Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Baklava and Beaded Spiders

I believe that every post I write from now on will be titled, and Beaded Spiders!
I am obsessed with them.    I have now made over twenty and I can't stop.  They are what I do before I have my morning coffee.  What's really sad is that I tend to name them after Battlestar Galactica characters which is another obsession of mine......and GLITTER.  I love it.  I kinda just discovered it.  I cover wooden beads in glue and glitter.  Shiny!!
I call her Boomer

This is Athena


In between all that spider making, I was able to pop off a few batches of Baklava, which is really why you are here.  But if you are a Battlestar Galactica fan, you know the spiders will be back, as there are many copies!
Picture quality is a little fuzzy.  I used my phone as I didn't want to get butter all over my camera.

Box of phyllo pastry, 1 cup butter melted

3/4 cup chopped pecans as I didn't have pistachios.    

Unroll your pastry.
Brush butter over the entire sheet..

Sprinkle nuts on top

Go the the hardware store and buy a 2 foot piece of 1/2 inch dowel

Roll your first sheet around the dowel, nuts and all!

Butter up a second piece, and roll it over your first...NO NUTS this time!



Push the two ends in to form an accordion like tube

Push pastry off the dowel into a pan and repeat process until your sheets are gone.
Generously brush the remaining butter over your pastry and slip into a preheated 350 degree oven 


Bake for 45 to 50  minutes
This step can be done while your baklava is baking.  Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup honey, and 1 TBSP lemon juice in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil for a few minutes, making sure sugar is dissolved.   Turn down heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Cut your baklava while still in the pan, into bite size pieces, maybe 1 1/2 to 2 inches long.  Pour syrup over each piece of baklava and let sit for at least an hour.  The pastry will absorb most of this honey mixture.  You can sprinkle nuts over the top of these honey soaked delights.  I forgot to, but I usually do!

ENJOY!!

Cheers!!