Easy Entertaining Tips

B.L.T. BURGERS:
Mix hamburger with Ground Beef Seasoning &
grill. Top with Bacon & Cheddar Snack & Dip Mix (prepared according
to package directions; garnish with lettuce & tomato).

CREAMY SALAD DRESSING:
Combine 1/2 c mayonnaise, 1/3 c
lowfat milk, 2 tsp vinegar and 2-3 tsp (to taste) of any of the following
Snack & Dip Mixes: Cucumber Dill, Pepper Ranch, Garden
Vegetable or Garlic & Dill.

SAVORY MEAT MARINADE:
Combine 1-2 TBSP Soy
Sauce , 2 TBSP Watkins Meat Magic, 1/4 c Watkins
Garlic & Parsley Grapeseed Oil, 1 tsp each of Watkins Lemon Pepper
and Garlic Granules. Marinate 2-3 hours, turning occasionally.
Broil or grill.

LEMON-PEPPER BUTTER PATS:
Soften butter, then add
Lemon Pepper. Spread on a sheet of waxed paper; cover with another
sheet and refrigerate until firm. Place on hard surface & cut
into desired shapes (small cookie cutters work great). Excellent on
fish or grilled steaks.

A Slippery Solution!

Did you know that a can of Watkins Cooking Spray in your cupboard has other uses you may have
never considered? You can spray it on measuring spoons before measuring sticky foods like molasses
and honey and they will easily slide off. You can also spray your knives before chopping dates or other
dried fruits. Also, it can be sprayed on cheese graters to prevent the cheese from sticking.

Environmentally friendly cleaning tips:

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 countertops.
• 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.

Twelve Common Spices

Spices make the difference between an okay meal and simply delicious dinner.

There is a whole world of spices to flavor food and they can be confusing. You see a recipe, buy the special spice and very likely never use it again. Let's review the twelve common spices you may want to keep on hand.


Bay Leaf -- primarily for fish dishes, meats, veggies, soups, stews, marinades and sauces, even custards

Basil -- for sauces, particularly tomato based

Black Pepper or Peppercorns -- Use fresh peppercorns and a good pepper mill over already ground black pepper.
(Watkins Black Pepper is not ground)

Cayenne Pepper -- ground chili pepper; adds some heat when needed; adds a sparkling of piquancy

Cumin -- common in Mexican, Tex-Mex and Indian dishes

Curry Powder -- Indian/Asian blend of spices; used for flavoring soups, rice salads, tacos and certain meat dishes

Dill -- potato salads, cream sauces, fish dishes

Nutmeg -- versatile basic from stews to baking cakes, cookies, pies

Oregano -- pungent, spicy flavor perfect for tomato based sauces, eggplant, seafood and grilled meats

Rosemary -- for marinating fish or meat; sprinkle on roasted chicken or lamb and in stews

Sage -- for stuffings, roasts, vegetables

Thyme -- very basic; brings an earthy flavor to meat, poultry, veggies; also used in sauces, soups, stuffings and seafood

All spices (herbs) should be stored in small airtight jars in a cool, dark place as heat, moisture and sunlight reduce their flavor. For instance, do not keep them on top or on the side of the stove. Spices should be kept in tightly closed jars to preserve freshness, and use dried spices with a light touch. You always can add more, but you can't take it away.

Spring Cleaning Time Is Almost Here!

The kitchen and the bathroom are two of the most popular - and dirtiest - rooms in
the home. Use these great cleaning tips to keep your high traffic kitchen and bathrooms
clean and fresh, naturally. No kitchen should be without J.R. Watkins

• All-Purpose Cleaner — Clean appliance
knobs, cracks and grooves with a
cotton swab dipped in J.R. Watkins
Natural All-Purpose Cleaner. Before
cleaning any appliance please remember
to unplug it.

• All-Purpose Wipes — Door knobs
and electrical switch plates need to be
cleaned just like the rest of the house
and they can be especially messy in the
kitchen. However, for safety reasons, it
is never a good idea to spray cleaning
solution directly on an electrical switch
or outlet. Instead, use J.R. Watkins
Aloe and Green Tea All-Purpose
Wipes for safe, easy cleaning.

• Liquid Dish Soap — To naturally
clean your dishes, fill your kitchen sink
with water and a bit of J.R. Watkins
Dish Soap (your favorite scent), let
your dishes soak while you tend to
other task. When you return, those
greasy pans and dishes will clean-up
effortlessly.

• Liquid Hand Soap — Dishes are not
the only thing that need to be washed.
Keep J.R. Watkins Hand Soaps close
to your kitchen sink for quick hand
cleanings that leave your hands feeling
soft and refreshed.

