Horchata

Horchata- Mexican rice drink


1 1/2 cups rice
2 cinnamon sticks
1 can (14 oz) La Lechera (from Mexican section)
or sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 quart water

Put rice and 1 ½ cups water in a blender. Blend about 1 min to break up the rice. Poor into a bowl, add cinnamon sticks and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Let stand at room temperature for an hour.

Return rice and water to blender, add La Lechera and 2 more cups water and blend until smooth. Strain into a pitcher with a fine mesh strainer, or a strainer lined with cheesecloth. Discard rice. Add vanilla and 1 quart (4 cups) water to fill pitcher.

Serve immediately over ice, or refrigerate up to 2 days and stir before serving over ice.