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 Special Price Offers for
February!
(Click on your flag to view our
"supermarket specials")
 Please don't be shy to share this newsletter with all
of your friends and family! Just click on the "Tell a Friend" link
at the top!
Spring,
Summer, Autumn, Winter
and Introducing Our Newest Season
... Cold & Flu!!!
We
all know how important washing our hands (often!!) is in the prevention
of colds and flu making their way into our home - but what about the fresh
fruits and vegetables we all buy to help keep our family
healthy?!
 Did you know that it is estimated that anywhere from 10 - 20
people handle your fresh apples, broccoli, tomatoes, etc. before they get
to the shelf in your supermarket - and then the "pickers" get involved and
who knows HOW many hands that adds?! ... And ALL of those hands have one
thing in common - You don't know where they've been!!!
Why take an
unnecessary chance with your family's healthy? Watkins Fresh Wash is
laboratory-proven to remove up to 99% of all surface contaminants,
pesticides AND bacteria - a whopping 400% better than water alone!
If you don't have a bottle in your cupboard now, you'll want
to be sure to include one on your next order!
 When
people think of using
Watkins to raise funds for their favourite charity or non-profit organization, the
first picture that comes to mind is having to distribute lots of
catalogues, collect lots of orders, collect money, deliver lots of products - and
ultimately create LOTS of WORK!
... We would
like to welcome you (and your favourite charity or non-profit
organization) to 21st Century Watkins!
Now
your organization can use their favourite and traditional Watkins Quality
and Value to raise funds in the most Hi-Tech manner - for
FREE!!
 Providing added value is what the Watkins experience
is all about and what keeps our customers coming back year after
year - generation after generation!
Here are
some great tips that have been shared by Watkins Customers and
Associates over the years that we've “Watkinized” just a tad.
Something you can stick to your refrigerator or store in a cookbook -
and of course, forward along to all of your friends and
family! Enjoy!
- Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to
prevent ice cream drips.
- Use a meat baster to “squeeze” your pancake batter onto the hot
griddle and you'll get perfectly shaped pancakes every time ...
and don't forget to use Watkins Extracts
for adding that extra special flavor.
- To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the
potatoes.
- To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the
water before hard-boiling.
- Give your hands a shot of Watkins Cooking
Spray before pressing Rice Krispie treats in the pan and the
marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.
- To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room
temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter
before squeezing.
- To easily remove burnt food from your skillet, simply add a drop
or two of Watkins Degreaser and enough water to
cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on the stove-top.
- Spray your plastic storage containers with Watkins Cooking Spray before pouring in
tomato-based sauces and there won't be any stains.
- When a cake/loaf recipe calls for flouring the pan, use a bit of
the dry mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of
the loaf/cake.
- If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking,
drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an
instant “fix me up.”
- After cleaning with Watkins Fresh Wash , wrap celery in aluminum foil when
putting in the refrigerator, and it will keep for weeks.
- Brush some beaten egg white over piecrust before baking to yield
a beautiful glossy finish.
- Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.
- When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring
out the corn's natural sweetness.
- To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of
cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the
surface, it's old.
- Don't throw away all that leftover wine:
freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces, and even
as a quick 'cool-down' to a glass of wine served at room
temperature!
- If you have a problem opening a jar try using latex dishwashing
gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
- To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the
area, and you will experience instant relief, and then apply Watkins Petro Carbo Salve or Medicated Ointment .
- When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape
before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape
over the splinter, then pull it off and apply Petro
Carbo Salve . Scotch tape removes most splinters quickly and
Petro Carbo will remove any remnants painlessly.
Chocolate
... some
"sweet" surprises!
- One plain milk
chocolate bar contains more protein than a banana.
- Chocolate is
always included on every space flight by both America and Russia.
- The first "chocolate
box" was introduced by Cadbury.
 Americans eat roughly 10 lbs. of chocolate per person, per
year.
The Swiss consume chocolate at roughly 22
lbs. per person per year. - The largest 'Toblerone' bar weighs ten
pounds.
- Mozart made reference
to chocolate in his opera, 'Cosi fan tutte'.
- The cacao tree
was a sacred emblem to the native Mexicans. The ancient god, 'Quetzalcoatl',
also known as "the garden prophet" is said to have delivered cocoa to mankind.
-
African countries produce nearly double the tonnage of cocoa as that of
South American plantations.
- Chocolate was
first manufactured in the U.S. by the John Harmon Company in
1765.
- Unsweetened
baking chocolate is the manufactured product most closely resembling the
raw bean.
- Cocoa butter is the
product obtained when the natural fat is removed from the cocoa bean.
 Research indicates that dark chocolate contains substantial
amounts of flavonoid-phenolics, like red wine, which may lower the risk
of heart disease.
- Cocoa is
roughly 20% protein, 40% carbohydrate and 40% fat.
- The native Indians of
Mexico and South America used cocoa beans as currency in trade.
- Chocolate makes milk
easier to digest if you are lactose-intolerant. Researchers at the
University of Rhode Island found that by adding 1-1/2 tsp. of cocoa to 1
cup of milk blocked cramping, bloating and other effects of lactose
intolerance in half of 35 subjects. They found that cocoa stimulates
lactose enzyme activity.
- Chocolate, notably
dark chocolate, helps to control blood sugar thanks to its high
content of chromium.
Tests show chocolate contains antibacterial compounds that may
discourage, rather than promote, tooth decay.
- For those who worry
about the amount of caffeine in chocolate, you can put your mind at
rest! Five ounces of brewed coffee has 85 mg. caffeine.
1 ounce of chocolate has only 6 mg.
 Tips, Tricks
& Ideas to Live By!
