Horchata de Coco

• 1/2 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 cups rice milk
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine coconut and rice in a blender. Add 2 cups boiling water; let stand 15 minutes. Blend 1 minute or until smooth. Strain mixture through a fine sieve or cheesecloth into a pitcher, pressing mixture with the back of a spoon to remove as much liquid as possible. Discard solids. Stir in remaining ingredients, stirring until sugar dissolves. Serve over ice.

Serves 6 (2/3 c.); 178 calories.

VERDICT: The recipe said you could decrease the sugar to 1/2 or 1/3 cup--I went with 1/3 cup, and it's not quite sweet enough.  It also still pretty much  tastes like rice milk from a box.  On the whole, it's fine, but I can't really see making it on a regular basis.  Toss.