Horchata

1 1/3 C. uncooked white long-grain rice

2 whole cinnamon sticks

4 C. water

1 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Ice

Ground cinnamon, for garnish

 

Combine the rice, cinnamon sticks, and 2 C. of the water in a blender.  Blend until the rice and cinnamon sticks are roughly ground up (1 to 2 minutes).  Add the 2 remaining C. of water and blend again. Let the rice mixture soak at room temperature at least 8 hours, or overnight.   Once the rice mixture has soaked for at least 8 hours, pour through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher.  Discard the rice and cinnamon stick solids and rinse the strainer well.  Strain the mixture again one more time, just to make sure the horchata isn’t gritty.   Stir in the milk, vanilla, and sugar, then chill ready to serve.  Serve over plenty of ice with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon on top.