Instructions: In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine the water, sugar, piloncillo or brown sugar, raisins, cinnamon stick, cloves, and lemon peel. Bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is slightly thickened. Pour into a large shallow bowl. Let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate the syrup for 2 hours, or until cold.

In another large shallow bowl, whisk together the egg whites or egg substitute, milk, wine or milk, vanilla extract, almond extract, and ground cinnamon. Add the bread and let soak, turning once or twice, for 10 to 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400F. Coat a nonstick baking sheet with nonstick spray.

Arrange the bread on the prepared baking sheet. Coat the tops with nonstick spray. Bake for 10 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and crisp.

Transfer the bread to a rack to cool.

Transfer the bread to the bowl with the syrup. Let soak, turning once or twice, for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick, cloves, and lemon peel.

Transfer 1 slice into a small shallow serving bowl and spoon a little syrup and some raisins on top. Repeat with the remaining slices.

PILONCILLO (panela; rapadura). Mexican piloncillo - pressed, unrefined dark brown sugar - usually comes molded in pyramid-shaped chunks. Its used for making desserts and syrup. Its harder than north American dark brown sugar, but the latter can be used as a substitute. To use piloncillo, grate it on a hand grater before measuring.

Notes: Caballeros pobres: "Ive always loved the name of this Mexican dessert, literally, "poor horseman." Its a sort of French toast (actually, deep-fried bread) thats sewed in spice-scented syrup. To make a heart-healthy version, I use egg whites instead of egg yolks in the batter and crisp the bread in the oven instead of the deep-fryer." -SR

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