Cinnamon Brown Sugar Dip

Dip crisp apple wedges in this dip for a special treat.

1/4 cup cream cheese spread
1/4 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. Watkins Ground Cinnamon
1 Tbsp. milk
2 apples, each cut into 8 wedges

Mix first 5 ingredients until blended.

Serve with apples for dipping.

For a simple desert, serve this dip with graham crackers or vanilla wafers.

Living Naturally - The Power of Green!

Sorting through the confusion of green cleaning products?

Many companies are re-evaluating their product lines to better fit "green" standards.

Watkins didn't know it at the time, but the products that we have been committed to developing and bringing to your family for 140 years are getting a lot of attention and actively sought after by consumers.

Today we have many choices for natural and environmentally friendly cleaning products. How do we weed out the truly natural products from impostors? Lets find out!

What makes a green cleaning product "green?"

At Watkins we have defined green cleaning products as items that use renewable, non-toxic, phosphate-free and biodegradable ingredients. Products that work, but don't create fumes or leave behind residue that may affect the health of your family or impact the environment.

How do "green" cleaners work?

Green cleaners break down dirt and grease using surfactants from natural renewable resources. For example, instead of using ammonia as the active ingredient, Watkins uses natural plant extracts. These active ingredients act like magnets pulling dirt up and away from the surface.

What should we be looking for when we are looking for "green" cleaning products?

Watkins of course! Your first indication that a cleaning product isn't as natural as it could be is the use of colorants or dyes. A neon pink or purple cleaner should send up a red flag. Pay close attention to ingredient decks. These might be an indication that the product isn't as natural as it could be.

How do we know a "green" cleaner is truly not going to harm our environment?

The Clean Water Fund, a non-profit organization, estimates that the average American uses forty pounds of environmentally harmful household cleaners each year. Multiply that number by 245 million Americans and the effects are significant! The important claims to look for with regard to environment are biodegradable and phosphate free. Also steer clear of aerosol cleaners that can deplete the ozone.

What ingredients should we steer clear of?

Watkins has established a freedom code for our Natural Home Care line complete with all the ingredients we steer clear of:

Ammonia Free
Animal Ingredient Free
Benzene Free
Biodegradable
Bleach Free
Boron Free
Butyl/Ethyl Cellosolve Free
Diethylene Ether Free
Dye Free
Formaldehyde Free
Isopropanol Free
Kerosene Free
Mineral Spirit Free
Never Tested on Animals
Non-toxic
Paraben Free
Petrochemical Free
Phosphate Free
Phosphoric Acid Free
Phthalate Free
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Free
Sulfuric Acid Free

Environmentally friendly cleaning tips:

• Cut down on skin irritations by using natural cleaning products on surfaces that will come in direct contact with your skin, upholstery, carpets, and kitchen counter tops.



• Use a dishwasher detergent that is phosphate-free. Phosphates cannot be removed from water sources with current waste water treatments and end up in fresh water areas.



• Invest in a quality set of microfiber cloths. Use these instead of paper towels when cleaning to lessen your impact on the environment. Every little effort helps!



• Dispose of old, toxic cleaners properly. Contact your local recycling center.

New Product - Home Care Travel Kit

Announcing the newest addition to the Home Care Family! This product is available to order now.

Home Care Travel Kit

Clean your home, office or car with this powerful and convenient natural cleaning kit containing our most popular J.R. Watkins Natural Home Care products.

This travel pack is the perfect size for putting in your glove compartment for quick clean ups when you're on the go. The attractive packaging makes it ideal for use at the office to keep your work area neat and tidy. You'll get hooked on these safe cleaning products for your home, your family and the environment.

The Home Care Travel Kit will first be featured in the November Sales & Promotions Catalog.
Contains:
• 1 fl. oz. Lemon All-Purpose Cleaner*
• 1 fl. oz. Lavender Window Cleaner*
• 1 fl. oz. Orange Citrus Room Freshener*
• 1 fl. oz. Aloe & Green Tea Liquid Hand Soap
• 1 fl. oz. Lemon Liquid Laundry Detergent Packet♦

16706 Home Care Travel Kit — $7.99 USD
Order now at Home Care Travel Kit

* More than 250 Sprays! Adjust usage as needed.
♦ Enough laundry detergent for one load.

