Horchata

Ingredients:

5 cups water, boiled
1/3 cup rice (long grain)
1 cup almonds, blanched
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup 2:1 simple sugar or honey, to taste
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, slightly whipped (optional)

Toast rice, almonds, and cinnamon stick in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 until light golden brown.

Place the rice mixture in a spice grinder or food processor until very fine. Place into a pitcher and stir in 3 cups boiling water. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Pour the mixture into a blender and blend.

Spread a folded cheesecloth over a fine mesh sieve and place the sieve over the pitcher. Pour rice mixture through the sieve. Push down remaining liquid with a spoon.

Stir 2 cups cold water, sweeting agent, and vanilla into the rice.

To serve, pour ice into glass and fill glass with the horchata. Top with the whipping cream and sprinkle cinnamon.