Southern Baklava

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 8 ounces of finely chopped pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 16-ounce package of thawed phyllo dough

How to make:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the pecans, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Melt the butter in a small sauce over a low heat or in the microwave. Unroll the phyllo dough for a 9×11 glass dish. Cover with waxed paper topped with a damp towel until needed.

Layer 4 to 8 sheets of the phyllo dough, brush with butter, sprinkle some of the pecan mixture across the top. Layer 4 to 8 more sheets on top and repeat the process until all the layers of phyllo have been used and the pecan mixture is gone. Don’t forget to brush with butter. Cut diagonally into 1-inch diamond shapes, cutting through all the layers. Bake for 35 minutes or until brown. Remove from the oven.

Combine the honey, sugar, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, and cloves in a medium saucepan. Cook over a medium heat and stir until ingredients are mixed well and dissolved. Reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Pour the honey mixture over the warm baklava. Let stand 45 minutes to 1 hour before serving.