Atole (Cornmeal Drink — Mexico)

1/2 cup Masa Harina
5 cups milk
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or 1 stick cinnamon, finely slivered
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Put the Masa Harina in a bowl and whisk in the milk, little by little. Pour the milk mixture into a pot and add the brown sugar and cinnamon. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, to keep it from becoming lumpy. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Serve in mugs.

Pineapple Atole:
Follow the basic recipe, but omit the cinnamon. After the mixture has thickened and has been removed from the heat, add 1 small can crushed pineapple, undrained.

Strawberry Atole:
Follow the basic recipe, but omit the cinnamon. After the mixture has thickened and has been removed from the heat, add 2 cups fresh strawberries that have been hulled, washed and crushed.