Order at http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney

2009 Seasonal Favorites Available Now!

Above are just a few of this year's Watkins 2009 Seasonal Favorites Gift products.

This year's 2009 Seasonal Favorites products are available to order now through December 2009. Most will be featured in the monthly highlights catalogs September through December.

Although these items are primarily designed for holiday gift-giving, they could be used (just like any other Watkins products) for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, or any other occasion.

Every year a few gift items run out well before the end of the season, so order early, and stock up especially if there are products that you really love!

Video and Audio Presentations of 2009 Watkins Seasonal Favorites.
http://www.tsgnet.com/90821a.php

Near the end of the presentation is information about the 2009 Seasonal Favorites Assortment available at a specially-discounted price if you join my Watkins team. This assortment is available until September 30. Email me for more information about this assortment and how to join my Watkins team eleisiawhitney@watkinsonline.com (Join with me as your sponsor at http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney under Join Us As an Associate. Please give my name and ID# as your sponsor, Eleisia Whitney ID# 335001.)

Presentations of US and Canadian 2009 Watkins Seasonal Favorites including product details and recipes.

US Presentation

Canadian Presentation

Order 2009 Seasonal Favorites products (under Gifts on the menu) as well as our complete product line at http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney , call 1-800-WATKINS (1-800-928-5467) and give my ID# 335001 as your associate, or mail your order to Watkins Incorporated and give my name and ID# as you associate, Eleisia Whitney ID# 335001. There is an order form in each mainline catalog and online at my Watkins web site http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney. You may also request a printed order form by emailing me at
eleisiawhitney@watkinsonline.com. I'll send an order form if you give me your name and mailing address.

Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.

"The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, "Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not." There are many other success principles but without self-discipline, none of theses principles work.

Excerpt from Introduction from The Power of Discipline By Brian Tracy

As an Independent Watkins Associate self-discipline is a very important attribute and key to your success.

Positive Attitude in Life and Business

In many ways, we're alike; however, one little difference almost always makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude.

William James, over a century ago, said, "The greatest discovery of this generation is that a human being can alter their life by altering their attitudes." I believe this with all my heart, and over the years have seen it happen countless times. What most people fail to realize is that your attitude not only impacts your happiness and your success, it also can impact the happiness and success of all the people around you...your family, your friends, and your peers at work. Attitudes truly are contagious, and from time to time we need to ask ourselves..."is mine worth catching?"

There is no way to overstate the importance of a positive attitude in your life. However, no one can underestimate the difficulty in maintaining it. It's not easy, and it's a very personal thing, but it can be done.

Mac Anderson - Simple Truths

Limited Time Offer $4.95 Shipping for Watkins Products

Limited Time Offer Get $4.95 Shipping on Online Orders of Watkins Products

From August 10 – 16, 2009 place an order of $60.00 or more in the US catalog or the Canadian catalog and you will pay only $4.95 for shipping and handling. That’s a $5.00 Saving! Order all of your favorite Watkins Products today and take advantage of the fantastic savings!

Save even more by taking advantage of our monthly specials!

Ways to Earn with Watkins

A Watkins Home Based Business offers several business-building methods to help you earn. You choose the methods that fit into your life style and schedule.

Living Naturally
Group events, presentations, and samplings present Watkins product and business opportunity to a group of people at the same time. These are very time effective methods for building your business and can represent significant "now money."

Public Events
Trade Shows, Public Displays, and Fairs bring the public to you. This is a fantastic fit for those who are free to work their business on the weekends and are willing to invest in inventory.

Online
Bring customers and prospects right in to your virtual home anytime of day! Work your business full or part-time when you like.

One-on-One

One-on-One: Present the product and business opportunity to individual prospects any time in any setting. This is a highly duplicable avenue for building your Watkins business.

Personal Presentations and Opinion Appointments: These methods almost always result in sales or sponsoring opportunities. People love to give their opinion, and they appreciate personalized service. Approaching people this way takes a bit more time since you are only talking to one or two people at a time.

