Couscous Salad with Wild Cherries

1 cup water or chicken broth
3/4 cup quick-cooking couscous, uncooked
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1/2 cup coarsely chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped unpeeled cucumber
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds (optional)
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp Dijon-style mustard
salt and pepper, to taste

Bring water or broth to a boil in a medium saucepan; stir in couscous. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Uncover; let cool 10 minutes.

Put cooked couscous, dried cherries, carrots, cucumber, green onions and pine nuts in a large bowl; mix well. Combine vinegar, olive oil and mustard in a small container; mix well. Pour over couscous mixture; stir to coat all ingredients. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Note: To toast pine nuts or almonds, spread nuts in an ungreased pan. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until brown.

Yield: 6 servings