I’m very excited about my upcoming release, “Acoustic Chef,” an international cookbook with music to go with each recipe. (Scroll down for Baklava recipe.) The list of recipes is below, and you can request one if you like, HERE. I’ve collected recipes from my travels and am recording with musicians from different countries including the Tuvan throat singers Alash (who taught me to make Tuvan lamb dumplings), Lulo Reindhart on a French gypsy tune (to go with quiche/crepes recipe) and Rory Hoffman’s ethnic accordion playing. Great fun! You can go to The Patron Page if you would like to support this project.
Recipe list
- Goulash
- Cucumber Pickles
- Eggplant Parmigiana
- Tuvan Lamb Dumplings
- Steak Chimichurri
- Sherry Mushroom Noodles a la Tierra Negra
- Salmon in Endive Boats
- Re’s Rosemary Root Vegetables
- Gallettes (Buckwheat Crepes)
- Nisu
- Karjalan Piirakka
- Bruchetta
- Quiche Yin Yang
- Savory Sweet Strawberry Salad
- Baklava
- Marvelous Asparagus
BAKLAVA 
Ingredients:
- 1 package phyllo dough, defrosted
- 12 oz or more walnuts and/or
- pine nuts, pecans, hazelnuts
- pistachios (optional)
- ½ cup sunflower seeds (optional)
- 1 heaping Tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1½ stick butter (melted)
- 2 cups quality honey
- ½ lemon, squeezed
Prep: Defrost frozen phyllo dough in refrigerator overnight. Melt a stick of butter. Preheat oven to between 325-350 degrees. Place a pan of water on the bottom as this keeps baklava from drying out.
Chop nuts to medium-fine. I prefer mostly walnuts and you can also use pine nuts, hazelnuts, pecan meal and/or mix in some finely chopped sunflower seeds. Mix the chopped nuts, seeds and cinnamon together ahead of the layering to save time. Reserve some chopped pistachios or chopped hazelnuts for the upper layers and to sprinkle on top.
Prepare to layer in a medium size casserole pan. A 9×13 pan produces more pieces than a 9×9 or 8×8 pan, but the smaller pans produce thicker pieces (main photo). Unroll phyllo dough and cut entire stack to length of pan using a knife or scissors. Use the phyllo trimmings for the middle layers. To keep phyllo pliable, keep the unused portion in a plastic bag or covered with a very slightly damp cloth.
Spread a thin layer of melted butter on bottom of pan. Then place a single layer of phyllo across the pan and using a pastry brush, spread a little butter evenly on top. Repeat 5 times. Add layer of nut/cinnamon mixture, then phyllo, melted butter, phyllo. (Top and bottom will have more layers of phyllo than in the middle, just 2 or 3 layers of phyllo and butter between layers of nuts and cinnamon.) Continue with several layers of nuts & cinnamon, phyllo, butter, and phyllo again. Near the top, I like to use chopped pistachios or hazelnuts instead of walnuts. Then put another 4 or 5 layers of phyllo and butter on top. When the layers are complete and before baking, cut the entire stack diagonally with a large knife to form diamond or triangle shaped pieces.
Cooking: Bake about 30 min between 325-350 degrees until golden brown, but check after 20 or 25 minutes.
While the baklava is baking, heat the honey and lemon juice gently until runny. Remove baklava from the oven and pour the honey mixture evenly over it. If desired, sprinkle coarsely chopped pistachios or hazelnuts on top. If you can, wait a little while for it to cool and for the honey to soak in. Remove pieces with a spatula. If there is any left over (a rare occurrence indeed) it keeps well and also freezes well.
____Other news:
For 2019, I’m doing something for myself, making an effort to combine what I do with what I believe in by donating 20 percent of net for all my USA shows to the Music for Life Alliance. In turn, I plan to do more benefit concerts supported by MFLA, to help get instruments and lessons to kids via grassroots organizations like Guitars In the Classroom, Little Kids Rock, WO Smith, and many others. Next year a portion of the new cookbook/music CD will benefit the MFLA.
I should also mention, the “Nightlight Daylight” page includes a link to download a free bonus track, if you haven’t already checked it out.