Horchata
serves 6-7
6 tbsp rice
6 ounces (1 1/4) cups blanched almonds
1 inch cinnamon stick
Three 2 inch strips of lime zest (colored rind only), 3/4 inch wide
about 1 cup sugar
Thoroughly pulverize the rice in a blender or spice grinder. Transfer to a medium- size bowl and add the almonds, cinnamon stick and lime zest. stir in 2 1/4 cups of hot tap water, cover and let stand at least 6 hours, or preferably, overnight.
Scoop the mixture into the blender jar and blend for 3 or 4 minutes, until it no longer feels very gritty. Add 2 cups of water, then blend for a few seconds more. set a large sieve over a mixing bowl and line wit 3 layers of dampened cheesecloth. Pour in the almond rice mixture a little at a time, gently stirring to help the liquid pass through. When all has been strained, gather up the corners of the cheesecloth and twist them together to trap the dregs inside. squeeze the package firmly to expel all the remaining liquid.
Add 2 cups of water and stir in enough sugar to sweeten the drink to your taste. If the consistency is too thick, add additional water. Cover and refrigerate until your ready to serve. Stir before pouring.
We make Rick Bayless’ horchata. Love his restaurants and love his cookbooks too. I love that your chile relleno is healthier than the standard version.
I wish I had been invited to your fiesta.
I love me some Mexican food!! the chiles rellenos look fabulous! Great pictures!
I LOOOOOOVE everything about this post! Rick’s horchata recipe is the one I use, too…it rocks! And omg, the poblanos, the rice, the granita…wish I was at your house =) Everything sounds and looks deeeeelightful, thanks so much for sharing it at Two for Tuesdays this week =)
Hey Bonnie, all this food looks so good to me right now. I’m stuffed too. My mom brought me a bunch of food over, and I have some poblano peppers. I’m gonna make them this way…
That horchata sounds super nice too-I don’t know if I’ve had that before???
Dearest Bonnie – You are a girl after my won heart. The fact that you have fiestas for no reason at all. And the love that you shared int he room in pouring from the first para. Baby sis’ wedding? WOW! How fun! Everything looks amazing. How wonderful to have the earthy flavor of cornmeal in the roasted poblanos.
This looks so very amazing. The granitas with the grapefruit and ginger and pepitas is genius. Also loving the little side of brown rice.
Honestly, the colors and flavors in the food makes me want to join a Mariachi band!
Wonderful post and pics as always.
Hugs, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Hi Bonnie,
I have left you an award. It’s up to you if you decide to pass it along. I know we are all so busy. Congrats!
http://wp.me/pSeU2-Hj
Gwen
Heavenly! And yes, soul-satisfying!
Aren’t granita’s wonderful? So simple to make and everyone LOVES them. Your presentation is so pretty!
It all looks wonderful. What a feast!
great recipes to the point.
what a great fiesta with a cool granita
Looks wonderful! The granita is gorgeous.
Sounds like a wonderful (and tasty) fiesta indeed!
Your fiesta was a real feast:-). Everything looks wonderful. I especially like the way you finished the meal. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
Oooooooooh, that Horchata looks amazeballs!! I am totally wanting to grab it though my monitor screen 🙂 I made almond milk for the first time courtey of JillyAnn’s recipe and thought it was brilliant. The addition of rice and the spices is making my mouth drool…. ugh… how uncivilized!
The rest of your festive fiesta is just astounding. I can’t multi-task cook yet. I cook a main and then you have to fend for the rest. Just jokes, but that’s just on quick weekdays… lol…xoxo
The granita looks refreshing and delightful–love the color! Oh, and chile rellenos…you are right, soul satisfying is the perfect description! I sometimes stuff poblanos with rice, shrimp and goat cheese! They always get rave reviews.