Repeat business: Once you have established a customer, you can introduce them to other products. As they fall in love with the product, they may also be interested in exploring the business opportunity or will gladly refer you to others if you ask.

Out and about in daily activities: It's simple to "make friends" wherever you go. Most people are willing to share a smile or a comment with you, and these are the people you want to talk to! Decide to "make new friends" each time you're out. Your goal is just to get a name and phone number so you can follow up.

For more information about our products and home based business opportunity please visit http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney
http://www.vanillasage.com
http://www.everydaynecessities.com

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes

Your kids and grand kids won't believe there are veggies in these cupcakes, so don't tell them! They make a tasty treat after school, packed in lunches, family get togethers, or served as dessert after dinner.

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes
1-1/4 cups butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon Watkins Vanilla Extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Watkins Baking Cocoa
1 teaspoon Watkins Baking Powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 cup finely grated zucchini
1 cup finely grated carrots
1 can (16 ounces) chocolate frosting or home made frosting

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with yogurt, beating well after each addition. Fold in zucchini and carrots.

Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Frost cupcakes. Yield: 24 cupcakes.

Testing Baking Powder and Baking Soda

If you don't seem to have much success with making baked goods, there may be a simple answer - your baking powder and/or baking soda may not be fresh. The shelf life for these products is about 6 months, but here's how to test for freshness to be sure:

For baking powder, place 1 teaspoon baking powder in a cup and add 1/3 cup hot tap water.

For baking soda, place 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in a cup and add 2 teaspoons vinegar.

If active bubbling occurs, the products are fine to use. If not, they should be replaced. When buying a new can, check for an expiration date.

Order Watkins Baking Powder

Cooking Tip - Draining Fat From Ground Beef

We had spaghetti with meat sauce for dinner tonight. I almost always make my meat sauce from scratch with tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, ground beef and/or Italian sausage, mushrooms, minced garlic, basil, oregano, and onion flakes. Sometimes I add chopped onion and green pepper.

To remove as much fat as possible from the ground beef pour the cooked meat into a colander or spaghetti strainer while still hot. The fat drains from the meat, cutting the fat content in the sauce.

Around the Kitchen Table Newsletter - August 2009

Welcome to another issue of Around the Kitchen Table!

It's difficult for me to believe that August has arrived but that's what my calendar says, Tuesday August 4, 2009.

The new 2009 Watkins Midyear Catalog is available. Watkins has added a few new products and updated the packaging on others but there are no price increases!

Recipes this issue are Caramelized Beef Skewers, Tomato Zucchini Casserole, Summer Ice Cream Cake, and Gingersnap Ice Cream Sandwiches.

Caramelized Beef Skewers
1 lb. beef sirloin steak, thinly sliced
1/4 cup Watkins Steak Sauce, divided
1/4 cup Watkins Original Gourmet Barbecue Sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard

Heat grill to medium-high heat. Toss meat with 2 tablespoons steak sauce; let stand 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine remaining steak sauce, barbecue sauce and mustard.

Thread meat onto 8 skewers. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water 20-30 minutes before using.

Grill 6 minutes or until meat is done, turning after 3 minutes and brushing occasionally with barbecue sauce mixture.

Serve with hot cooked rice, a tossed green salad, and garlic bread.

August's Newsletter Giveaway is a bottle of Lavender Natural Room Freshener from our new all-natural plant-based home care products.

If you are considering a home based business please take a look at Watkins. I will give you a $30 gift certificate to buy products for yourself. Just join with me as your sponsor, Eleisia Whitney ID# 335001. Sign up at my business information web site http://www.vanillasage.com, at http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney under Join Us - As an Associate, or by calling Watkins at 1-800-928-5467. Give my name and ID# as your sponsor.

Read this issue now
http://www.everydaynecessities.com/august1-09newsletter.htm

Until next month,
Eleisia

July Gveaway Winner

July's Watkins Giveaway winner is Shirley from California. She wins a jar of Mandarin Orange Fruit Dip Mix. Mix with sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese or whipped topping for a luscious fruit dip. Mix with cream cheese for a bagel spread.