I love to update classic dishes, and I’ve always enjoyed the combination of goodness that makes up a Waldorf Salad, which has been around since 1896! I’ve come up with a lighter, crisper, super refreshing version. I deconstructed the original, exchanged apples for pears, added some zest, and lightened the dressing.

Roasted walnuts, celery, pomegranates, and pears on a bed of soft greens create a fantastic combination of tastes and textures, and I love to add a chunk of high-quality goat cheese and drizzle this salad with my wonderful Pear Dressing (which happens to be Whole30). For this update, I have a few Teri Tips.

First: It’s absolutely necessary to use a very ripe pear, so buy them a few days in advance to make sure they’re soft enough for this delectable, juicy dressing. Second: So many people seed their pomegranates in water. My feeling is that the pomegranate is a juicy fruit, so why in the world would we want any of that juicy goodness to wind up in a bowl of water rather than on our delicious salad? Third: Easily make this an entrée salad by adding a rotisserie chicken or better yet, my Everyday Roast Chicken Breast.

The combination of slivered salami, Manchego cheese, bits of mozzarella, broken Parmesan crisps, and peppadew peppers mixed with romaine and radicchio, cherry tomatoes and California olives, then tossed in my delicious Charred Scallion Dressing, is true perfection. Whether served with a Friday night seared steak, for Christmas Eve lunch, or on New Year’s Day, this entrée salad will absolutely be part of my holiday. Watch for a vegan version next week!

My fun Honey Poppyseed Holiday Salad is perfect for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. What makes it one of my favorites is that it incorporates the fruits of the season, like sliced persimmon (Teri Tip: Make sure your persimmons are very, very ripe). I use clementines, apples, pears, and goat cheese, all served on a bed of lovely greens with candied pecans.

This deliciousness is dressed with Tessemae’s Honey Poppyseed Dressing. You know I love making my own dressings, but their version is absolutely wonderful and makes putting together a holiday salad like this one very easy. Whether you bring it to someone else’s dinner or serve it at your own celebration, it’s impressive: light, crunchy, and delightfully fresh.

We all have traditions that make the holidays meaningful, and the mother-daughter luncheon that I’ve enjoyed since 1968 is one of mine. My mother was in an all-girls hillbilly band, and although she’s been gone 21 years, the rest of the members remain. Every year we gather for our luncheon on the second Saturday of December.

It always includes a beautiful, festive, luncheon salad. I feel so lucky to go every year, and the older I get, the more I feel how precious this tradition truly is. I can hardly believe my mom’s been gone two decades, but having these extra mothers who love me as much as I love them truly is a priceless gift. 

I was delighted by how many of you joined me virtually for our luncheon, as well as by the connection that many of us universally feel to the song You Are My Sunshine. If you missed it, click here in the highlights to view.

On a personal note, I will be off next week, so I’ll send some great holiday recipes early in the week. The team will be taking a two-week break from Friday Favorites, but you are invited to follow along on the Instagram Stories! I hope you all have some wonderful time off as well.