If you have the recipe in a format that you can easily send it to me, I would like it. Is it hard to make? I have some Greek folks in my heritage/background.
I have never made baklava before.
I tend to make rum cake at the holiday time.
Ah, Nomad. How nice to see you. The recipe Lil posted for me, and just how I did everything, are in the early pages of this posting. I would love it if baklava became a Christmas tradition for us, and if that happened because of this post and our site. It was very very easy to make Nomad, but different than the way we bake. You layer nuts and butter between many double layers of paper-thin pastry. Then, cut it halfway through and bake it. When it comes out of the oven, you pour the cool sauce over the piping hot baklava. The temperature discrepancy is what makes it crispy. Over the days, the baklava takes on the most amazing mix of flavors, every day different it seems, until it stabilizes or something, and tastes extraordinary. When they go, I am going to ask Baklava Grand to bring me some Greek baklava. That is the only way I will know whether my baklava is really good baklava...but I think it is. And I love it, and I love that we do that, and I am so happy to see all of us here again.
Is your rum cake like a fruitcake, Nomad?
But I may have to this year. I'm trying to be Christmassy this year. Last year we didn't even put up a tree, since we were going to Vegas, but I told Jabber the other day we need to this year. Even if we only use 1/2 our tree & put it on a table, we should try to get in the holiday spirit. He pointed out that we never have company and we won't have any presents under it. Scrooge. (But, he's right.)
Oh, that Jabber. I miss you two. I still remember that time Jabber was all about showing off his pirate skirt and his socks.
You know what? We don't have any presents, either. We do a tree and a wreath, but without the kids, anything more just doesn't bring happiness. It's just all glittery, but without the magic. But the baklava? That brings happy, Lil. Mailing it out to family is so stellar. I am excited about Christmas because I am sending the baklava. I am going to begin listening to Christmas carols, and thinking about my people who will eat the baklava and that they are expecting to receive it, now. I think your son would so love baklava, Lil. It isn't like sending cookies, which go a little stale or maybe, don't hold together so well. We wrapped the baklava in plastic and then foil, and mailed it in one of those post office boxes that fold down so tight and it arrived in perfect condition. I think shipping was something like $7. But it made me so happy, so happy, to do that.
Those first years without the kids at home are so difficult. We kept trying to do what we'd always done. That didn't work. We made the Feast of the Fishes for the neighbors, but it wasn't the same, not at all. We kept trying new things, but nothing felt right...but all along, what I'd needed was some way to give to my family that wasn't just money or something that felt contrived. I missed Christmas so much, and nothing seemed to fill that void. I hope you both do make the baklava. It's like, really scary to do it that first year. The way the flavors blend is an amazing thing that happens and it is a curious and delight-filled thing to taste it again once the flavors have changed. No worries about eating too much, because you will be sending most of it off to people you love. Or, bringing it to church. And it's so pretty. I will try to post a picture for you.
I have been trying to totally cut sugar and carbs from my diet, and having that in the house would cause me to stumble. Most deserts don't tempt me that much, but that baklava looks too good!
It is really good, Apple. I am surprised at myself that I like the way it changes flavors as it ages. I am so curious about it, when I make it. I hope I don't mess it up this year.
I don't eat much sugar or any carbs at all anymore, either, AppleCori. I feel so much better. Sometimes I slip and have pasta, but after I do, I feel heavy so heavy and lethargic that it's easy to stop again. You will have to celebrate vicarious baklava with us...vicariously, AppleCori. Thank you for posting in. It's very nice to see you!
Cedar