As American as Tacos and Tortillas

摘要

Most Caucasian Americans think the only time cinnamon belongs in milk is in Christmas eggnog. They're probably pleasantly surprised when they discover horchata, a traditional Hispanic drink where the cinnamon joins rice milk, cane sugar and vanilla.rnMany similar surprises await as traditional Hispanic dishes and flavors are discovered - although, with their high level of infiltration, there don't seem to be many Hispanic dishes left to discover. Instead, many Hispanic dishes are being Americanized (for better or worse) and, at the same time, those once exotic flavors are influencing many non-Hispanic dishes.rnSince 2000, the Hispanic population in the U.S. has expanded from about 35 million to more than 44 million in 2006 (the last year for which there is a U.S. Census Bureau report) and represent more than half of the nation's population growth.