Cake for Shabbat – Pistachio and tahini baklava shells

This is my first blog post.

Today is August 8th, 2024 (2+2+4=8) so 3 times 8 (888) – it is the Lion gate portal in Astrology.

This event is believed to send substantial spiritual light to earth offering a powerful time to manifest goals and attract divine energy.

This is the reason I decided to launch my blog today, even though I am not at all ready. I also launched a women Facebook community today called “My Bee Circle”. I hope all the hype around this date is true. I just need to jump in the water and get a little better every day, because it will never be perfect.

So today we will make Pistachio baklava with a hint of halva flavor thanks to the tahini. When this crispy treat is coming out of the oven it is immediately soaked in sweet aromatic syrup. The beautiful shell shape is Turkey inspired.

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INGRIDIENTS

1 package phyllo dough – thawed

Oil spray

For the syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Peels from 1 lemon

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon rose water – optional

For the filling

1 cup almond flour

1 cup ground pistachios

2 tablespoons raw tahini

1/4 cup maple/honey

2 tablespoons water

Zest of one orange/lemon

For topping (optional)

1/3 cup ground pistachios

Dry rose petals

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INSTRUCTIONS

We will start with the syrup, since it will need to cool completely before pouring it on the hot baklava. If you forgot, you can make it later and pour hot syrup on cool baklava. Any other combination will result in soggy baklava, so remember: hot on cold or cold on hot.

Bring sugar, lemon peels and water to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 10 more minutes till thickened. Remove from the heat and add fresh lemon juice and rose water. Let cool completely.

Preheat oven to 350°C or 180°F.

Oil 10 inch pie pan – not the removable bottom kind

In a medium bowl, mix all the filling ingredients to a doughy texture. If it is still dry and crumbly add more water as needed.

Take one phyllo sheet from the pile and place it on your work surface. Make sure to keep the rest of the phyllo sheets pile covered while working, to prevent it from drying.

Spray the sheet on your work surface with oil and use the brush to evenly spread it. If you don’t have an oil spray, you can pour oil in a small bowl and use the brush to spread it evenly.

Take another sheet from the pile and place it on top of the oily one. Try to place it exactly on top without tears or folds, however, it is forgiving, so don’t worry if it is not perfect.

Oil the dry upper sheet, grab both sheets together and flip, so now the oily part is in contact with the work surface. Oil the upper dry part and start dragging the bottom long part toward the upper part, creating folds like fan/accordion. Leave 2-3 inches unfold.

Place small balls of filling in equal distance along the end of the folds.

Cover the filling with the remaining dough and squeeze and tighten the spaces between the balls/filling. Cut each shell and turn it upside down. Arrange the folds nicely with your fingers and place it in the pan starting with the outer circle. Use more oil if needed to arrange the folds. Keep the shells in the pan cover between each batch.

Keep going the same way, till you fill the pan.

Brush the shells with oil and bake for 20-25 minutes till lightly golden – it will get a little darker after cooling.

Brush it with the syrup (yes, all of it) and sprinkle pistachios and dry rose petals on top.

Best served with hot cup of tea with fresh mint leaves.

Enjoy

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This cake is in memory of Hodaya (26) and Tair (23) David

Trigger warning – description of violence

The David sisters were in the Nova festival in Israel on October 7th. The 2 were murdered by Hamas terrorists while holding hands.

For one week the family searched for them with the hope that maybe they are still alive till authorities brought the bad news based on DNA identification.

The sisters survived by their parents Uri and Edna, their sister Liza and brother Eden.

RIP Hodaya and Tair

If you want to read more try this link:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hodaya-and-tair-david-26-23-sisters-who-held-hands-in-last-moments

* I did not know the family. This is only my way of keeping their memory alive. All the information was taken from Israeli news sites. I apologize in advance if there are any inaccuracies. Feel free to correct me or add anything in their memory if you knew them