Just like me, this months Daring Bakers Challenge over at the Daring Kitchen had many layers. But once you peel back those layers, my friends… that just made me think of a line in the Ugly Truth. Love Gerard Butler. What was I saying? Right, layers! This months challenge was making baklava with homemade phyllo dough.
T-minus 24 hours until the challenge was due and I still hadn’t read over the recipe fully. I glanced at it so my kitchen would be stocked with the necessary ingredients, however. But motivation, or lack thereof, was my problem. The challenge was great. I love baklava. But I’ve gotten used to being lazy since all I could do for the last couple of months was sit around and nurse a fractured foot, which I finally saw a doctor about three days ago. He confirmed that yes, it is fractured, in two places in fact, and prescribed 4-6 weeks in an orthopedic boot. And apparently I will be good at child bearing since I have a high tolerance for pain, so my x-ray technician said. But having skived off last months challenge, I knew I needed to do this one.
The phyllo dough was quite easy to make, thanks to my awesome kitchen-aid stand mixer. Still the greatest kitchen invention ever. Set it and forget it. Well, at least for 10 minutes while it kneaded the dough for me. Then the dough had to rest for a couple of hours which worked out well since I had some errands to run.
Upon my return, I employed two friends to help with the baklava. They prepared the filling while I rolled out the sheets of phyllo. Then I quickly assembled the layers and boiled the liquid it would soak in once baked and out of the oven. I am a great hostess, making my guests work and then sit around while I’m busy in the kitchen. And after all that, they couldn’t even try it seeing as how it needed to sit out overnight to drink up the liquid.
Quite a fun challenge, all in all. I enjoy making pastry dough. It’s such a simple thing but most people just go to the grocery and buy pre-made. I still haven’t tried the baklava since it’s not drunk yet, only tipsy. I shall try it later today once it’s had it’s fill of the sweet, sweet nectar.
Erica of Erica’s Edibles was our host for the Daring Baker’s June challenge. Erica challenged us to be truly DARING by making homemade phyllo dough and then to use that homemade dough to make Baklava.
All Things Crafty 