Virginia's Cookbooks : Accidental Baklava

Virginia's Cookbooks

I recently inherited a number of my friend Virginia's cookbooks.  I had actually been purging some of my own cookbooks, but when I had an opportunity to become the proud owner of Virginia's cookbooks I immediately made room for hers on my bookcase.  What a fun time I am having reading through these.  I think I have mentioned that I actually like to read cookbooks and imagine all the wonderful dishes that can be made.  I'm planning on making one recipe from each of her cookbooks over the next few months.  

I'll make room for Virginia's cookbooks

Since I had some phyllo dough on hand, I perused her book Phyllo until I found just what I wanted to make.  The recipe I was trying to make were these Caramel-Pecan slice cookies.  Following the recipe, I brought 3/4 cup of honey, 2 cups of heavy cream, 1 1/4 cups of sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt to boil until the mixture reached 240F on a candy thermometer (which I did not have) or until the mixture formed the softball stage when a small amount is poured into a cup of cold water. I thought it had reached that stage so I removed it and added 2 tsp of vanilla and 12 oz of pecans, coarsely chopped.  The mixture even after cooling never did firm up where you could form it into long ropes per the recipe.  But I thought this is about the consistency for making Baklava.  

Caramel-Pecan cookies. 

Boiling until mixture reaches softball stage. 

Add pecans and cool.  

Made Baklava instead.  

That's how I made my very first batch of Baklava.  It turned out really well if I do say so. But it was an accident because I didn't set out to make Baklava in the beginning.  But, all's well that ends well.