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6
Easy
By Nevin Halici
Published 1989
Helvas are the oldest desserts in Turkish cuisine; there is a recipe that dates back to the 11th century.
Like baklava, helva is a traditional dessert frequently served on formal occasions. It is prepared to celebrate the birth of a child; when someone dies helva is served to mourn the loss and is distributed at the graveside. Thus the beginning and end of life are marked with the same dish.