The June giveaway! And a Strawberry Basil Spritzer

June is here! Although today it feels more like a mid-August heat wave. In honour of this heavy weather, I have a cool summery drink for you. But first, Sara Casey you are the lucky winner of Fat Toad Farm's goat milk caramel gift package. Congratulations!! You are going to fall in love with their Salted Bourbon caramel, it's exquisite. Please send me a little note via my contact me page with your mailing address so we can send you your present.

And now my June giveaway, which I am so very very thrilled to announce. Madder Root is a Maine-based company that creates gorgeous eco-friendly screen-printed linens. Their products are beautifully handcrafted using water-based, solvent-free inks and organic fabrics. I am in love with oh, only every single thing that they make.

Janyce and Christina are the creative team who cut, print, and sew everything by hand in small batches using hand drawn designs inspired by the ocean, forest, and mountain vistas of Maine. You can see all their stylish kitchen linens on their etsy page.

I recently treated myself to a set of their tea towels: these ones with the mason jar prints.

When the package came in the mail, it was such a joy. I found myself savouring every moment of opening it because it was so caringly and elegantly wrapped. I love everything about how this company designs and packages their product with attention to every detail. I especially appreciate that they use organic fabrics because the cotton industry actually uses more pesticides than any other crop. So finding organic alternatives is a move for a better planet.

Madder Root is generously giving away a beautiful set of 4 hand-printed organic linen produce bags to a lucky Kitchen Vignettes reader. Next time you go to the farmer's market or grocery store, you can avoid using plastic altogether and shop in style. I absolutely love the designs on these bags, check them out! (My favourite is the honey jar.) 

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

To be eligible, you need to be a resident of Canada or the United States and there are two ways you can enter the draw: 

• Leave me a comment below saying why you'd like to win this giveaway (please include your email address). 
• Or go to my Facebook page and share the giveaway photo on your page.

I will select a name at random at the end of the month and announce the winner on July 1st.


Now, here's a cool drink for you to help you get through this heat wave. 

You'll have to excuse me today for dabbling in an area I know next to nothing about. I've never really made cocktails (except for a few parties I threw in my twenties) but this heat had me craving an icy summery drink to lounge around with and sip in the evening sunshine last night. And I had some strawberries and basil syrup kicking around, so it seemed like a no-brainer. The result of mashing up a few strawberries with basil syrup, crushed ice, vodka, and soda water was delightful. Actually dangerously good. Like I could have drank a bucketful. So be careful. You can also leave out the vodka altogether for a kid-friendly version (or if you want to drink it by the bucketful, this is also a good idea).

STRAWBERRY BASIL SPRITZER

Makes 2 glasses

10 medium-small strawberries

4 oz vodka (1/2 cup) 

1/4 cup basil simple syrup (see easy recipe below)

Crushed Ice

Seltzer water to top up the drink

Basil leaves for garnish

Chill 2 glasses and your cocktail shaker (mine is a mason jar) in the freezer for about 20 minutes. In your shaker, mash the strawberries (I used the end of a large wooden spoon). Add the basil syrup, vodka and ice and shake it well. Pour into your cold glasses and top with a bit of seltzer water (to taste) and garnish with basil leaves. Alternately, you could put the strawberries, syrup, vodka and ice in the blender and then pour into the glasses, adding seltzer water. Enjoy and stay cool out there!

BASIL SIMPLE SYRUP

1 cup cane sugar

1 cup water

1 cup chopped basil (see here for my favourite primer on how to properly chop basil)

Boil the water and sugar until all the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour syrup over basil leaves. Let this rest overnight. Strain out the leaves. Jar up and refrigerate.