Baklava

I got this recipe from a fellow nestie, Elly, from her Bakespace Page. I made the recipe per her specifications, with two exceptions: As I made the syrup, I added a vanilla bean. The other change I made was I didn't have a whole pound of walnuts, so I used a half pound of walnuts and a half pound of almonds.

Being that I like to do things the old fashioned way, I used an old, cast iron meat grinder to grind the nuts. Therefore preserving all of the oils in the nuts.

1 package phyllo dough (16 oz.)

1 c. butter, melted

Filling:

1/2 lb. chopped toasted walnuts

1/2 lb. chopped toasted almonds

1.5 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Syrup

1 c. water

1 c. sugar

1 c. honey

1 T lemon juice

1 vanilla bean

Preheat oven to 350, and grease a 9x13 pan.

Mix walnuts,cinnamon and cloves, and set aside. [Phyllo can be really hard to work with. You should keep a moist cloth over the dough you are not working with, to keep it from drying out. Layer 2 sheets of phyllo on the bottom of the prepared pan. Brush melted butter over the second sheet. Place another 2 sheets on top, and brush more butter. Continue this until you have layered 8-10 phyllo sheets, with butter every 2 sheets. Sprinkle nut/cinnamon mixture after every 8th/10th sheet of phyllo. Repeat layering of phyllo & nut mixture. Cut into squares/diamonds about 2-3" wide.

Bake for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, heat sugar, honey, water and lemon juice in a sauce pan. Bring to just a boil and then remove from heat. Pour over the baklava when you take it out of the oven. Let cool and serve!