instead of lettuce, I use cabbage and instead of walnuts I use chopped and toasted macadamia nuts because I can come by the macnuts for much less cost than I can walnuts.   Instead of lemon juice I use a bit of vinegar to make my dressing.

When we owned the Inn, we also operated a small deli that served lunches most of the day.   One of the favorite side dishes on the menu was this salad and I cannot count the times visitors would later e-mail us asking for the recipe.

Yesterday, our little group of friends got together for the 2nd of 4 foodie events we hold during the year.  The theme was Fruits & Salads.  Of 25 people in the group, 17 showed up, each bearing salads and lo and behold none were the same and 2 of the members of the group made desserts featuring fruits. 

My recipe is very informally done, because I never wrote it down and as to quantities, it all depends on the amount of cabbage, but here is the basic proportions.  For yesterday's event, I made it using a whole cabbage and since I forgot to get golden raisins, used the regular ones.

For half a cabbage (*)=
3 Granny Smith Apples, cored and chopped- do not peel
A handful of golden raisins (or more)
About 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Mix, to taste:
Mayonnaise
White vinegar
Sugar

Put in blender and mix thoroughly. I have no idea of quantities, as I just spooned out the mayo w/a scooped, rubber spatula, sort of heaped. Just play with it until you get the taste you find most pleasing.  Should be light and sweet/tart.

(*) Choose a firm and tightly wrapped cabbage. Slice and then chop in
small bits, but I always use the  knife which is shaped like a veggie cleaver.

I don't like using the processor for chopping the slaw, since I don't care for the texture when I use it. 

For the picnic yesterday, I served the slaw in a colorful, plastic, childrens wheel-barrow.

 Yes, it was brand new and yes, I washed it first!

(c) Sonia R. Martinez - Recipe from the files of the Akaka Falls Inn, Honomu, HI

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