Melt butter start with 2 sticks - you can always melt another stick if needed and crisco together Coat the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 baking pan completely
Layer phyllo dough for bottom crust Lay down 1 sheet of phyllo and completely brush with melted butter Continue until you have 6 buttered sheets of phyllo
Mix the nuts
sugar and cinnamon together Sprinkle some of this mixture over your bottom crust
Then lay down 2 layers of phyllo
one at a time - each sheet needs buttering Sprinkle another coating of your nut mixture Continue alternating with 2 layers of buttered phyllo and a sprinkling of the nut mixture Make sure you have at least 6 sheets of phyllo dough left for your top crust
Lay your 6 phyllo sheets
1 buttered at a time
to create your top crust Use remainder of butter over top of crust If you didnt have enough butter
you could melt more
Score pieces diagonally
Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes
or whenever browned
Turn oven down to 350 degrees F and cover baklava with foil Continue baking for another 30 minutes
Meanwhile make your syrup
Boil sugar and water together Add honey
lemon juice and brandy
Turn to low heat
stirring
until the mixture thickens This should take approximately 10 minutes Let cool
When baklava is done cooking
pour the cooled syrup all over the top
while the baklava is still hot Cool the baklava and finish cutting Keep in a cool place
