I would like to know if anyone has a recipe?

Horchata is an old-world drink that was enjoyed by the Aztecs. Today this agua fresca is served throughout Mexico, as well as in many authentic Mexican restaurants in the United States. Horchata is a cool and soothing enhancement to spicy food.

1 cup uncooked white rice

1/4 cup ground, blanched almonds or almond meal

1 cinnamon stick

6 cups water, divided

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sugar

Put the rice in a blender and grind to a powder (about 2-3 minutes). You can also use a spice grinder or coffee grinder for this. Grind the mixture as smooth as possible. Combine the pulverized rice, ground almonds and cinnamon stick. Cover tightly and allow to set overnight or at least 6 hours.

Remove the cinnamon stick and place the rice mixture in the blender. Blend for 4 or 5 minutes until the mixture is smooth, powdery and no longer has a gritty texture. Add 2 cups of water, and blend again for about 15 seconds.

Strain into a pitcher through several layers of dampened cheesecloth (or coffee filter). Do not skip this step or the drink will have a chalky taste.

Add 4 more cups water and the vanilla and sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves. If the mixture is too thick, add some additional water. Horchata should have the consistency of milk. The drink is supposed to be sweet, so taste and add more sugar, if desired.

Cover and refrigerate. Horchata will keep several days, refrigerated. Serve it chilled in tall glasses over ice. Makes 1-1/2 quarts.

According to Sophie Coe in America's First Cuisine's, horchata was an old-world drink brought to the new world by the Spaniards and later enjoyed too by the Aztecs. In Spain horchata was made with with ground melon seeds but given the seeds were not available in the new world the Spaniards substituted the readily available squash seeds. Later almonds and rice were brought to the new world and incorporated into the drink as it is prepared today.

Serves: 6 - 7

I N G R E D I E N T S

6 tablespoons rice

6 ounces (about 1 1/4 cups) blanched almonds

1 inch cinnamon stick (canella)

3 "2-inch" strips of lime zest (rind only, not the white pithy part) 3/4" long

1 cup white granulated sugar

I N S T R U C T I O N S

The traditional way to make horchata is with a metate y mano. For those of us less adventurous, or simple those with less time, we can use a blender.

Pulverize the rice using a metate y mano or your blender. Grind the mixture as smooth as possible. Combine the rice with the almonds, cinnamon and lime zest. Let this mixture stand overnight (minimally 6 hours).

Place the mixture in the blender jar and blend for at least 3 - 5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and no long has a gritty texture. Add 2 cups of water and blend again for just a few seconds. Place a large sieve over a mixing bowl. Line the sieve with 3 layers of damp cheesecloth. Pour in the rice mixture, a little at a time and keep stirring to help the mixture go through the sieve. Once all the liquid has passed through to the bowl gather the cloth together at the top, give it a twist and squeeze out any additional liquid.

Now add 2 more cups of water and stir in as much sugar as you'd like, to taste. If the mixture is too thick, add some additional water.

Cover and refrigerate. The drink should keep several days, refrigerated.

Serve in a tall glass over ice.