Item #20 - Learn How to Make Baklava from Scratch
40 Things for 40 Years in 40 Weeks: Item #20 (Cooking Goals) – Learn How to Make Baklava from Scratch
If you know me well, you know that I love to bake and what I love even more than baking – is to eat dessert. I would rather have dessert over pretty much anything else. No thanks, I will pass on the wine – get me a really good cookie! I grew up in a home where almost everything in terms of food was made from scratch. There was never a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese in the cupboard. Maybe we had the occasional can of Campbell’s soup for emergencies but my parents cooked and barbecued 98% of our meals. My two sisters and I have all learned to love to cooking, baking and creating in the kitchen. In my world, homemade treats are best and after making cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and many other desserts over the years I have not only turned my husband into a convert but both of our boys as well.
A couple of years ago, we had a sweet, new family move into our neighborhood and we immediately discovered that the matriarch’s baked goods far surpassed my skills on many levels. She is a true professional and is often commissioned to provide her lovely desserts for events and teach classes all over the area. We are always excited when something makes it way down the street from her kitchen to our house. One of the things we have been fortunate enough to receive is her homemade Baklava. Delicious doesn’t begin to cover the description of this dessert. I have become a fan of Greek food over the years and often frequent Lola in Seattle and Kokkari in San Francisco. I had never made Baklava before and when I put my list together of “40 things for 40 years in 40 weeks,” I thought why not ask my neighbor for a lesson on how to make Baklava. And so I did.
My neighbor immediately agreed to participate in my #40for40in40 quest and after one reschedule due to sick kids simultaneously at both houses, last night was the night. We spent two and half hours in her kitchen baking, talking and laughing. We often talk about our kids, what supermarket has the best of this or that, trade ideas about birthday parties or what’s going on in our neighborhood but tonight we had kid free time to create this layered dessert and to also go beyond the day to day talk of being moms. First, I learned about making the dessert, then I learned several other baking techniques but more importantly about I learned more about her. I learned about her childhood in South Africa and where she learned to bake. We talked about everything… well maybe I talked a little too much because I somehow lost track of the layers of filo dough I was supposed to be counting… but hey it was a first attempt. I didn’t expect it to be perfect.
In the end, I came home with a hot tray of Baklava (I might have taste tested it at breakfast this morning), the recipe for the baklava, another one of her amazing cookie recipes that we love, a Tupperware of cookie dough ready to be baked for another day, so much knowledge and a really good night out with a friend. Thank you my friend for everything. It was such a fun evening with you!
2 items checked off the list and 38 to go! Stay tuned for more… #40for40in40