Welcome to another issue of Around the Kitchen Table!

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Check out all the July specials.

The recipes this issue include Chicken Newburg, Quick and Easy Salsa, Chex Barbecue Snack Mix, Firecracker Pasta Salad, Strawberry Banana Trifle, and Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes.

If you try one of the recipes found in this issue please send me an email to tell me how it turned out and if you would make the recipe again. I'll include your comments in the next issue.

Each month you could be chosen to receive a free full-sized product so enter the contest. You might be the winner!

Join Watkins for just $39.95. Watkins is giving a $10 Watkins gift certificate to each new associate who joins during July. Join for the 25% discount on your own products and earn a 25% commission on sales. If you are interested in starting your own Watkins Home Business get all the details at Watkins Business Details (http://www.vanillasage.com) or www.everydaynecessities.com. Join for the discount or for part time or full time income!

Build your own home-based 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,

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.

Join my Watkins Team today for just $39.95! Save 25% or more on Watkins products for yourself. Earn extra income or build a full-time residual income business. Our award-winning team offers excellent training with a proven plan for success and a FREE business-building web site! Visit www.vanillasage.com for free details with no pressure or obligation. Check out our 941 System with No Selling Required! Our new Watkinize Your Home bonus program can let you earn hundreds in cash when you help new associates Watkinize their homes. Celebrating 140 years of Quality, Integrity, and Value!

Watkins Summer Sizzler Special! If you join Watkins during July you will receive a $10 gift certificate from Watkins! And I will give each new associate who signs up with me as their sponsor a $20 gift certificate! That's $30 worth of Watkins gift certificates to buy products for yourself!

Double Strength Imitation Clear Vanilla Extract, 11 fl oz/325 ml - Save $1.00
01007 Regularly $9.99 - Special $8.99

Purest Granulated Black Pepper, Large Tin 12 oz/340 g - All-Natural - Save $3.00
01141 Regularly $15.49 - Special $12.49

Gourmet Extracts - 2 fl oz/59 ml
21380 Almond
21371 Butter Pecan
21383 Coconut
21365 Peanut Butter
Regularly $4.99 Special $4.59

21376 Vanilla Nut
Regularly $5.49 Special $5.09

Root Beer Extract - Limited Time - 2 fl oz/59 ml
21600 Regularly $4.99 Special $4.79

Italian Pepper
05969 Regularly $4.99 - Special $4.59

Organic Herbs and Spices in Tins
USDA Certified 100% Organic Spices
00503 Basil
00591 Chili Powder
11598 Cinnamon
00592 Cumin
00505 Curry Powder
00509 Dill
00500 Garlic Powder
00595 Ginger
00596 Mustard
00501 Onion Powder
00594 Oregano
00593 Paprika
00508 Parsley
00504 Rosemary
00506 Sage
00502 Thyme
Regularly $4.99 - Special $4.59 each

00507 Cloves
00590 Ground Black Pepper
Regularly $5.99 Special $5.59

00589 Nutmeg Regularly $6.49 Special $6.09

All-Natural Gourmet Herbs and Spices in Jars
01924 Celery Seed
01930 Garlic Flakes
01931 Garlic Granules
01933 Lemon Peel
01935 Minced Green Onion
01936 Mustard (Dry)
01938 Onion Flakes
01939 Onion Granules
01940 Orange Peel
01944 Red Pepper Flakes
Regularly $4.99 special $4.59

Pickling Spices
01978 Regularly $4.99 Special $4.69

Flavored Salts
01993 Butter Flavored Salt
01996 Celery Salt
01998 Garlic Salt
01997 Onion Salt
Regularly $4.99 Special $4.49

Economy Size Seasoning Salt
21992 Regularly $5.99 Special $5.49

Limited Edition Snack and Dip Seasonings - Save $.50
02070 Tomato and Basil
02059 Mandarin Orange
02071 Sesame and Garlic
Regularly $8.49 - Special $7.99 each

Fresh Wash Spray - Save!
02151 Regularly $7.99 - Special $7.49

02150 Fresh Wash Concentrate (Refill)
Regularly $9.99 - Special $9.19

Calypso Hot Pepper Sauce
01058 Regularly $4.99 Special $4.49

Jalapeno Hot Pepper Sauce
01046 Regularly $4.99 Special $4.49

Barbecue Sauce Concentrate - Save $1.00
01164 Original - classic, hearty flavor
01167 Mesquite - smoky Southwestern flavor
Regularly $7.99 Special $6.99 each

Soup and Gravy Bases
21175 Beef
21176 Chicken
21183 Cheese
21179 Cream
21177 Mushroom
21178 Onion
Regularly $8.49 special $7.79

Mexican Soup and Seasoning Base
21182 Regularly $8.49 special $7.79

Six Onion Soup Base
21183 $8.49 special $7.79

Good Tastings Bread Mix
02600 $4.99 or just $4.49 when you purchase two!

