Welcome to another issue of Around the Kitchen Table!

Today is April 1st, April Fool's Day! I didn't include anything in this issue to fool you. I'm sending you wishes for a wonderful spring day with blooming flowers, chirping birds, and love and laughter.

Recipes this issue include Velvety Chocolate Cream Pie, Coconut Marshmallow Nests, Cherry Cheese Squares, Chicken Tortilla Soup, and Tex-Mex Carnitas.

Send in your recipe using Watkins products. You could win a KitchenAid Mixer or a Watkins gift certificate. Recipes must be received at Watkins by April 30. Details in this issue.

Start planning now for your summer get togethers. Watkins large size Snack and Dip Seasonings are on sale this month, save $1.50 each! My favorites are Cucumber and Dill and Salsa and Sour Cream. Just mix with sour cream, yogurt, or pureed cottage cheese for a chip or vegetable dip. The Garden Vegetable has a new improved flavor.

Since I'm a Mom, Mother's Day is one of my favorite days of the year. The winner of this month's newsletter contest will win a special sampler of Watkins products to arrive for Mother's Day, May 13. Indulge yourself or share with your mother.

If you are interested in starting your own Watkins Home Business get all the details at: Watkins Business Details Join for the discount, for part time income, or a full time career!

Build your own home business so you can stay home with your family, save for your children's college fund, retire early, pay off bills, or save for retirement. With consistent effort you can build a thriving business! Let me help you.

I love to hear from you. Any suggestions to make this newsletter more informative and helpful are appreciated.

Make your house a Watkins home.

Until next issue,

Eleisia
eleisiawhitney@watkinsonline.com

VanillaSage Blog

Please share this newsletter with your friends. Help me grow my subscribers. The web address is http://www.everydaynecessities.com/atktnewsletter.htm Thanks!

Privacy Statement - We never share your personal information with anyone else.

I hope all you good cooks out there enter this contest! I would be very proud to see your name as a winner. If you enter a recipe please give my Watkins ID# 335001.

Good Tastings Recipe Drawing

Good Tastings by Watkins would like to celebrate all the fabulous tastes that come from your kitchen. We want to invite you to share your favorite recipes with us, so we're holding the first ever Good Tastings recipe drawing!

Prizes
1st place: KitchenAid Mixer and $200 US/$250 CDN in your choice of free Watkins products
2nd place: $150 US/$190 CDN in your choice of free Watkins products
3rd place: $100 US/$125 CDN in your choice of free Watkins products

To qualify for the recipe drawing, submissions must:

• Enter Associates ID (my ID is 335001)
  
• Contain 10 or fewer ingredients
  
• Utilize at least 2 current Watkins products
  
• Include complete recipe information with ingredients and accurate measurements
  
• Be free of any copyright restrictions*

Submit your Recipe More details here.

05618 (200 g/7.0 oz) Regularly $7.99 each Special $7.49

Turn any meal into a Mexican fiesta! Chili peppers, onion, garlic, tomato and other natural spices are perfectly blended into a versatile soup and seasoning base that can be used to make classic Mexican or tortilla soup, or as a seasoning mix for tacos and other Mexican dishes. You can even turn ordinary tomato sauce into enchilada sauce, or mix with sour cream for a spicy Mexican dip. See recipes below.

Limited Edition Dips - Back by popular demand!
Regularly $8.49 - Special $7.29 each

02070 Tomato and Basil
02059 Mandarin Orange
02071 Sesame and Garlic

Gourmet Seasoning Blends
Regularly $4.99 - Special $4.09 each

01959 Chili Seasoning
01967 Fajita Seasoning
01989 Fish and Seafood Seasoning
01976 Meatloaf Seasoning
01979 Pizza Seasoning
01983 Salsa Seasoning

Purest Granulated Black Pepper-All-Natural - Save $2.00
01141 (340 g/12 oz) Regularly $13.99 - Special $11.99

