kittee sent me the original recipe for this, but i, of course, was not entirely satisfied with it until i played around with the amounts and ingredients. so, it's now my own.
enjoy.
Rose- or Orange-Scented Baklava
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup water
2 tbsp rose or orange water (you can find this in the ethnic food aisle or middle eastern grocery)
1 lb. phyllo pastry, cut into approximately 9"x13" sheets
1 cup margarine
4 cups finely chopped walnuts, or 1/2 walnuts, 1/2 almonds
1 cup white sugar
6 tbsp rose or orange water
Boil the first amounts of water and sugar together for 2 minutes, to make a syrup. Add the rose or orange water. Cool a bit, then refrigerate.
To make the filling, grind the walnuts, sugar and rose or orange water together in a food processor until its almost paste-like. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Brush a 9x13 baking pan or similar sized cookie sheet with the melted margarine. Place a sheet of phyllo in the pan, brush with margarine and continue this until you have used up half the phyllo and half the margarine. Distribute the filling evenly over the top. Layer the rest of the phyllo and margarine, brushing the top with margarine.
Cut 1-wide long strips, right through to the bottom of the pan, and then cut on the diagonal to make diamond shapes. Bake for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 300 degrees F and bake about 10 minutes more, or til golden brown and puffy.
Re-cut the pieces you have already cut, then pour the syrup over the whole thing. It will look like its sitting in a pool of syrup, but it gets absorbed. Let it cool on a rack at room temperature for several hours before serving.
Makes about 30 pieces. Invite your friends over for this, and they will love you for all eternity.
Rose- or Orange-Scented Baklava
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup water
2 tbsp rose or orange water (you can find this in the ethnic food aisle or middle eastern grocery)
1 lb. phyllo pastry, cut into approximately 9"x13" sheets
1 cup margarine
4 cups finely chopped walnuts, or 1/2 walnuts, 1/2 almonds
1 cup white sugar
6 tbsp rose or orange water
Boil the first amounts of water and sugar together for 2 minutes, to make a syrup. Add the rose or orange water. Cool a bit, then refrigerate.
To make the filling, grind the walnuts, sugar and rose or orange water together in a food processor until its almost paste-like. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Brush a 9x13 baking pan or similar sized cookie sheet with the melted margarine. Place a sheet of phyllo in the pan, brush with margarine and continue this until you have used up half the phyllo and half the margarine. Distribute the filling evenly over the top. Layer the rest of the phyllo and margarine, brushing the top with margarine.
Cut 1-wide long strips, right through to the bottom of the pan, and then cut on the diagonal to make diamond shapes. Bake for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 300 degrees F and bake about 10 minutes more, or til golden brown and puffy.
Re-cut the pieces you have already cut, then pour the syrup over the whole thing. It will look like its sitting in a pool of syrup, but it gets absorbed. Let it cool on a rack at room temperature for several hours before serving.
Makes about 30 pieces. Invite your friends over for this, and they will love you for all eternity.