Watkins Red Liniment - Save $2.00
02316 Regularly $11.99 - Special $9.99

White Cream Liniment - Save $2.00
02316 Regularly $11.99 - Special $9.99

Superfood Multiple - Complete Multivitamin - Save $3.00
02260 (30-day supply) Regularly $26.99 - Special $23.99

Petro-Carbo First Aid Salve - Save $2.00
02372 Regularly $8.99 - Special $6.99

Menthol Camphor "Breath Easy" Relief Mist - Save $1.00
02340 Regularly $6.99 Special $5.99

Menthol Lavender "Breathe Easy" Drops - Save $1.00
02351 Regularly $10.49 Special $9.49

Supercold Cough Medicine
02326 $4.99 special $4.49

Cough Syrup and Decongestant
02320 Regularly $9.99 special $8.99

Hand and Body Lotions - 11 fl oz/325 ml
10470 Aloe and Green Tea
10525 Citrus and Chamomile
10486 Lavender
10487 Lemon Cream
10520 Mango
10474 Vanilla
Regularly $8.99 Special $8.49

All-Natural Body Oils
10513 Fragrance-free
10514 Lavender
10515 Lemon
Regularly $8.99 - Special $8.49 each

Natural Liquid Hand Soaps
13050 Aloe and Green Tea
13052 Lavender
13051 Lemon
Regularly $6.99 - Special $6.49 each

Lemon Automatic Dishwashing Detergent
100% chlorine and phosphate free
16780 (2 lbs. 14 oz/46 oz) $12.99

Lemon Liquid Laundry Concentrate
16741 (32 fl oz/946 ml) $12.99

Many other products are highlighted in the July Highlights Catalog and July Specials Online.

ENTER JULY CONTEST

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

June's winner is Marilyn from Missouri. She receives two of our award-winning products, a 2 oz tin of Watkins Ground Cinnamon and a 4 oz tin of Watkins Granulated Black Pepper.

July's winner will receive a bottle of Double-Strength Imitation Clear Vanilla Extract, 11 fl oz/325 ml.

• For wedding cakes and other baked goods, frostings, and candy that need to be pure white
• Bake-proof
• Freeze-proof
• Double-strength flavor

To enter July's contest email a money-saving grocery shopping tip. Email your answer with your name and address to eleisiawhitney@watkinsonline.com with "July Contest" in the subject line.

Here are some of the replies from June's question: "Has the higher price of gasoline affected your lifestyle?" How do you compare?

• Yes, the price of gasoline has effected our lifestyle. Anytime we drive to go shopping we manage to stop at as many stores that are in that particular area closeby as possible before leaving making it well worth our trip. We cut back on any uneccesary trips also. Our social life is also being affected. We manage to chose events closer to home. If there is an event we want to go to farther away from home we will see what else we can do in that area to make it worth the drive. Lilly from Pennsylvania

• Boy has it, but, in a positve way! We do more walking (Cheryl walks to work and since it is relatively close she says it works for her). We walk to the local park about 6 blocks away and enjoy the outdoors now that the weather has warmed up. Dana from California

• The higher cost of gas has somewhat affected our lifestyle. We are not canceling our family trips up north, but we are watching our other driving for the most part. Margaret from Wisconsin

• The higher cost of gasoline has definitely affected my lifestyle. I consolidate as many errands and trips as possible and won't be taking a vacation this year. We limited eating out to once a week and then to a cheap or fast food type restaurant to help offset the cost of gasoline. I've also taken other measures to help reduce some of the increased costs attributed to the raise in gasoline prices. I purchased some cheap washcloths which we now use instead of paper towels for all but the very messiest chores. I use folded newspapers to soak up grease when I am cooking with one paper towel over them and use the old newspapers when peeling items such as potatoes, etc. I then microwave the peelings for 2 minutes and give them to my chickens when they cool for a treat.