I like your granita–it looks so refreshing and summery. Actually, it also looks as though you’re eating pretty gem stones out of that cup. Or maybe those sugar rock candies thing? All in all, very yummy-looking ;]
What a great meal you had and the refreshing looking granita is such a nice way to end the fiesta.
I want to come to your house! Fiesta night looked delicious and sounded like a memorable time. Love those moments!
I have never made these, but they look absolutely delicious! The granita looks lovely, too. Very refreshing.
wow, everything looks great!
Thank you for the granita recipe – it looks so refreshing and even if it’s winter in Sydney, I am going to try this – especially with the pepitas. Such an interesting combination.
Do you know that I’ve never had chile rellenos before? I shock myself sometimes. A lovely pepper, stuffed with cheese and baked (or fried)…how have I NOT tried this lovely thing yet?
Amazing spread. Seems like one great party. Cheers!
What wonderful recipes! That pink grapefruit granita looks like the perfect cool-down treat for summer.
wow!! I want to eat at your house. all of those dishes look marvelous!
yeah, tomorrow is Saturday and that means I can have a fiesta too … love the granita, looks wonderfully refreshing and the poblanos are always my favorite…
Yum! The granita and stuffed peppers look delicious!
Grapefruit, ginger and Key lime granita looks very refreshing.
All of the food looks delicious. What an outstanding meal.
Granita, fresh and tasty, great fiesta!
That looks absolutely wonderful…I LOVE mexican food. I do a much simpler version of chili rellenos as an appetizer. I grow my own banana peppers…sweet ones and hot. we cut the ends off and pull the ribs out and fill with cubed pepper jack cheese. Brush with oil and grill until the cheese starts to melt. They are just outrageous. This looks quite a bit more involved than that but I will try it because we love the peppers.
That’s what I’m talking about! We need no reason for a little fiesta. Right? The granita looks delish. Great way to finish a nice and spice meal.
What a fun meal you made! Those peppers look so incredibly tasty!
So I enjoy mexican food a lot but now I’m having this really big realization that restaurant and home-made mexican dishes may not be all too similar. But wow that just looks so exotic.
Must you post stuff that remind me of the foods I haven’t eaten in ages??!!!
I think I need to bug my mom for another care package that includes whole jalapenos and cornmeal.
Everything looks beautiful and delicious. I particularly love the way you placed that pink grape fruit granita of yours against that light aqua background.
Fantastic fiesta! I love the idea of grapefruit granita!
The chiles rellenos look delicious! I have never tried this recipe. Will try to do it your way. The granita looks wonder I could imagine the taste.
un saludo : )
I can’t think of any better reason to have a fiesta than “just because”. All of the food looks amazing, especially those stuffed poblanos. Damn girl you know how to do a party right!
A great fiesta! Everything looks damn good! i’d love to take part in such a party…
Cheers,
Rosa
Everything looks gorgeous Bonnie – especially that granita. Can imagine all those tart and sharp flavours popping all over inside the mouth. YOWZA!!! I really want to try that!
I love your stuffed poblanos. I’m going to have to try them, since I try not to fry as much anymore.
I said I tried. I didn’t promise…
When we have dinner with my parents, we are usually so quiet. But when it is only me and my hb eating, we talk a lot. :O
I’m drooling. Come cook for me please. I will pay you with hugs and endless praises of tasty brilliance. Huh? What do you think? Sounds like a plan right? HA!
I’ve never had a horchata; The combination of cinnamon and almonds sounds really good so I’m pretty sure I would enjoy it. Your photo of it beautiful too 🙂
I know you got a couple of awards already, but theres more! http://freshslowcooking.com/48/spreading_the_love
I wish I had a couple of these recipes a week ago for my fiesta. Granita looks totally awesome! and horchata – I miss having this drink!
Everythin looks so delicious! Glad you had a great time! 😀
Beautiful and inspiring recipes and photos as always. Wow, it’s been ages since I’ve had a fiesta. It’s a pity it’s only Thursday, otherwise I’d invite some friends round 😉