This crispy, delicious salad is the perfect accompaniment to your vegan Christmas dinner. Cranberries add Christmas color and holiday zing to this vegan twist on traditional Waldorf salad, which looks and tastes special but is a snap to make.

The recipe doubles easily to serve a crowd. Chef's secret - the creamy dressing is completely dairy free. It's made with blended tofu!

Tofu, actually a bean curd made from soybeans, is an amazingly nutritious and versatile food. It provides protein and is rich in both calcium and B vitamins, which makes in a staple in most vegetarian and vegan households.

Tofu is also known to lower levels of LDL cholesterol, which many experts call "bad" cholesterol, while it helps maintail levels of essential HDL cholesterol. In addition, it's a rich source of isoflavones, which are associated with bone strength. Isoflavones are known to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and other diseases that involve bone weakness and fractures. Some studies indicate that isoflavones also lower risk of certain types of cancers, and reduce the frequency and severity of the mood swings and hot flashes experienced my menopausal women.

But though tofu is a nutritional star, cooks all over the world love it for its versatility. Available either firm or soft form, it can be used for everything from creamy dressings to rich desserts to chunky, spicy stir fry. It has a very mild natural taste on its own and is known for its ability to absorb other flavors, which makes it the perfect foundation for a host of dishes both sweet and savory.

Be sure to use soft tofu, also sold as silken tofu, for this or any recipe that involves blending or pureeing the tofu.

Dressing:

* 1/2 lb soft tofu
* 2 Tbs. oil
* 1 Tbs. lemon juice
* 1 1/2 tsp. sugar, honey or artificial sweetener
* 1/2 tsp. salt

Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. If you don't have a blender, combine ingredients in a large bowl and beat with hand mixer. Refrigerate while preparing salad ingredients.

Salad:

* 4 large, tart red apples, cored and chopped into bite-size pieces
* 2 cups celery, diced
* 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
* 1/4 cup lemon juice
* 1/2 cup cranberries

Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in dressing. If you have any mint leaves on hand, they make a perfect garnish. Chill until ready to serve.