Pistachios for Whippersnappers

Let's get this comparison out of the way:

Moving on. Green is a color not naturally found in the dessert world. Where it does appear it is light in hue: key lime pies are pale yellow with green undertones, pastel green is the visual clue for mint, and matcha effects a muted grey-green in baked goods.

There is one exception to this generality, an exception our grandparents would be quick to point out if they were quick to do anything: eerily vivid pistachio green. Pistachios seem to have been in vogue decades ago, rising to stardom in ice cream cartons and bakeries nationwide. My generation, with its blithe indifference to the past, turns up its nose at neon-green sweetstuffs. And synthetic materials. And hard work. I digress.

On a mission to introduce the pistachio flavor to my peers, I brought these Pistachio Greenies to a party (a party with no thematic relationship to the Wizard of Oz, Halloween, or Ghost Busters). I cloaked the lurid green glow of the bars with a matte glaze of dark chocolate. A few beers into the fête, all culinary inhibitions - and all the Greenies - disappeared.

It only takes one bite to realize that the Pistachio Greenies are much more mild than their looks would suggest. Pistachios impart a mellow maple-vanilla flavor to the bar. Their somewhat cloying aftertaste is counterbalanced by a slick of bittersweet chocolate. For a dessert that counts pudding mix as one of its ingredients, Pistachio Greenies are surprisingly haute. The soft crunch of chopped pistachios adds texture to the cake-like bars, and the dark chocolate enamel brings a savory depth to an otherwise saccharine treat.

If Pistachio Greenies don't smooth over generational disparities, they will at least impress guests at your next costume party.

[Recipe adapted from this Pudding Brownies recipe. Substitute pistachio pudding mix for chocolate pudding mix (instant pudding is fine) and add chopped pistachios for nuts. Dark chocolate glaze is made by combining 3 tbs. butter, 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate chips, and 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler. Spread on cooled Greenies; refrigerate until set]