  These are just a few of the "belt tightening" things I've implemented to help offset the rising costs attributed to the increased cost of gasoline. Marilyn from Missouri

• The cost of gasoline has caused our family to curtail our driving somewhat and to plan our driving to get more errands done in one trip, but the greatest effect of the high cost of gasoline for us has been how it has caused the prices to go up on so many other things such as groceries, pet supplies, etc. Naomi from Michigan

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

TRIVIA QUIZ

The following events all took place during the same year. What year was it?

• Gerber sells 2 million cans and jars of baby food per week.
• The London Co-Operative Society opens the 1st full size supermarket in Britain.
• Nestle's Quik chocolate milk mix is introduced in the U.S.
• Campbell Soup Co. introduces V-8 Cocktail Vegetable Juice.
• The McDonald brother's turn their 8 year old hamburger stand into a self service restaurant.

Safe Meat Handling Tips

• Place meat package on a plate or in a container before placing in refrigerator to prevent juices from dripping onto other foods.
• Always defrost in the refrigerator.
• Always place cooked meat on a clean plate, not one that has been used for uncooked meat.

Egg Tips

• To test eggs for freshness, place the egg in a cup of water to which two teaspoonfuls of salt has been added. A fresh egg sinks; a doubter will float.
• Egg whites will beat faster and higher if you add a pinch of salt.

Adding Herbs, Spices, and Flavored Salts to Your Recipes

Pour the herb, spice, or flavored salt into your hand, the lid, or a measuring spoon and then pour into the pan. Otherwise, the herb, spice, or salt will absorb some of the steam from the food you are cooking and cause it to clump or clog in the jar.

Chicken Newburg

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 1/2 pounds)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon Watkins Granulated Pepper
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Watkins Thyme
1 1/2 cups shredded Colby cheese
Hot cooked rice or pasta

Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper and cut into 1-inch pieces. In large skillet, combine butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken; stir until cooked, about 6 to 8 minutes; remove from pan.

Add bell peppers; cook and stir for 3 to 4 minutes until crisp-tender; remove from pan. Add onion to skillet; cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to low and add milk, cream cheese, egg yolk, cornstarch, lemon juice and thyme. Cook, stirring constantly with wire whisk, until mixture is smooth and hot.

Add chicken and bell peppers to sauce; cook and stir over low heat 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cheese; cook and stir until melted, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Serve over hot cooked rice or pasta. Makes 6 servings

Quick and Easy Salsa

3 red tomatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), seeded, chopped and drained of some juice
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, minced (add to taste)
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon Watkins Cayenne Pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Combine all ingredients in medium bowl and mix gently. Cover and refrigerate up to 8 hours before serving. Makes 3 cups. Serve with tortilla chips or on tacos or burritos.

Chex Barbecue Snack Mix
Need something to munch on while grilling in the backyard or a snack for a video marathon? Mix up some for the Fourth of July.

3 cups Rice Chex cereal
3 cups Corn Chex cereal
1 1/2 cups bite-size pretzel twists
1 1/2 cups bite-size cheese crackers
3/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts
1/2 cup Watkins Barbecue Sauce prepared from 1/3 cup ketchup and 3 tablespoons Watkins Original Barbecue Sauce Concentrate
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon Watkins Organic Onion Powder
3/4 teaspoon Watkins Organic Garlic Powder

In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, pretzels, crackers and peanuts.

In medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients until well blended. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.

Microwave uncovered on High 7 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on foil or paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container. Makes 15 servings (1/2 cup each).

You can vary the flavor by using different barbecue sauce varieties or by trying different nuts in place of the peanuts.

A dash of Watkins Ground Red Pepper (cayenne) or a few drops of red pepper sauce turns this into Spicy Chex Barbecue Snack Mix.

Firecracker Pasta Salad

2 packages (9 ounces each) Refrigerated Three Cheese Tortellini prepared according to package directions, chilled
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 large cloves garlic finely chopped
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 medium tomatoes chopped
2 cups small broccoli florets
1 large green bell pepper chopped
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup halved ripe olives
1 teaspoon Watkins Season Salt
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon Watkins Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 cup (1.5 ounces) Refrigerated Freshly Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup (.75 ounce) Refrigerated Freshly Shredded Romano Cheese

Heat oil in small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute. Pour into large bowl; cool. Whisk in vinegar.

