Golden Delicious Apple and Pomegranate Israeli Couscous

The Organic Golden Delicious

The Golden Delicious Apple

We all have our favorite apple recipes...pies, bread, cakes, sauces, ...it is endless the variety of ways an apple can be used in cooking. What I learned this season, however, is that the Golden Delicious is the most versatile of all the apples. Who would have thought!! It is very different  from the red delicious. The reason I investigated this quiet power apple is that this year my tree was saddled with apples. This happened after many years of not producing. I checked the tree often as it continued to grow quietly at the edge of the orchard but could not bring myself to cutting it down. Probably because it was one of the first trees I planted. I remember shoveling out the hole and getting on my knees to remove the rocks and roots. Now I am glad I kept it. The apples are "delicious" and are great for cooking, eating, sauces, or whatever you desire. I decided to cut them up in cubes, bake them slightly until soft and add them to a couscous recipe. YUMMY!!!!

The Red Delicious - nothing like the golden

Pomegranate Apple Israeli Couscous - good warm or cool

1 Cup couscous

2 cups water

 Bring water to boil and then lower to simmer. Cook until water is absorbed and pearls are soft ( around ten minutes)

Bake - 375

1 med golden delicious apple that is first cut in cubes. 

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Cook until soft about 10 to 15 minutes. I use my toaster oven for this.   

Mix together

1TSB olive oil

juice of 1/2 lemon

zest of whole lemon

1 small onion chopped fine or small shallot

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

1/4 tsp salt

seed from 1/2 pomegranate ( more if you like)

Add apples and nuts to this mix and then toss gently with couscous.