Good Oral Health - is important in
reducing your risk of developing many other, seemingly unrelated
illnesses, including heart disease. Recent studies have shown that
it can also help to dramatically reduce your risk of developing pancreatic
cancer! Gum or periodontal disease can lead to a constant low-level
infection that can spread throughout the body and result in more severe
damage to other organs. So pull out the dental floss and Watkins Natural Peppermint Whitening Anti-cavity
Toothpaste to keep your mouth - and the rest of you! -
healthier!
Here's a couple of great
Weight Management Tips
If you feel hungry, have a glass of water! Many times mild
dehydration will come across feeling like hunger pangs.
When a craving 'hits', brush your teeth! The fresh minty flavour
will help to satisfy your need for something sweet - and as you just
read above, the extra brushing will also lead to better
health!
 Valentines Day
- Ancient Secrets of Love!
- During the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia,
held on February 15th, young men held a lottery to decide which girl
would be theirs.
- Talk about a "dream-beau"! During Medieval
times, single girls would eat unusual foods on St. Valentine's Day in
hopes of having a dream of their future husband.
- In the middle Ages, people believed that the
first unmarried person of the opposite sex you met on the morning of St.
Valentine's Day would become your spouse.
- In the middle of the 17th century even married
people took a Valentine - not always their legal other half!
- Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on
the telephone, on Valentine's Day in 1876.
- In
Wales, love spoons of wood were carved and given as gifts on February
14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes formed the favorite theme of decorations on
the spoons, which together symbolized- "You unlock my heart!" Is
this where "spooning" started?
- It was in 1537 that England's King Henry VIII
declared an official holiday on St. Valentine's Day for the first
time.
- Captain James Cook the great English explorer
and navigator, was murdered by the natives of Hawaii on February 14,
1779.
- In olden days, it was believed that if a
woman saw a robin-flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would
marry a sailor and if she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and
be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a very rich
person.
- In England, the Romans, who had taken over the
country, had introduced a pagan fertility festival held every February
14. After the Romans left England, Pope Gelsius, who established St.
Valentine's Day as a celebration of love in 496 A.D abolished the pagan
ritual.
 Today
we celebrate Valentine's Day as the holiday of love, but it
actually originated as a tribute to Saint Valentine, one of at least
three martyred saints of ancient Rome.
- Lupercus is the god of fertility. Throughout
history, the middle of February has been associated with love and
fertility.
- Valentines Day is the number one
floral market holiday of the year. Over 50% of men and nearly 15% of women
purchase flowers for a loved one at this time of year.
- According to Hallmark,
approximately 180 million cards are exchanged industry-wide, not
including the boxed valentines commonly exchanged in the classroom,
making Valentines the second largest greeting card holiday next
to Christmas.
- Commercial Valentine cards
were first made in the early 1800s. Hallmark produced their first card
in 1913.
- It is believed that in the
third century, Claudius mandated that no man could marry because they
were running out of men who wanted to become soldiers. A monk called
Valentine kept on performing marriage ceremonies until he was caught and
imprisoned. He was sentenced to death on February 14.
- ... and it is school
teachers who will receive the most Valentines Day cards of
anyone!
 Fun for
Kids from Watkins Kitchen!
Play-Day Dough!
This
dough looks and feels like the dough you buy in the store, but is a lot
less expensive - and you can make it any time you want to!
Utensils You Will Need
- Dry and liquid measuring
cups
- Measuring spoons
- Medium size bowl
- Saucepan to boil water
- Small size bowl
- Wooden mixing spoon
- Timer
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Ingredients You Will
Need to Make 1-1/2 cups (375 ml of Dough:
- 1-3/4 cups (430 ml)
all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (60 m) salt
- 1-1/2 tsp (7.5 ml) cream of
tartar
- 1 cup (250 ml) boiling water
- 4 tsp (20 ml) vegetable oil
- 1/4 tsp (1.2 ml) food colouring -
any colour, if desired
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How To Make It
- Lightly spoon 1-1/2 cups (375
ml) of the flour into measuring cup; level off the top.
Save the remaining 1/4 cup (60 ml) until
Step 6.
- In the medium size bowl,
combine the 1-1/2 cups of flour, salt and cream of tartar; mix
well.
- In the small size bowl,
carefully combine the boiling water, vegetable oil and
food colouring.
- Add to flour mixture; stir
just until dry ingredients are moistened.
- Cool dough to room temperature, for
about 3 minutes.
- Place a little of the remaining 1/4
cup (60 ml) of flour on a large piece of waxed paper.
- Place dough on top of the waxed
paper and knead in a little of the remaining flour until dough is
smooth, for about 3 minutes.
- Store in a tightly covered
container.
'Kneading' is the technique used to
mix and work a dough in order to form it into a pliable mass.
Kneading is done with a pressing-folding-turning action performed by
pressing the heels of both hands down into the dough, then pushing
it away from your body. The dough in then folded in half and given a
quarter turn, and the the process is repeated for the amount of time
stated in the recipe.
To make sparkle Play-Day Dough, add a
small amount of glitter to your dough while kneading.
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... and then we head into the
biggest day of the whole month - St. Valentine's Day! This celebration
of love has changed significantly over the years - you may be surprised
to learn who will receive the most Valentines this year! - and we've got
some other very interesting info to share with you on this special day - as
well as everybody's favourite gift - Chocolate!!!
If no Watkins Associate's name appears
at the top of this page, please click here.
If
Looking for a favourite recipe? Our Recipe Archive
is the place to go! Find your recipes quickly and
easily!
That 'unique'
person on your gift list deserves a very special and unique
gift! Think of Watkins first! You'd be
surprised how many occasions we can provide the perfect gift idea
for!
Click on the
WATKINS link at the top to order your favourite products!
