Kadayif: shredded pastry
For syrup: In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, water, cinnamon and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 15 minutes or until temperature reaches 220 degrees. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
For the filling: In heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine cream and sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Blend cornstarch and milk, add to cream mixture. Continue cooking and stirring until small bubbles form around edge of pan and mixture begins to thicken, 20-30 minutes. Filling should be the consistency of pudding. Remove from heat and let cool.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9-by-13-inch pan with butter.
For the pastry: Clarify butter by melting in a saucepan. Remove from heat and skim off white foam. Ladle yellow liquid into a bowl, discarding milk solids from bottom.
Over a very large bowl twist phyllo shreds to break in half. Loosen strands with your hands or two forks. Sprinkle with cup butter, tossing to coat each strand.
Layer half the phyllo in prepared pan. With a sheet of wax paper gently press to make even. Spread the filling evenly over top. Cover with remaining phyllo and press again with wax paper to level. Brush surface with remaining butter. Bake 20-30 minutes or until surface is light gold.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with ¾ cup milk, especially along the edges. Cool on rack. Spoon about to ¾ cup syrup evenly over the surface. Dough should not be soggy. Add more if desired. Cut into squares and serve warm or cold, plain or with whipped cream and strawberries. Refrigerate leftovers.
Serves 10 to 12.
Cook's notes: Leftover simple sugar can be used to sweeten tea or mixed drinks. Look for shredded phyllo in stores that carry phyllo sheets.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>Ingredients</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Syrup</h2> <ul class="recipeItems"> <li>1 cups granulated sugar</li> <li>¾ cup water</li> <li>1 small cinnamon stick</li> <li>1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, strained</li> </ul> <h2>Pastry</h2> <ul class="recipeItems"> <li>2 packages (1 pound each) shredded phyllo (see note)</li> <li>1 cup butter, clarified</li> </ul> <h2>Filling</h2> <ul class="recipeItems"> <li>1 quart cream or 2 cups heavy cream and 2 cups half-and-half</li> <li>3 tablespoons corn starch</li> <li>¾ cup whole milk</li> <li>2 tablespoons sugar</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>