Basbousa or basboosa

BASBOUSA-BIL-JOZ-EL-HIND
-Sooji halwa with coconut

Ingredients :
50 gms plain flour(maida), 1 tsp baking soda, 350 gms semolina(sooji), 225 gms Castor sugar, 50 gms dessicated coconut, 100 gms unsalted butter-melted, 250 ml milk, 1 tsp vanilla essence,Almonds for garnishing.
For syrup :
225 gms sugar, 150 ml water, 1 tbsp lemon juice.

Method:
To prepare syrup, place sugar, water, lemon juice in a pan and boil. Simmer for 6-10 minutes until the syrup is thick.Remove from fire.Cool and refrigerate.
Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees C. Seive flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Add semolina, sugar and coconut, mix well. Pour in melted butter,milk and vanilla essence and stir until they mix completely. Spoon this mixture into a greased tin measuring about 28x18 cm,so that the mixture is about 1cm thick. Garnish it with almonds on top.Bake this in the pre-heated oven for about 30-40 minutes,or until the top is crisp and golden brown.
Remove from the oven and cut into square or diamond shapes. Quickly pour the cold syrup over the Basbousa. Serve hot or cold.