Ingredients:

The pastry:

•          One 1- pound   package KATAIFI pastry, available in the frozen section of most ethnic grocery stores and some supermarket chains as well

•          1/2 spoon or spoon of orange Kunafa powder coloring or orange food coloring (two to three drops)

•          200 grams of butter or ghee

•          Two spoons butter for spreading Kunafa in the tray

The filling:

•          2 pounds akkawi cheese or a mixture of akkawi and mozzarella or all of one or the other.  You can also use sweet cheese available in ethnic grocery stores.

•          1 Tablespoon of orange blossom water or rose water or a combination (optional)

•          2 Tablespoons of sugar (optional)

The syrup:

•          3 cups of sugar

•          1 1/2  cups of water

•          2 Tablespoons of orange blossom water

•          1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice

To Prepare the Sugar Syrup:

 Mix sugar+ water+ lemon juice+ orange blossom water. Bring to boil then reduce heat and leave to simmer for 10minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

To Prepare the Filling:

1.        Slice the cheese of your choosing and set it in a bowl for at least 2 hours, changing the water every 20 minutes. OR, 2 days and changing the water twice a day.  The goal is to desalt the cheese and the length of time required is variable.

2.        Remove the cheese from the water, pat it dry, and shred it in coarse shreds.

3.        Place all the cheese in a bowl and sprinkle the blossom water (or rose water or both) on it. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

4.        Mix the cheese and add the sugar and the orange blossom water.

To Prepare the kunafa Pastry:

1.        Separate the kunafa with hand or with scissors.

2.        Add milted butter and and spoon of sugar syrup and mix well with hand.

3.        Grind the kunafa pastry in food processor.

4.        Place the pastry on stove for few minutes, mix well, and let it cool off for 10 minutes before placing in tray and adding cheese.

5.        Add the coloring to the butter in the baking try and spread all over the tray. You may add nuts (almonds or pine nuts).

6.        Place Kunafa on the tray and press hard.

7.        Add the cheese to the kunafa in the middle, but avoid adding the edges. Use a paper towel to observe all the water that will come from the cheese.

8.        Cook on stove at a medium heat and use a clean cloth to observe water from cheese every few minutes. You may also bake in the oven for 30 minutes in the bottom rack.

9.        Cool for few minutes then use a larger tray to flip the kunafa.

10.    Poor a cup of sugar syrup and serve.