Quick Liver Pâté

• 1/4 cup dried tart cherries
• 2 slices thick-cut bacon
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons cognac
• 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
• 8 ounces liverwurst
• 2 tablespoons chopped unsalted dry-roasted pistachios (optional)

1. Place cherries in a small saucepan with just enough water to cover; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook 3 minutes or until soft. Drain cherries; cool slightly, and finely chop.
2. Cook bacon in a small skillet over medium heat until crisp; remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pan. Finely chop bacon.
3. Add shallots, thyme, salt, pepper, garlic, and bay leaf to drippings in pan; cook 2 minutes or until softened, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat. Add cognac, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
4. Remove and reserve bay leaf. Place shallot mixture, cream cheese, and liverwurst in a food processor; process until smooth. Place in a small bowl; stir in bacon and cherries. Place bay leaf on top of pate. Cover surface of pate with plastic wrap; chill at least 8 hours. Sprinkle with pistachios before serving, if desired.

cherries, bacon, shallots, thyme, salt, black pepper, garlic, bay leaf, cognac, whipped cream cheese, liverwurst, pistachios

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/quick-liver-pate (may not work)