Baklawa for Easter and A Visit to The Crayola Factory

So delicious!!

This has been a crazy week in our house. I had planned to post about my "Baklawa" before Easter. This is a staple on our dessert table every year. I did get it made but, never got to post. This past week I had my three grandchildren here. My 7 year old granddaughter and her 3 year old twin brothers. They were a joy but, kept me veeery busy! There was no time for the computer during the day and I was way too tired after they went to bed. We had decided to spend one of the days visiting the Crayola factory. It is about an hour away from us in Easton, Pa. An enjoyable day we thought!! We had been there before and it is a really fun place for the kids to run around and enjoy all the wonderful things Crayola makes. There are dozens of hands on activities for the kids to experience. They also have a demonstration on how crayons are made. This is not a real manufacturing plant. It's a colorful center that allows children of all ages to unleash their creativity! However, the Crayola Factory was not such a fun place during spring break!  Wall to wall parents with way too many kids, made for a very challenging day! Nevertheless, my grandchildren did enjoy all the fun and creative things they could do there. They loved the "Chalk Walk" and they really enjoyed the demonstration of how the crayons are made. Dancing in the "Cool Moves" exhibit was so great. You can create art, by moving your body. This psychedelic color kaleidoscope follows every move.  After a full day of wonderful activities, grandma and grandpa were tired!!

Crayola Factory

No visit to the Crayola Factory is complete without a visit to the store!!

 Crayon making demonstration.

One of the many art stations.

Cool Moves!!

My grandchildren dancing in cool moves!

Chalk Walk

On Thursday, I had my husband take the kids to the park, so I could get the Baklawa made. They were thrilled when they saw an eagle that's nesting at a nearby lake. Grandma was thrilled to get some baking done for Easter. My Baklawa is not a Greek version…it is Lebanese or Middle Eastern. The Syrup is probably the biggest difference. A simple syrup made of sugar and water with orange blossom water, lemon juice, and cinnamon.

Baklawa

1 pound butter

1 pound filo pastry

Filling:

1 cup finely chopped almonds

2 lbs. shelled ground pistachios or walnuts

3/4 cup sugar 

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg

1 teaspoon rose water

Mix all ingredients.

Syrup:

3 cups sugar 

2 cups water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon orange blossom water

Cinnamon sticks

Mix sugar and water, bring to a boil. Boil for about 10 minutes on low. Let cool slightly and add lemon juice and orange blossom water. 

When I make this syrup I slice thin slices of oranges and lemons and put them in the pot with the water and sugar, along with 2 cinnamon sticks.

Preheat oven to 325°
Pan: I used a round 13 inch pan…You may use a jelly roll pan, mine measures 10 1/2 x 15 1/2.
Layer filo sheets in pan, buttering each sheet as you layer...14 sheets in all. Add 1/2 the nuts. Then layer about 6 more sheets of filo. Add the rest of the nuts. Layer the rest of the leaves on top. Make sure to butter after each layer of filo.  With sharp knife, cut through the top layer on long side making diagonal
cuts at 1 1/2 inch intervals. Then starting at one corner, make cuts, on the diagonal at 1 1/2 inch intervals to form a diamond shape. Cut through the top layer only. Bake 60 minutes, or until golden and puffy. Turn off oven and leave in oven for another hour. Remove from oven and pour cooled syrup over hot baklawa. Following the diamond pattern cut all the way through baklawa.

The syrup should always be cool and the baklawa hot when you pour the syrup.
Syrup can be made a few days ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to use.

Syrup...water, sugar, orange and lemon slices and cinnamon sticks.
After it cools add orange blossom water and lemon juice.

First layer of nuts

Filo pastry…keep it covered so it doesn't dry out.

Second layer of nuts

Layering the rest of the filo

Trim the excess

Ready for oven

Beautifully golden…just out of the oven!

Yum!