Israeli Couscous with Cherries & Pistachios | Image: Laura Messersmith — **Israeli Couscous with Cherries & Pistachios** | Image: *Laura Messersmith*

There’s been a lot of cooking lately, not that you could tell by the sporadic posts around these parts. The trouble with cooking is that a recipe that looks amazing on Pinterest turns out to be a dud. Case in point: the overly salty falafel I made earlier this week. Sometimes it’s me though, and I discover that fish tacos were never meant to be eaten like nachos. That there is a reason you don’t see them on menus, genius. Sigh.

All that is to say – there is quality control around here, it just means that when I hit a rough patch like I have the past few weeks I post less frequently than I’d like while I fiddle around getting things just right. My goal is only to share recipes I’d be proud to serve, or pass along to my friends, like this one here.

This essentially a pasta salad made a little fancy with additions like crumbled goat cheese and toasted pistachios. It also offers a little bit of a departure from the classic vinaigrette or mayonnaise-based dressings by incorporating pomegranate molasses.

If you’re wondering where on earth you’ll get pomegranate molasses the way I did when I first saw it in the ingredient list, let me reassure you. It’s easy to make it yourself by simmering plain pomegranate juice with a little sugar and fresh lemon juice until it reduces and thickens. I actually did it a few weeks ago following this recipe from Fine Cooking and it works perfectly, I bet it would also work with plain cranberry juice too if pomegranate isn’t available.

Israeli Couscous Salad with Cherries & Pistachios (serves 6-8 as a side)

Ingredients:
2 cups Israeli couscous (pearl pasta)
1/4 cup Pomegranate Molasses
2 1/2 teaspoons champagne vinegar
1/2 teaspoon raspberry vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turbinado sugar (aka Sugar in the Raw)
2 cups dried cherries
1/2 cup toasted pistachios
1 1/2 cups, packed fresh parsley and mint leaves
2 ounces crumbled plain goat cheese
4 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves

Instructions:
In a medium sauce pan, bring two cups of salted water to a low boil, then add the couscous and simmer on medium heat for 5-7 minutes, or according to the package directions until al dente.

While the couscous is cooking, whisk together the pomegranate molasses, champagne vinegar, raspberry vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, sugar and salt.

When the couscous is done, drain through a fine mesh sieve and place in a large mixing bowl. Pour the vinaigrette over while the pasta is still warm and stir together. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, toast the pistachios in a dry skillet over low heat, chop the herbs and crumble the goat cheese. When the couscous is cooled to room temperature, stir in the prepped ingredients. Add the baby spinach just before serving.

Rewritten and adapted from Couscous Salad with Fresh Cherries by Ashley Rodriguez of Not Without Salt.

Small Kitchen Friendly?
Yes! I needed a medium sauce pan, mesh sieve, medium bowl, and a small sauté pan. A cutting board, chef’s knife, measuring spoons, a liquid measuring cup, and a large mixing spoon. That’s it!

The Verdict:
I made a few changes to the original to reflect our preferences, a slight softening of the vinegar bite with a touch of raw sugar. A sprinkle of toasted pistachios to continue the Middle Eastern flavors, a generous crumble of goat cheese to balance against the tart cherries, a handful or so of baby spinach to bring the dish more firmly into the realm of salad. All told, this is a great side to serve during the final grilling parties of the summer and is simple to whip up in just a few minutes. My kind of recipe!

Black Forest Crumble Bars | Image: Laura Messersmith — **Black Forest Crumble Bars** | Image: *Laura Messersmith*

A pure chocolate dessert is my first love, followed shortly after by treats involving chocolate and pretty much any other ingredient. Pairing semi-sweet or dark with an acidic fruit like orange, raspberry, or cranberry is one of my favorite combinations and for this bar I was inspired by classic Black Forest cake (or Schwartzwald Kirch Kuchen if you prefer the German.) This bar is essentially a sweet shortbread base layered with deep, dark cherry jam and semi-sweet chocolate – so simple to make but with impressive results.

I prefer jam or preserves - it’s easier to spread and has a little more texture than jelly – and both Polaner and Bonne Maman make wonderful versions with black cherries. I like to mix in a little fresh lemon juice to amp up the tang of the fruit and draw a sharper contrast with the sweet shortbread base. One of the best parts of this recipe is that it comes together so quickly with amazing results and 99% of the ingredients are probably already in your pantry or fridge right now.

Black Forest Crumble Bars (yield: 24 squares)

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 egg, beaten at room temperature
12 ounces (1 package) semi-sweet chocolate chips
12 ounces cherry jam, room temperature
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (optional)
Non-stick spray

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the room temperature butter and sugar before adding the egg. Mix in the flour, slivered almonds (if using), and kosher salt until the mixture forms large crumbles.

Reserve 1 cup of the crumbles and evenly press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x13 inch pan with a rubber spatula or damp fingers.

If the cherry jam is too sweet (your call!), mix with 1 teaspoon freshly lemon juice before spreading over the bottom crust. Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips over the cherry jam and then top with the reserved shortbread crumbles.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes until the jam and chocolate are bubbling and the crumbles are golden brown.

Cool completely in the pan before slicing into bars and serving.

Inspired by and adapted from Hershey’s Holiday Red Raspberry Chocolate Bars.

Small Kitchen Friendly?
Yes, 100%! You’ll need one large mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, a rubber spatula, a large spoon, and a 9x13 inch glass baking pan. I cut the recipe in half and used an 8x8 inch glass pan instead, but everything else is the same.

The Verdict:
Cherry, chocolate, and almond are a match made in heaven. I love the combination of the tart fruit flavor with the richness of the buttery crumble and sweet, but not too sweet chocolate. Besides being ridiculously good they also come together quickly with very little fuss and minimal ingredients – good news when you want a dessert sure to please, but don’t have a lot of time. Please make these, you won’t be sorry!