Sweet Walnut Pastries

Ingredients

 * 8 sheets of phyllo pastry
 * plenty of melted butter
 * 75 g / 3 oz chopped walnuts

Syrup

 * 225 g / 8 oz granulated sugar
 * 240 ml / 8 fl.oz water
 * 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

 * 1) Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F / gas mark 4 and lightly grease a baking tray.
 * 2) Brush two sheets of pastry liberally with butter and place one on top of the other.
 * 3) Sprinkle a quarter of the walnuts over the top of the two sheets of phyllo.
 * 4) Repeat with the remaining sheets of phyllo and walnuts then roll lengthways to form a cylinder.
 * 5) Transfer to the greased baking tray and baked for about 30 minutes.
 * 6) Meanwhile, place all the ingredients for the syrup in a saucepan;.
 * 7) Bring to the boil, stirring then continue to cook for about 10 minutes;.
 * 8) Or until the mixture is thick and syrupy.
 * 9) When the banitza is cooked, remove from the oven and pour the hot syrup over the top.
 * 10) Set aside for 30 minutes.
 * 11) Serve cut into slices with warm or at room temperature.