Congrats with Baklava!

You must remember that with Congratulations your guest of honor deserves the best treats. This special congrats Baklava is the right appetizer for your party platters and the guest of honor's stomach!

1 lb filo dough
1/2 lb sweet butter
2 cup ground pistachios

Preheat oven to 200 F. (You may want to use a higher setting. I found that it takes too long to bake and the center stays a little dought tasting at 200 F. I use 275 F.) Melt butter, grease 11x16 jelly roll pan. Lay 1 sheet of filo on bottom of pan and brush with butter. (If it doesn't fit exactly just fold edges over to make it fit.) Repeat until you have used approx. half the sheets. Spread nuts evenly over entire surface. Continue layering sheets of filo on top of nut layer. Pour any remaining butter over top. Cut into diagonal strips to form diamond shapes. Bake 2 1/2 hours. (Watch carefully after 2 hours to make sure it doesn't get overdone. The top should be a light golden brown.)

Syrup: 3 cup sugar
2 cup apricot nectar
2 tblsp honey
1 tblsp lemon juice

Bring to boil and then simmer to a heavy syrup (approx. 20-25 min). When baklava is done drain any excess butter from pastry. Brush surface lightly with butter. Pour warm syrup over pastry a little at a time until all is absorbed. Allow to cool several hours. Makes approx. 30 diamonds.

There's nothing quite like a big piece of this Bakalava in the evening.