Add prepared pasta, tomatoes, broccoli, bell pepper, olives, onion, season salt, and red pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese and Romano cheese; toss well to coat. Refrigerate or serve immediately. Makes 8 servings.

Strawberry Banana Trifle
Bananas in the cake adds to the yumminess of this trifle.

Cake
2 bananas, peeled
3 egg whites
2 tablespoons oil
1 1/3 cups water
1 box (18.25 ounces) white cake mix

Filling and Fruit
2 boxes (3 ounces each) cook-and-serve vanilla or banana pudding mix
3-1/2 cups 2% low-fat milk
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
2 cups sliced strawberries, plus more for garnish
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon Watkins Vanilla Extract

1. Heat oven to 350 degree F. Line a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with nonstick foil. Set aside.
2. Cake: In a blender, combine 1-1/3 cups water, the bananas, egg whites and oil. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Place cake mix in a large bowl and add mixture from blender. With an electric mixer, beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase speed to high and beat 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degree F for 33 to 35 minutes.
3. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then, using foil, lift cake from pan and cool completely.
4. Filling and Fruit: Meanwhile, cook pudding mix with milk for 15 to 20 minutes over medium heat, until thickened and bubbly. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate 30 minutes.
5. Trim edges from cooled cake. Cut in half, then cut one half into cubes (about 20). Place in a trifle dish or bowl and press slightly to compress. Spoon 2 cups pudding over cake. Top with 1 sliced banana and 1 cup of the sliced strawberries. Cut second cake half into cubes and continue layering cake, pudding, bananas and strawberries.
6. Chill bowl and utensils so cream whips quickly. Whip cream with sugar and vanilla. Top cake, pudding, and fruit with whipped cream. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight. Makes 16 servings.

Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes

1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon Watkins Vanilla Extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Watkins Baking Cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup water

Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon Watkins Vanilla Extract
Chocolate sprinkles

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beating well after each addition.

Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, in a small mixing bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate, milk, and vanilla. Frost cupcakes; garnish with chocolate sprinkles. Yield: 2 dozen.

If you've been a subscriber for a while you may remember that last year we had three families of doves in the nest near our front door. The nest is protected from wind, sun, and rain and the birds love it! This year the housefinches decided to make the nest their home. They've added other plant material to make it nice and cozy.

Visit Project FeederWatch for more information and to find out how you can become a citizen scientist and count the birds you your own backyard!

Find out more about this year's Backyard Bird Count at www.birdcount.org.

Visit my birdwatching blog California Birdwatching for pictures of my backyard friends.

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

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 and Canada 1-800-928-5467
Please give them my ID# 335001 when ordering.

US Orders 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.

Canadian Orders by Mail:
Mail your order with check or money order to:
Watkins Incorporated
277 Hutchings Street
Winnipeg, MB R2X2R4
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 for as little as $39.95 plus tax. Our new Membership Package and Optional Upgrade Assortments allow you more flexibility. Join for the 25% discount or for part time or full time income.

Join with the Membership Package and then choose none, one, or all of the optional assortments.

• Watkinize Your Home Assortment #09834 US / #09835 Canada
  Cost $349.00 USD / $449.00 CAD
  Total Assortment Value Value - $625.28 USD / $789.38 CAD
  Assortment of 52 Watkins products, free E-Associate Web Site and three months web maintenance free, chance to earn WYH bonus payouts

• New Associate Gift Certificate Assortment #09824 US / #09825 Canada
  Cost $129.00 USD / $159.00 CAD
  $200 USD/ $250 CAD Watkins Gift Certifcate
  Total Assortment Value $200 USD / $250 CAD

• New Associate Good Tastings Assortment #77066 US / #77067 Canada
  Cost $69.95 USD / $81.95 CAD
  Good Tastings Quarterly Assortment and $50 USD/ $60 CAD Watkins Gift Certificate
  Total Assortment Value Value - $130 USD / $171 CAD

Assortment details, pdf file Membership Package and Assortments

The Watkins Company is beginning its 140th 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 140 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 2002-2008
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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