Flavored Salts - Save $1.20
Regularly $4.99 - Special $3.79 each

01993 Butter Flavored Salt
01996 Celery Salt
01998 Garlic Salt
01997 Onion Salt
01992 Seasoning Salt

Gourmet Snack and Dip Seasonings - Save $1.50!
Regularly $8.49 - Special $6.99 each

02050 Bacon and Cheddar
02051 Bacon and Horseradish
02068 Bacon and Onion
02069 Blazin’ Cajun
02054 Crab
02055 Cucumber and Dill
02056 Garden Vegetable-New improved flavor!
02057 Garlic and Dill
02062 Salsa and Sour Cream
02065 Tomato and Horseradish

Mexican Soup and Seasoning Base - NEW!
05618 Regularly $7.99 - Special $7.49

Tropical Salsa
01057 Regularly $7.99 - Special $6.99

Calypso Hot Pepper Sauce
01058 Regularly $4.99 - Special $3.29

Jalapeño Hot Pepper Sauce
01046 Regularly $4.99 - Special $3.29

All-Natural Grapeseed Oils for dipping and cooking
(375 mL/12.7 fl oz) Regularly $10.99 - Special $10.49 each

01535 Original
01528 Citrus and Cilantro
01527 Garlic and Parsley

Gourmet Extracts and Flavors
(59 mL/2 fl oz) Regularly $4.99 - Special $4.49 each

21392 Butter
21398 Chocolate
21385 Maple
21388 Peppermint
21391 Rum
21375 Vanilla (Clear)

Regularly $5.49 - Special $4.99
21390 Vanilla (Original Double-Strength)

Baker’s-Size Extracts
(180 mL/6 fl oz) Regularly $8.99 - Special $8.29 each

01191 Almond
01192 Butter
01194 Coconut
01195 Lemon

Regularly $10.49 - Special $9.29
01196 Vanilla (Original Double-Strength)

Regularly $16.99 - Special $16.29
01197 Pure Vanilla

Rezist Plus
02272 Regularly $18.99 - Special $17.99

Brain Plus
02275 Regularly $20.99 - Special $18.99

Fruit/Veggie Complex
02268 Regularly $16.99 - Special $15.99

Children’s Chewable
02271 Regularly $9.99 - Special $8.99

Skin, Hair and Nails - Save $4.00
02270 Regularly $13.99 - Special $9.99

SoyNilla
02090 $10.99 Buy the second SoyNilla for $5.49

Bee Pollen Complex
01446 Regularly $9.99 - Special $8.99

Aloe Vera Supplements
Aloe Vera Juice
01468 946 mL/32 fl oz Regularly $5.99 - Special $4.99

Aloe Vera Juice
01461 3.8 L/1 U.S. gallon Regularly $15.99 - Special $14.99

Aloe Vera Gel Capsules
01460 Regularly $17.99 - Special $16.99

Hand and Body Lotions
Regularly $8.99 - Special $8.49 each

10470 Aloe and Green Tea
10525 Citrus and Chamomile
10486 Lavender
10487 Lemon Cream
10520 Mango
10474 Vanilla

Vanilla Cologne Mist - Save $3.00
02974 Regularly $15.99 - Special $12.99

Buy the regular size of any of our three hand salves and get the matching travel size at a great savings!
Lavender All-Natural Hand and Cuticle Salves
60481 $6.99 each

Lavender Travel Size
60518 (7 g/.25 oz) $3.79 or just $2.54 each with purchase of regular size

Red Clover Hand and Cuticle Salve
60480 $6.99 each

Red Clover Travel Size
60517 (7 g/.25 oz) $3.79 or just $2.54 with purchase of regular size

All-Natural Body Oils
Regularly $8.99 - Special $8.49 each

10513 Fragrance-free
10514 Lavender
10515 Lemon

Menthol Camphor “Breathe Easy” Relief Mist - Save $1.00
02340 Regularly $6.99 - Special $5.99

Relief Drops - Save $1.50
02351 Regularly $10.49 - Special $8.99

Menthol Camphor Ointment and Rub - Save $1.00
02358 Regularly $8.99 - Special $7.99

Beef, Iron & Wine Tonic - Save $1.00
02330 Regularly $11.99 - Special $10.99

Settelz - Save $1.00
02300 Regularly $7.99 - Special $6.99
Please note: The product number for Settelz was incorrectly printed as 32300 in the April Highlights Catalog.

