Hello Foodie Friends. This Fourth of July weekend will include attending fireworks, parades, barbeques, carnivals, picnics, baseball games, and family gatherings. The Fourth of July is more than just a celebration of summertime — it’s a time to celebrate our freedom and how far we have come. Here are some fun facts about the Fourth of July you may or may not already know: • The Declaration of Independence began as a letter to King George to explain why the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain. • The Declaration of Independence was started on July 2, 1776 and the Continental Congress approved the final wording on July 4. The American colonies were declared free and independent states. • The first Independence Day was celebrated on July 8, 1776 and the official signing took place on August 2. • 56 people signed the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote the majority of it. • The first Independence Day on July 8, 1776 took place in Philadelphia. The White House celebrated Independence Day for the first time in 1804. • The Declaration of Independence has five parts. They are: the Preamble, the Statement of Human Rights, Charges Against Human Rights, Charges Against the King and Parliament, and the Statement of Separation and Signatures. • According to census.gov, 2.5 million people celebrated the first Independence Day, compared to 316.2 million people today. • July 4 was officially declared a holiday in 1870, nearly one hundred years after the Declaration of Independence was written. • Currently, the oldest Independence Day celebration in the U.S. is held in Bristol, Rhode Island. • 2016 marks this year as the 240th Independence Day. Among my favorite Independence Day to do’s is to watch the fireworks by the water (ocean or lake) while sipping a Mojito drink. An essential tool to use to make a Mojito is a “muddler.” The muddler is basically a stick you use to smash ingredients into a bottom of a glass. It is used like a pestle to mash or muddle fruits, herbs, and spices. The classic muddler is a rod with a slight flare on one end and a flat surface or teeth on the other side. Both the flat surface and the teeth surface are appropriate for “muddling.” The purpose to “muddle” is to release fresh flavors to the liquid that will enhance your drink. Bartenders use a muddler to crush ingredients such as lemons, limes, and mint against the glass before pouring ice in. The muddler can also be used to stir a drink. Here are some tips of “muddling.” • In most cases, the point of muddling is not to smash the ingredients into a messy pulp, but to gently caress the essence out of it and this is where a lot of new bartenders go wrong. • Place your ingredients in the bottom of a cocktail shaker or mixing glass. Some cocktails are muddled directly in the serving glass as well. • Gently press down and give a half turn of the muddler. • Release and continue this motion until sufficiently muddled. This will generally take about 4-6 turns. • Don’t muddle in a shaker that has a plastic bottom because they are prone to cracking, even under the lightest of pressure. • Muddle before adding ice or you are just crushing ice, potentially over diluting the drink, and not properly muddling the ingredients that need it. Classic Mojito Cocktail Recipe Make this for one or many, but whatever you do, don’t skip the fresh mint and freshly squeezed lime, they’re essential on this one. Yield: 1 You Will Need • 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) freshly squeezed lime juice • 2 teaspoons sugar • 8 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish • 1/4 cup (2 ounces) white rum • 1 cup ice • 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) club soda • lime slice for garnish Directions 1. Add lime juice, sugar and eight mint leaves to a cocktail shaker. Use the end of a wooden spoon or cocktail muddler to bash (or muddle) the mint into the lime juice and sugar. This releases oils from the mint and helps the sugar dissolve into the lime juice. 2. Add rum, stir well then pour into a glass filled with ice, leaving about an inch of room then top with club soda. Garnish with extra mint leaves and a lime slice. Notes and Tips To make enough for four people follow these amounts: 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice 3 tablespoons sugar 32 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish 1 cup white rum 4 cups ice 1/2 cup club soda 4 lime slices for garnish Ahhh…I love summer. Being outdoors and enjoying fun times with family and friends creates those memories that last a lifetime. This Fourth of July weekend, don’t get caught trying to “muddle your way through” making a Mojito without a muddler. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, Saratoga Springs’ true kitchen essentials store located at 46 Marion Avenue (across from Fresh Market) to pick up the tools you need to make your weekend an enjoyable one! Remember; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.” Happy Fourth of July. Take care. John and Paula.