Umm Ali

Umm Ali is a dessert that originated in Egypt and is well known as a traditional Middle Eastern comfort meal in Doha. Umm Ali, which is comparable to a bread pudding mixed with raisins, nuts, milk, and other ingredients, is sprinkled with cinnamon and is widely recognized as one of Qatar's sweetest sweets. This is one of those typical Qatari recipes that is packed with dried fruits and tastes like a wonderful blend of spices.

Ingredients:

1 (17.25 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed,5 cups milk,1 cup white sugar,1 teaspoon vanilla extract,¼ cup raisins,¼ cup slivered almonds,¼ cup pine nuts,¼ cup chopped pistachio nuts,¼ cup sweetened, flaked coconut

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Unroll the puff pastry sheets, and place flat on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until puffed and golden brown.
• Break the puff pastry into pieces, and place in a large bowl. Add the raisins, almonds, pine nuts, pistachios, and coconut, and toss to distribute. Pour into a 9x13 inch glass baking dish, and spread evenly.
• Pour the milk into a saucepan, and stir in the sugar and vanilla. Heat until hot but not quite boiling. Pour over the mixture in the baking dish.
• Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Turn the oven to broil, and broil for 2 minutes to brown the top. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Serve warm.