Orange Citrus Candle - Save $1.00
06705 Regularly $8.99 - Special $7.99

Orange Citrus Premium Room Freshener
06624 Regularly $6.99 - Special $5.99

Odor Zap - Limited Quantities
06732 Regularly $8.99 - Special $8.49

Odor Chek - Limited Quantities
Regularly $8.49 - Special $7.99

Odor Trap - Limited Quantities
Regularly $4.99 - Special $4.49

Concentrated Degreaser
06785 Regularly $9.99 - Special $9.24

Concentrated Organic Cleaner
06787 Regularly $9.99 - Special $9.24

Many other products are featured in the April Highlights Catalog and April Specials Online.

JOB TITLE: Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Lifelong, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. (Travel expenses not reimbursed.) Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Applicant must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Applicant must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly as well as possess the physical stamina of a pack mule. Additional responsibilities include: A willingness to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. An ability to screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. An ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. A willingness to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Handling assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices not essential but highly desirable. Applicant should always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. It is also essential that applicant assume final and complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

ENTER APRIL CONTEST

Thanks for reading my newsletter and entering each month. Please don't quit; you might be next month's winner!

Lilly from Pennsulvania is the winner of the March newsletter contest. She wins a bottle or Mandarin Orange Snack and Dip Mix.

Her "new product" suggestion:
I would like to see a product "Watkins Cranberry Crystals." I think it would be a wonderful compliment to many recipes. This would suit both the gourmet ingredient and natural remedy product line.

Thanks Lilly!

The winner of the April newsletter contest will win a sampler of five Watkins products - White Chocolate Almond Cocoa Mix, Shredsoap Linen Spray, Lemon Hand and Cuticle Salve, Lavender Mint Bath Salts, and Mango Shea Butter Hand Repair Moisturizer. The winner will be chosen May 1st and the sampler will arrive for Mother's Day for you to indulge yourself or to share with your Mother. You don't have to answer any questions, just email your name and address to: eleisiawhitney@watkinsonline.com with "April Contest" in the subject line.

Make your life the best it can be. Eat nutritious foods, exercise, love, and laugh!

Chocolate Boost

Coat the inside of a grahm cracker crust with a thin layer of melted chocolate. Allow to set; then add your favorite filling.

The pineapple is a favorite tropical fruit that, when ripe, provides a sweet and tangy taste. An excellent source of manganese and vitamin C, fresh pineapple is also a good source of bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory that is helpful for addressing the symptoms of sinusitis, gout, arthritis, and swelling and bruising. Eat it plain, in a smoothie or fruit salad, or use in relishes or to add sweetness to dishes such as pizza.

Velvety Chocolate Cream Pie

1 9-inch pie crust, baked and cooled
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup Watkins Cocoa
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, beaten
3 cups milk
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons Watkins Vanilla Extract
Whipped topping
Additional semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Prepare pie crust, cool.
2. Stir together sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt in medium saucepan. Combine eggs and milk; gradually stir into sugar mixture, blending well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with wire whisk, just until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat.
3. Add chocolate chips, butter and vanilla. Stir until chips and butter are melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour into prepared crust. Immediately press plastic wrap onto pie surface. Refrigerate three to four hours or until firm. Garnish with whipped topping and chocolate chips. 8 servings.

Variation - Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie - Prepare pie as above; stir in 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes with chocolate chips and butter.

