family and firecrackers

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what better way to celebrate america's birthday than with food, family and firecrackers?

that's just how we spent ours.

it was a lovely, sticky fourth of july!

sleeping in the woods

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we took another jaunt to the woods last weekend.

my parents bought a pop-up camper and we took it for a test run.

thankfully it had AC because it was the hottest weekend on record.

saturday we spent the whole day bobbing in the water to stay cool.

in a few more weeks we will be camping again at hunting island.

let's hope for some cooler temps.

refreshment

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when it's hot outside, you need to have something to cool you off.
this is the perfect cocktail to do just that!

i didn't follow a recipe and it doesn't have a name.

here's the recipe:

muddle 3 basil leaves with 2 thin orange slices in the bottom of a shaker.

add:

1 tbs fresh ginger syrup 

(boil equal parts water and sugar until dissolved, steep with sliced fresh ginger root, let cool or chill)

1 oz St. Germain

2 to 3 oz good vodka

Ice

then shake what ya mama gave ya!

pour into martini glass and top with chilled club soda

garnish with basil and orange curls

try it!  you won't be disappointed!