cornerofmadness

Ling came up with me on the couch after Kanda went out into the rain (I had to get something off the porch and he bolted...idiot). He was cleaning himself so I reached out and petted him. I felt something so I checked him close, since he had two ticks yesterday.

EIther he got this from the dog or mating rights fights but he has a puncture wound draining an abcess. He didn't like it much but I forced it to drain as much as I could. Sigh. I had no idea it was there. He wasn't limping. He wasn't bloody. Hell he was playing just moments before.

Guess who'll be going to the vet tomorrow. If he was human I could have fixed him but...so yeah, drained it and just wait and see. Provided I haven't floated away by then.

Tomorrow's the end of the semester party and since I had left over phyllo from something else I made (and you need to use it quick) I opted to get some nuts and make baklava. Hazelnuts were on sale!!. Sadly I overground them and the texture made things messy (really messy) but it's so good.

So... the family recipe (from the Greek side that married in) Typed by my dad.

READ ENTIRE RECEIPE BEFORE STARTING.

INGREDIENCE:
DRY
1 LB OF BUTTER
1 CP OF SUGAR
1TBLS FLOUR
1 LB OF GROUND WALNUTS
SHAKE OF CINNAMON
I PACKAGE PHILLO DOUGH

syrup
1 CP SUGAR
1 CP water
1/2 CP clover honey
juice of one lemon

HOW TO:

MELT BUTTER SLOWLY DO NOT BURN. WHEN IT BEGINS TO COOL SKIM THE WHITE FOAM FROM THE TOP. YES YOU MUST DO THIS.

MIX TOGETHER NUTS, FLOUR, SUGAR AND CINNAMON. SET ASIDE

JELLY ROLL PAN – SPREAD MELTED WARM BUTTER ON BOTTOM OF PAN LIGHTLY.

PHILLO - THAW IN FRIDGE. MUST BE KEPT COOL AND MOIST. KEEP COVERED WITH MOIST KITCHEN TOWEL WHEN NOT IN THE FRIDGE. WHEN BUTTER IS COOL ENOUGH, UNROLL PHILLO ONE SHEET AT A TIME. PLACE ON TOP OF BUTTER IN PAN. BRUSH TOP OF THIS PHILLO WITH BUTTER, PUT ANOTHER SHEET OF PHILLO ON TOP OF THIS BUTTERED ONE. CONTINUE UNTIL YOU HAVE 9 LAYERS OF PHILLO.

ADD NUT MIXTURE AND SPREAD EVENLY OVER THE PHILLO DOUGH. DRIZZLE WITH BUTTER AND TOP WITH PHILLO SHEET. CONTINUE AS ABOVE BUTTERING AND LAYERING FOR 9 MORE LAYERS.

CUT CRISSCROSS DIAGONALLY THROUGH ALL 18 LAYERS OF PHILLO DOUGH MAKING DIAMOND PATTERN. MAKE 1” WIDE OR LARGER .

BAKE 1 HOUR IN A PRE HEATED 350 DEG. OVEN

MAKE SYRUP ABOUT ½ HOUR AFTER YOU PLACE IN OVEN.

AFTER BAKING IS DONE, IMMEDIATELY POUR SYRUP OVER THE BAKLAVA. COOL BEFORE REMOVING FROM PAN.

GET A STURDY CARBOARD BOX AND MAIL TO DAD.

helpful notes. It doesn't have to be walnuts. they're traditional b ut you can use about any BUT they must be ground. This is better if there are two people so one can stay dry and hand over the phyllo dough (which was invented by sadists). If you're like me and alone then get the two hands working separate. Peel dough with one and butter with the other (I prefer to use my hands to do the buttering, they're a better tool). Be prepared to cuss a little making this one.