Saturday, December 18, 2004

Sweet for the Sweets! Happy Baking!

 

I've been sick for the past two days. I think it is the flu virus. That is all I am going to say because I want to spare your appetite for the wonderful baklava recipe below.

I am just chilling and drinking a lot of fluids. I am well enough this morning to type, so for those of you who want the baklava recipe, I am more than happy to oblige. For those of you who are baking challenged, send me your addresses and if you can ask, you shall recieve!

No, I am not Greek. I have a friend whose origin is the Mediterranian and she introduced me to foods in that part of the globe and I had been addicted to it since then.  

Baklava Recipe

Makes approximately 35 pieces of yummy baklavas!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Walnuts - Finely Chopped
  • 1/2 C. Light Brown Sugar
  • 2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1.5 C. Butter (3 sticks), Melted
  • 1 Package Frozen Phyllo Dough (16 oz) Thawed (refrigerate until needed or it will stick together!)

(***Buy the Phyllo Dough that comes in two half sheet packages so you will not need to cut them in half as this can get tricky because the sheets are very delicate.***) 

  • 1 C. Light Brown Sugar
  • 1 C. Water
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 1 C. Honey
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Baking Steps:

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
  2. In a bowl, combine and set aside walnuts, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, and cinnamon
  3. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the bottom and sides of a Jelly Roll Pan (15.5" x 10.5" x 1") with melted butter.
  4. Layer 12 half sheets of phyllo dough in the pan, buttering each layer as you go You will have 6 layers when you are done.. (The edges will extend over the side.)
  5. Spread 1 cup of the walnut mixture.
  6. Layer 8 half sheets -- butter each layer. Each sheet will be an inch or so short, so stagger the sheets from corner to corner to cover the whole pan. Spread 1 cup of the walnut mixture.
  7. Repeat 8 sheets and walnut mixture twice. You will end up with 4 layers of nuts.
  8. Layer the remaining half sheets on top -- butter each layer.
  9. Brush the top with the remaining butter.
  10. Trim the edges off.
  11. Cut halfway through the layers using the pattern shown. (Note: Do NOT cut from corner to corner, it will jag the edges.) This is done now since it will be very fragile after it's been baked.

     
  12. Bake 1 hour or until golden brown.
  13. 15 minutes before the baklava should be done, mix 1 cup light brown sugar, water, and lemon juice in a sauce pan.
  14. Cook sauce over a medium heat, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
  15. Remove from heat, add the honey and vanilla, and stir until well blended.
  16. Remove the baklava from the oven and finish cutting through the layers.
  17. Pour the sauce over the hot baklava.
  18. Cool. Let it sit for at least 24 hours (lightly covered -- do not refrigerate because the honey mixture need to soak in and evaporate a bit) -- longer if you can stand it!
  19. Put each piece into a muffin cup that has been partially flattened for a great serving presentation.
  20. Enjoy your baklava and Happy Holidays!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope you get to feeling better, being sick is no fun (even though you, well I get to miss school)
Baklava's sound really good, I'll have to ask mom to make them. Thanks for the recipe!
We have a Greek restaurant here and I want to go try it out. When I told my mom about this she asked me if I'd ever had Greek food. I said no but there's never a better time to try it out!
GET BETTER!
-Haley-

Anonymous said...

Yes we love that recipe. Its very Jewish we have it during the season too. Its very yummy  Lori

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the recipe!  I am looking forward to trying to make them.  I will need a trip to the store for the phyllo dough.  I have made spinach pie (Greek) with it before.  I too love all greek food....maybe not lamb too much. Ha!

Anonymous said...

Hope you're feeling better.  Thanks for the recipe!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the recipe. Will try it. Hope you feel better soon, in time for Christmas. *Barb* http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK

Anonymous said...

Hi,  Thanks for paying my journal a visit as well!  MMMM Baklava....   this recipie looks delicious, I may just try it this week for my family.  I just another batch of Gingerbread Cookies...  this is the best recipie I have discovered yet, I will post it on my journal later tonight when I have more time... Off to shop.. just wanted to say thank you, and yes my novel deals with the paranormal.  :)  ~K

Anonymous said...

Sorry you're not feeling well. I once had a Lebanese student who brought me Baklava. God, I miss her.

Anonymous said...

Awww ... feel better before Christmas.
        *** Coy ***