Waldorf Salad- With Potatoes?

This recipe is one of those with what I call the ingredient that does not belong. Betty Crocker was trying too hard when they came up with this recipe. Potatoes in a Waldorf Salad sounds truly repulsive to me.

 1 package Betty Crocker julienne potatoes

1 to 2 medium apples, diced

1 cup cut-up dates

1 cup broken walnuts

1 medium stalk celery, sliced

1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

1/2 teaspoon curry powder

Lettuce cups, if desired

Prepare potatoes as directed on package for Stove Top Method except- omit margarine.  Pour into large bowl, cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Stir apples, dates, walnuts and celery into potatoes. Mix mayonnaise and curry powder, toss with potatoe mixture. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Serve in lettuce cups. 6 servings.

From: Silver Anniversary Recipe Collection- Betty Crocker Potatoes. 1984

Waldorf Salad Cookies

I found this recipe in a magazine type publication Women's Circle Home Cooking- Christmas Snacks, 1989. This is the type of booklet in which home cooks contribute their recipes. Apparently some frugul housewife found herself with some leftover waldorf salad and didn't want to throw it out so she made it into cookies. Then she figured out how to write it up in recipe form. I can't imagine anyone making this with fresh ingredients.

Waldorf Salad Cookies
2 3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
3/4 cups mayonnaise
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped apples
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
In medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, mayonnaise, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Add flour mixture and beat at low speed until smooth. Stir in apples, nuts and celery. Drop by level tablespoonful onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on racks completely before storing in tightly covered container.

Weird Apple Recipes

My husband sold an apple cookbook and I asked to see it before he mailed it off. I figured it would have some of those "ingredient" that doesn't belong type recipes. Boy was I right! How about some apple with your spicy hamburger and kidney bean mix served as a Taco Salad. Or in a fish stew with the carrots, celery and potatoes. Or how about putting two in your corn-cheese chowder. I think I'll pass on those. This one was really weird, I just can't imagine what it would taste like:

Apple Spinach Lasagna

1 pkg. (8 oz.) lasagna noodles.

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

2 pkg. (12 oz.) chopped, frozen spinach

4 large apples, peeled, cored, grated

Nutmeg to taste

12 oz. Swiss cheese, grated

Fresh sliced mushrooms ,if desired

Cook lasagna and spinach as directed. Drain well. Layer in buttered baking dish: lasagna, soup, spinach, apples and cheese. Repeat the layers. End with cheese. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees. Recipe didn't say where to add the nutmeg.

To be fair the book does have some good sounding recipes. This is one of them:

Pumpkin Shell Casserole

1 small pumpkin, 7" in diameter

2 cups apples, peeled, chopped coarsely

1 cup raisins

1 cup pecans, chopped

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3 tablespoons margarine, melted

Wash and dry pumpkin, slice off top for lid. Scrape out seeds. Combine all ingredients, mix well, and fill pumpkin. Cover with "lid", place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until apples and pumpkin pulp are tender. Begin checking doneness after 1 hour. It may take up to 45 minutes longer. For faster baking, cover pumpkin with aluminum foil. This casserole may be served hot or cold. Serve from shell, spooning some pumpkin with each portion. Variation: in addition to above fruit, prunes, apricots or pineapple are excellent.