Syrup for Baklava

• 3-1/2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup honey
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 cinnamon stick

Ingredients in Baklava

• 1 pound strudel leaves (filo)
• 8 cups walnuts, chopped medium fine
• 1 lb sweet butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsps ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• approximately 60 whole cloves

To make Baklava Syrup:

1. Cook 3-1/2 cups sugar, water, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick slowly 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Remove cinnamon stick and let cool. (Make syrup first to allow for cooling.)

To make Baklava

1. Mix chopped walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar in bowl.
2. Melt sweet butter.
3. Using a shallow baking pan (approximately 16" x 11") lay 6 to 10 filo leaves in bottom of pan.
4. Every filo leaf must be brushed with melted butter after it is placed in pan.
5. Sprinkle on a thin layer of walnut mixture.
6. Lay 1 or 2 leaves (each buttered), then another layer of walnuts.
7. Continue process until the walnuts are gone (approximately 6 layers).
8. Finish with 6 to 10 leaves, with butter brushed on each.
9. Cut into diamonds approximately 1 to 1-1/2" on a side.^*
10. Put a whole clove in the center of each diamond.
11. Bake for 60 minutes in 325° F oven until golden brown.
12. When done, pour cool syrup over the still warm Baklava. The amount of syrup used depends on taste for moistness, usually most of the syrup is used, but not all.

Makes about 60 pieces of Baklava.

^*To make diamond shape Baklava, first cut parallel strips 1 to 1 1/2 inches apart the length of the pan. Then slice on an angle across width of pan.