Ina's Baklava

Ingredients

3.5 cups granulated sugar
2.5 cups water
2 tblsp honey rind of
1 lemon
1 stick cinnamon
3-4 cloves
1.25 lbs English walnuts and blanched almonds
2 tsp ground cinammon
1 scant tsp ground cloves
1.5 lbs phyllo dough
1 lb sweet butter, unsalted, melted and clarified (non-clarified works just fine)

Instructions

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water, honey, lemon, whole spices, and 3 cups sugar.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.  Remove the lemon rind and spices, and cool.     In a large bowl, mix nuts, remaining sugar and ground spices and set aside.     Lay sheets of dough flat and cover with a damp towel.  Remove 8 sheets of dough, cover them and place them in the refrigerator.  Butter an 11.5" x 15.5" x 3.5" baking pan.  Layer one sheet of dough, brush with butter.  Repeat with 7 more sheets.  Sprinkle a handful of the nut mixture evenly over the sheet.  Add 3 more layers of dough, brushed with butter, cover with nuts.  Repeat until nut mixture is gone.  Place 8 layers of dough/butter on top.  Pour on the remaining butter.  Score baklava in desired piece shapes.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, until the dough is flaky and golden.  Remove to cooling rack and pour on syrup.