Baklava 

- Recipe by Chef Michelle Plummer

Ingredients:

1 lb. walnuts, chopped

1 lb. phyllo dough, thawed

2 sticks butter, melted and clarified

1/3 c. sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon, good quality

1/3 tsp. ground clove

Ingredients for syrup:

1 c. sugar                                 

½ c. light honey juice                                                    

1 c. water

2 tbsp. lemon

1 cinnamon stick

Directions: 

1.)           Heat oven to 350°F. 

2.)           Lightly butter a 9x13 in baking dish.

3.)           Roll out dough and cover with parchment paper and damp towel to keep it from drying out.

4.)           Chop nuts into small pieces, do not process.  Place nuts in bowl and combine sugar, cinnamon and cloves.

5.)           Place one sheet of dough in baking dish, brush with melted butter; repeat with 2 more layers. 

6.)           Add thin layer of nut mixture. 

7.)           Repeat with 8 layers, nuts, 8 layers, nuts and 8 layers on top.  The sheets do not have to be perfectly flat. 

8.)           Tuck in edges and cut into 24 diagonally cut pieces (cutting is easier prior to baking). 

9.)           Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

10.)       While dish is baking make syrup. Add all ingredients into a large sauce pan. 

11.)       Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer for 8 minutes. 

12.)       Remove cinnamon stick and allow to cool. 

13.)       Remove nut pastry from oven, allow to rest for 5 minutes, pour syrup over mixture and allow to set for 4 hours. 

14.)       Place on serving dish and watch it disappear!