In Greek mythology, the food and drink of the gods were ambrosia and nectar, but what did they have for dessert? A delicious dish called baklava.

Baklava is a rich and sweet pastry that consists of paper-thin sheets of fillo dough, nuts and a sugary solution that may contain honey, lemon juice or rosewater. It is believed that baklava was first created by the Assyrians in ancient times, but soon after it became a popular dessert among the Greeks and numerous other populations in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

INGREDIENTS: Baklava

4 cups of walnuts or pecans, fine-

ly chopped

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 package of phyllo pastry sheets

1 stick of butter, melted

honey syrup (see below)

DIRECTIONS

1. Grease a 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan.

2. Grind nuts and mix with sugar and spices.

3. Cut phyllo sheets to fit pan.

4. Brush 12 phyllo sheets lightly with butter and place in bottom of pan.

5. Sprinkle 1 cup of the walnut mixture over top sheet.

6. Brush four sheets with butter and place on top of lower layer.

7. Repeat layers until all ingredients have been used.

8. Top with 8 sheets of phyllo pastry — don’t forget to butter each layer of phyllo.

9. Bake one hour at 325 degrees.

10. Remove from oven and cut pastry into 2-inch diamonds.

11. Cover top with cold honey syrup.

INGREDIENTS: Honey Syrup

1 cup sage honey

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine honey, sugar and water in a small saucepan.

2. Heat and stir until sugar dissolves.

3. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.

4. Let cool