While tackling the question of what baked good I desired for the month I happened to acquire a copy of you guessed it... The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
That being said I decided to follow the grand theme of Greek mythology and go with a classic, a.k.a. one of the most delicious treats I've ever tasted. Baklava!
The amazing thing about this recipe is its inclusion of the dairy-free/vegan community. We love a little inclusivity! Even better is ho
w easy it is to substitute for food around around your home for example: the recipe called for a lemon... I used a lime, orange... I used a clementine, maple syrup... pancake syrup, and olive oil... vegan butter. It was so nice to not have to go to the grocery store for new items, especially when I already had food that needed to be used.
It was such an easy recipe to follow and results were absolutely phenomenal! Now for the topic we all care about, "How was The Song of Achilles?" Well, to put it simply, I LOVED IT! The characters were so well written, and Miller made the romance so serene and natural. Nothing in the book seemed out of place or wonky.
While, and after, reading I didn't want the experience to end so I listen to songs like:
Visions of Gideon - Sufjan Stevens (CMBYN vibes)
Achilles Come Down - Gang of Youths (thank you TikTok for this song)
Clouds - BØRNS (a song by them that isn't Wait, American Money, or Electric Love...)
To Be Alone - Hozier (side note: I love Hozier so much)
Every Other Freckle - Alt-J (if you find this song live on YouTube... *chefs kiss*)
I made this particular playlist and it is spot on with the book (not in chronological order):
NOW ONTO THE RECIPE!!!!
~ Disclaimer: phyllo dough is a pain to work with, but I found that if you truly wait for the dough to thaw it doesn't crack as much... also it's all going to the same place so if it happens don't worry. ~
This is the recipe I used.
Above to the right: after the baklava was baked and putting the sweet "sauce" on top.
Above in the middle: the finished product!!
Above to the left: the delicious inside filling.
To the left: before putting the baklava into the oven and after putting the top layer of butter on.
If you would like a more in depth analysis of The Song of Achilles, check out my other blog post: "My thoughts while reading The Song of Achilles".
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