Baklava

BAKLAVA-(about 30 squares or diamonds)

3C. Chopped, toasted nuts, (pecans, pistachios, or walnuts, or almonds)
Make sure they are chopped fine or coarsely grind. Set aside
Stir together in a small bowl:
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. grated lemon zest
1 t. ground cinnamon

Melt: 1 C unsalted butter

You need to preheat oven to 325 degrees and butter a 13X9 in baking dish
Unfold and stack on counter (make sure you have room to work here) one pound of phyllo dough at room temp. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap

Start with 2 phyllo sheets, brush with butter and add 2 more phyllo sheets to a total of six or eight sheets. Next sprinkle half the nuts and half the sugar. Cover with 2 sheets of phyllo and butter and repeat until there are 6 sheets left. Cover with the remaining nuts and sugar mixture, and repeat the layering 2 sheets with butter until finished, reserving some butter for the top sheet. Cut into diamonds, or squares about 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 inches. for serving in baking cups. Bake 30 minutes, and reduce the oven temp to 300 degrees and continue to bake until it is golden brown, about 45 minutes.

While baking, combine in saucepan

1 1/2 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. water
1/3 C honey
1 T. Lemon zest and the zest of one full orange

Bring mixture to a gentle boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and reduce to a simmer for 15 min.
When baklava is done, pour the syrup all over the baklava and let cool completely before serving. Best is used within a couple of days. Phew!

Modified from Joy of Cooking Cookbook, by Rombauer, Rombauer Becker, and Becker