Coconut Marshmallow Nests

1/2 teaspoon water
3 to 4 drops green or other food color
1-1/4 cups sweetened coconut flakes
2/3 cup miniature marshmallows
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon butter
Candy-Coated Milk Chocolate Eggs

1. Combine water and food color in small bowl or small jar with cover or re-sealable plastic bag. Add coconut; toss with fork or shake closed jar or plastic bag until coconut is evenly coated.
2. Microwave marshmallows and butter in medium microwave-safe bowl 30 seconds at HIGH (100%); stir. If necessary, microwave an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until mixture is melted and smooth when stirred. Stir in tinted coconut.
3. Line tray or cookie sheet with wax paper. Drop coconut mixture in 12 equal mounds onto prepared tray. Shape coconut mounds with moistened fingers into small nest shapes. Cool completely. Allow to air dry until slightly hardened. Fill with milk chocolate eggs.

Cherry Cheese Squares

1 1/4/ 325 ml all-purpose flour
1/2 cup/125 ml brown sugar
1/2 cup/125 ml vegetable shortening
1/2 tsp/2.5 ml Watkins Butter Extract (6 oz/180 ml on sale this month)
1/2 cup/125 ml flaked coconut
1/2 cup/125 ml finely chopped almonds

2 packages (8 oz/227 g each) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup/160 ml sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp/10 ml Watkins Original Double-Strength Vanilla (6 oz/180 ml on sale this month)

1 or 2 cans (21 oz/595 g each) cherry pie filling
1/2 to 1 stp/205 to 5 ml) Watkins Almond Extract (6 oz/180 ml on sale this month)
1/2 cup/125 ml slivered almonds

Combine frour and brown sugar; cut in shortening and butter extract until fine crumbs form. Stir in coconut and finely chopped almonds. Reserve 1/2 cup/125 ml mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture into bottom of greased 9 x 13 inch/23 x 33 cm baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F/180 degrees C for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in mixing bowl until smooth. Spread over hot crust. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Combine pie filling and almond extract and spread on top of cream cheese mixture. Combined reserved crumbs and slivered almonds; sprinkle over cherries. Bake 15 minutes more. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate until serving time. Cut into squares.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
6 cups water
3/4 cup Watkins Mexican Soup and Seasoning Base (on sale this month)
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can beans - kidney, pinto, black
1 can corn, drained
Tortilla chips

Bring water to a boil and add Mexican soup base. Reduce heat. Add diced tomatoes, beans, and corn. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Ladle into bowls and top with crushed tortilla chips.

Tex-Mex Carnitas

3 tbsp/45 ml Watkins Salsa and Sour Cream Snack and Dip Seasoning (on sale this month)
1 cup/250 ml sour cream
1/3 cup/80 ml onion, chopped
3 tbsp/45 ml Watkins Garlic and Parsley Grapeseed Oil (on sale this month)
2 lbs/908 g pork, cut into small strips
1 cup/250 ml water
1tbsp/15 ml tomato paste
1/3 cup/80 ml Watkins Mexican Soup and Seasoning Base (on sale this month)
12 flour tortillas

Mix Snack and Dip Seasoning with sour cream and chill for 30 minutes to blend flavors.

In a large saucepan over medium heat cook the onions in oil until tender. Add pork and brown meat. Once the meat has browned add water, tomato paste, and seasoning mix and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Stir occasionally. The meat will begin to shred as it becomes tender. Fill tortillas with meat and your favorite toppings and roll. Serve with salsa and sour cream mixture.

Spicy Mexican Dip

3 tbsp/45 ml Watkins Mexican Soup and Seasoning Base (on sale this month)
1 cup/250 ml sour cream

Add Mexican Seasoning to sour cream and chill 30 minutes to blend flavors. Serve with tortilla chips or vegetables.

Seasoning Mix for Tacos

1 lb/450 g ground beef or turkey
1/3 cup/80 ml Watkins Mexican Soup and Seasoning Base (on sale this month)
3/4 cup/180 ml water

Brown ground beef or turkey in a large skillet on medium heat. Drain fat. Stir in Mexican Soup Base and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use for tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.

Where did all the birds go?

While it is impossible for us to know the cause of each local increase and decline, there are several common causes for bird population fluctuations.

• Habitat changes affect bird populations. If there has been a change in your neighborhood, such as trees being cut down or new houses being built, that could be the reason you are seeing a decrease in birds.

