Baklava

Ingredients:
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter
- 1 package Filo Dough
- 1.5 lb nuts, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup White Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Ground Cinnamon
- Mini Chocolate Chips (optional)

*ingredients above are enough for 2 9X13 inch pans (4 layers of nuts in each pan)

For Syrup:
- 2 cups Sugar
- 2 cups Water
- 1/2 cup Honey
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- juice of 1/2 Lemon
- 2 strips Orange Peel
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 3 Whole Cloves

Directions:

For Syrup:
- Combine the syrup ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes until thickened.
- Remove the orange peel, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Set aside to cool.

For Baklava:
- Mix 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon, chopped nuts in a mixing bowl (or grind nuts, sugar, cinnamon in a food processor, but be careful not to over grind)
- Meld butter in a saucepan
- Unroll your filo dough, and keep covered with a dampened towel/cloth to keep from drying out as your work. Place two sheets of dough in a 9x13 inch greased pan and butter thoroughly with a brush. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered.
- Spread a layer of nut mixture (approx 4 tablespoons). Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips if desired. Top with two more sheets of dough. Butter again, and add the nuts again. Top with another two sheets of dough and repeat. The top layer should be about 6-8 sheets deep. I do 4 layers of nuts per pan.
- Cut into squares/diamonds of your desired size. Place in a 350 degrees oven and bake until golden brown.
- Remove baklava from the oven and spoon syrup over it. You may not need all of the syrup. Let cool before serving.