Mary Bilyeu | ContributorRosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year — begins at sundown next Wednesday, Sept. 4. It is very, very early this year — always the same on the Jewish calendar, of course, but variable on the English one. And this year, the holiday is coming while it's still officially summer! So rather than utilizing the traditional apples and honey — the former dipped into the latter with hopes for a sweet new year — in baked goods or kugels or anything heavy and warm, it seemed more appropriate to make a lighter dish this time, to celebrate the beginning of the year 5774. In searching through recipes to seek out ideas, I was inspired by my blogging buddy Candace, who was inspired by her stepdaughter, who was in turn inspired by Giada de Laurentiis to make an apple salad with Israeli couscous — how perfect for a Jewish celebration!