• Natural food supplies - such as cones, berries, seeds, and insects - fluctuate from year to year, causing birds to shift ranges to take advantage of food surpluses or to compensate for food shortages.

• Weather patterns often cause birds to shift ranges, especially in winter.

• Birds of prey sometimes move into an area causing the local birds to feed elsewhere until the predator moves on.

Bird populations normally fluctuate from one season to the next and from one year to the next. Sometimes, however, there are significant, long-term changes in the numbers of particular birds in certain areas.

Top 25 bird lists by state and region for the 2005-2006 season are now online.
View lists of the most common feeder birds in each state or province.

Map of FeederWatch Count Sites

rightbird.com
for information about familiar and unfamiliar birds. Instantly see illustrations of birds that match the attributes you select. The more characteristics you know, the narrower the search is for the "right bird." Includes audible bird call samples.

Project FeederWatch

CUSTOMER REWARDS

I'd like to reward my Watkins customers.

Become a Member of my Watkins $100 Club!

Each time your product total reaches $100.00 in one year, you will receive a gift certificate for $10.00 off your next Watkins order. (Total does not include shipping and sales tax.) This total is accumulative - you do not have to order $100 worth of Watkins products in one order. I keep a total of the products you purchase and when your total reaches $100 I will send you a $10 gift certificate! January 1 begins a new year.

Ask your family and friends if they would like to order Watkins products with you. If your order is $99 US or $125 CDN your shipping is free!

Order Online:
Watkins

Order by Phone:
Toll-Free Ordering at:
US 1-800-247-5907
Canada 1-800-665-5756
Please give them my ID# 335001 when ordering.

Order by Mail:
Mail your order with check or money order to:
Watkins Incorporated
P.O. Box 5570
Winona, MN 55987-0570
Please give them my ID# 335001 when ordering.

Get FREE SHIPPING on orders over:
$99.00 in US
$125.00 in Canada

The Watkins Business Opportunity

Start your own home-based business with Watkins. We offer several assortments to join Watkins and the Summit Group.

1. The Good Tastings Starter Kit - $99.00 US; $125.00 Canada (plus tax and shipping)
   
2. The Business Introduction Package - $59.95; $69.00 Canada (plus tax and shipping)
   Assortment details, pdf file Assortments

Please rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder.

Just click on this link and "Cast Your Vote." Please vote. You can vote once a day. Your votes help me to increase my subscribers.
Thank you. I appreciate your support.

The Watkins Company is beginning its 138th year of providing outstanding products that people use every day. What other company has such a history of experience, success, and integrity?

Get all the details today! Watkins Home Business

Or contact me at: eleisiawhitney@watkinsonline.com

DID YOU KNOW THAT WATKINS:

• Offered the first known money-back guarantee?
  
• Had two leaders presented in Success Magazines We Create Millionaires article on MLM?
  
• Is 138 years old?
  
• Was rated as one of 5 Hot Home Based Companies in Executive Female Magazine?
  
• Was listed in the A list of Top Network Marketing Companies in Downline News Magazine?

Dont let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway. We might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. - Earl Nightingale

If anything in this newsletter has added a little spice to your life tell me about it. If you have any other helpful hints for using spices and herbs, share them with our readers. Email me at: eleisiawhitney@watkinsonline.com

If you would like to receive a Watkins Monthly Highlights catalog, our Watkins Mainline catalog, and a FREE sample please send your request to eleisiawhitney@watkinsonline.com

Hope to see you next month!
Eleisia Whitney
Independent Watkins Associate, ID# 335001
23 Oak Ridge Lane
Danville, CA 94506

Watkinize Your Life

Copyright 2002-2007
Around the Kitchen Table

The statements made and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the Independent Watkins Associate who is the publisher of this document, and are not to be construed as the statements or opinions of Watkins Incorporated. Sponsoring or selling Watkins products outside U.S.,U.S.Territories and Canada is strictly prohibited. Contests and prizes are provided by Eleisia Whitney and not Watkins, Inc. or other Independent Associates.

Please give my name and email address if you decide to join.

Original Country Clipart by Lisa

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