Bathroom cleaning tips
• Keep a small basket of your cleaning
supplies in the bathroom cabinet for
quick regular cleaning. This way, you
can quickly create a sparkling bathroom
at the last minute for unexpected
company.

• For daily toothpaste spills and shaving
cream messes, keep a pack of Watkins
All-Purpose Wipes in your bathroom
cabinet or under the sink. Each day
before you leave the bathroom, grab a
wipe and give your counter and sink
area a good quick once over. Less than
a minute a day will keep your bathroom looking great!

• Watkins All-Purpose Cleaners are great for cleaning
out cosmetic drawers, medicine cabinets or bathroom
closets shelves.

• Never let bathroom chores build up, regular cleaning is
much better for your home, your family and the environment!

"Fast Facts & Tips!" About Watkins Products

One teaspoon of Watkins Liquid Garlic Spice is equal to 8 cloves of garlic?

Watkins Cinnamon is so pure and sweet that many diabetics love it by itself for cinnamon toast and over hot cereals to get flavour without added sugar?

Two tablespoons of Watkins Double-Strength White Vanilla added to a can of paint, will eliminate most of the paint smell? - and will not discolor your paint!

If you spray the blades of your lawn mower with Watkins Cooking Spray, the grass will not stick as badly and it will protect your blades?

Watkins Baking Powder is actually a "double-rising" baking powder? ... and because it does not contain aluminum, most people do not suffer from heartburn?

Watkins Snack & Dip Seasonings can be used in MANY different ways - as dip (of course!), and also for making cheese balls, sprinkled over baked potatoes, as 'shake & bake' for flavoured potato wedges or fries, and even as salad dressings by mixing according to directions and then diluting with milk?

Watkins Red Clover Salve is wonderful for use on babies for cradle cap or baby-acne?

Watkins Peppermint Foot Care products contain real peppermint oil to freshen while they soften?

Watkins Medicated Ointment is not just for winter? It's wonderful for putting on bug-bites, aching muscles, and even sinus headaches!

Household Tips Featuring Watkins Products

• Spread some ground cinnamon where you think the ants are coming in to the house.
• Use half vanilla (has to be pure vanilla) and half water and for a mosquito and tick repellent.
• Sprinkle ground cayenne pepper around the garage (inside & out), and especially near entry holes. Pests don't care for the smell of it.
• Mice hate the scent of peppermint extract. Simply sprinkle *pure* peppermint extract on the items in your garage you don't want the mice in or on.
• For a fresh smelling fridge,a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract inside of it.
• Lemon extract will remove scuff marks from luggage.
• Place bay leaves in kitchen drawers and in flour and sugar sacks to keep crawling insects away.
• Add a few drops of vanilla extract (essence) to the paint when stirring or mixing. This will remove the unpleasant smell but won't affect your color.
• Flavoured mayonnaise may be made by adding crushed dried desired herbs.
• To remove smells from the microwave place a drop or two of vanilla extract on the turntable - remember to wipe it off before you next use the microwave.

Unexpected Ways to use Vanilla Extract

Freshen up the fridge

Having trouble getting rid of that bad odor in your refrigerator, even after scrubbing it out? Wipe down the inside of the fridge with vanilla extract. To prolong the fresh vanilla scent, soak a cotton ball or a piece of sponge with vanilla extract and leave it in the refrigerator.

Deodorize your microwave

Is the odor of fish, or some other strong smell, lingering in your microwave? Pour a little vanilla extract in a bowl and microwave on High for one minute. Now, that's better.

Neutralize the smell of fresh paint

If you would rather not have the unpleasant smell of fresh paint in your house, mix 1 tablespoon vanilla extract into the paint can when you open it. The house will smell delicious!

Sweeten the smell of your home

It's an old Realtor's trick. Put a drop or two of vanilla extract on a lightbulb, turn on the light, and your house will be filled with the appealing scent of baked goods in the oven.

Use as perfume

Try it! Just put a dab of vanilla extract on each wrist. You'll smell delicious, and many people find the scent of vanilla to be very relaxing.

Repel bugs

Everybody likes the smell of vanilla. Everybody but bugs, that is. Dilute 1 tablespoon vanilla extract with 1 cup water and wipe the mixture on your exposed skin to discourage mosquitoes, blackflies, and ticks.

Relieve minor burns
Yee-oow! You accidentally grabbed a hot pot or got splattered with grease in the kitchen. Grab the vanilla extract for quick pain relief. The evaporation of the alcohol in the vanilla extract cools the burn.

From the book Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things