We Need The Courage To Start and Continue...

"We need the courage to start and continue what we should do, and courage to stop what we shouldn't do" Richard L. Evans

There are many things that could fit into the category of the above quote. Some things that come to mind are dieting, fitness, communicating honestly with others, extending grace, thinking positively...you get the idea. What do we have to give up? Fear, doubt, extra pounds, low self esteem, angst, anxious moments, sadness...wow...who wouldn't want to shed those accouterments? So pluck up your courage start new and good habits and shed those which are dragging you down! Here is a healthy new start...make your own granola! Yummy!

Walnut-Almond Granola
1/2 c honey
1/2 c oil
2 tsp Watkins Double-Strength Vanilla
2 tsp Watkins Pure Almond Extract
Mix & warm in microwave or on stove top.
2 tsp Watkins Cinnamon
5 c bran flakes
2 1/4 c old fashioned oats
1 3/4 c sliced almond
1 3/4 c walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped
1 1/3 c sweetened flaked coconut
1 1/2 c raisins (opt)
Mix all ingredients (except for raisins) and place in shallow pan. Bake at 325°F until golden brown & stir every 5 min. About 25 minutes. If using raisins, add
after baking.

We Could Learn A Lot From Crayons...

We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box. ~unknown wise orator
I think the above thought has just described everyone's family and close friends. There are the flamboyant fuchsias, the solid browns, the vibrant greens, the royal purples and the crazy neon colors! Whew! It's hard to keep up with all the challenges sometimes. So, when you are having trouble keeping up with all of the crayons you share your box of every day life...don't despair...just make them cake! All will be well! Enjoy!

Coconut Layer Cake
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
5 eggs, separated
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. Watkins Vanilla Extract
2 cups flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Frosting:
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tsp. Watkins Coconut Extract
1/4 cup flaked coconut, toasted
Pecan halves

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks and beat well. Combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in vanilla. Add coconut and pecans. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff; gently fold into batter. Pour into two prepared 9 inch round cake pans, sprayed with Watkins Cooking Spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans before removing to wire racks; cool completely. For the frosting, beat the cream cheese, sugar, butter and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with the coconut and garnish with pecans.

Constant Kindness Can Accomplish Much...

"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust and hostility to evaporate."
~Albert Schweitzer

Isn't it great when hard edges round out? Isn't is wonderful when rough patches are smoothed over? Who wouldn't love a cracked surface rejoined? Don't you just appreciate the melting of an icy demeanor? Can you see the benefit of mending the shredded fabric of a relationship? Kindness, understanding, and great communication can do wonders to assuage the brutality of hard edges, rough patches, cracked surfaces, an icy demeanor and rocky relationships. It's all about the shape of ther lens you choose to view through when looking at a situation. Does your lens magnify all that you view? Perhaps you have chosen one that minimizes situations or your desires. All of our lenses are simple and complex. There are times when we would merit choosing to magnify and praise, and times when we would have been better off to choose to minimize and downplay. That answer is entwined into our value systems and thus our responses and decisions in our daily lives. Sounds complicated? It isn't really so complicated when we are guided by kindness, understanding with a little trust thrown in and held up to be measured against our wisdom thermometer. Ah...our wisdom thermometer...now that is another blog post.

Enjoy sharing kindness today and bake your family, neighbor or potential new friend a Spiced Pineapple Upside Down Cake! Watch for more cake recipes this week!

Spiced Pineapple Upside Down Cake
1-1/3 cups butter, softened, divided
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 can (20ounces) pineapple slices, drained
10 to 12 maraschino cherries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. Watkins Vanilla Extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. Watkins Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Watkins Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Watkins Nutmeg
1 cup buttermilk

Melt 2/3 cup of butter; stir in brown sugar. Spread in the bottom of a prepared 13 x 9 inch cake pan. Arrange pineapple in a single layer over sugar mixture; place a cherry in the center of each slide. Sprinkle with pecans and set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream sugar and remaining butter. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; add alternately to batter with buttermilk, mixing well after each addition. Carefully pour over the pineapple. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Immediate invert onto a serving platter.

The Attitude Of Gratitude...

As I was wandering in and out of my email folders, I found myself especially stuck in Mr. Positive's emails. This particular quote seemed to ring the proverbial bell in my mind and settled upon my consciousness in a profound sort of way. "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others." Marcus Tullius Cicero ~ 106 BC - 43 BC, Politician, Orator and Philosopher

It is a thinker, is it not? A true sense of being grateful just sets the tone for a world in alignment. It reminds me of a portion of an old phrase which seemed to be used centuries ago, when it was considered crucial to "align one's humors". When we are grateful, our humors are aligned...or it makes sense it is so. Here are a few other things which are evident when your humors are aligned and you operate from a grateful heart.

1. It's impossible to hold a negative thought. When you put yourself into the energy of gratitude and appreciation you are flowing some of the highest vibrational energy possible. And when you are flowing positive energy it is virtually impossible to hold a negative thought at the same time. Here is the great news...it doesn't have to be gratitude for the big things. It can be as simple as thanks for the new day. Thanks for the toilet not overflowing. Thanks for a smooth getting everyone out the door today...Hey! It's the little things that count!
   
2. Gratitude is viral. Want to start an epidemic? Be grateful! So what happens when you start to flow with all that positive energy? The same thing that happens when you are flowing not so positive energy. Just like birds of a feather who flock together, it finds it's kind. The Law of Attraction shows it's most brilliant colors in this picture. It's a beautiful painting.
3. You will feel better. Take it on a little faith...you will. When you're feeling as if you want to pull the covers over your head in the morning and stay in bed. Take a Zig Ziglarism to heart when he says, "When you can't see that far, go a little ways, then you will see further." So, when you continue to find something small to be grateful for, you'll keep on feeling a little bit better. Then you can try to feel a little more grateful and go a little further. You will feel even better than before. Try it. It really works.
4. Gratitude raises your level of awareness. When you make the decision that you are going to look for things to appreciate, you begin to notice all of the things there are in your life to savor in gratitude. And the more you appreciate, the more vibrant your awareness becomes. You'll start to develop the habit of being more focused on what's going right in your life. You are suddenly feeling much more blessed than ever before. Everything seems to fall into place more frequently and run smoother.
   
5. You will begin to believe in possibilities and be more hopeful. Feeling better, focusing on what's working, attracting more of what you want to do and have, will begin to transform your outlook. You will rank among the positively thinkers and be a believer of the possibilities. Our world is a place of abundant possibilities and hope. Hope is a great acronym for High On Positive Expectations!
   
   Practicing gratitude every day begins with deciding that today is the day you are doing it. It doesn't have to be a grand charade...just make the decision to all things bright, beautiful, and in general good working condition. Hey...it could be worse! Ha!
   

Our Watkins products make being grateful a lot easier to work through. Stop and think about how wonderful each of our product lines are. My goodness, we are blessed! Enjoy this recipe which will taste ever so much better when Watkinized!
German Almond Cake
1 cup butter
3 tsp Watkins Almond Extract
2 cups white sugar
2 tsp Watkins Baking Powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups white flour
3 eggs
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Cake: Cream butter with sugar; add 2 eggs and 1 egg white (keep 3rd egg yolk for topping) and mix well. Add salt, Almond Extract and Baking Powder. Add flour last. Mix well. Spread into 2 ungreased 9”x9” pans Topping: Whip 1 egg yolk with 1 TBSP water. Spread on top of batter with pastry brush and then sprinkle slivered almonds on top. Bake 1/2 hour at 350°F. This keeps well and freezes well.

Live abundantly...

"To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever."
--Henry Drummond
Living and loving abundantly requires action. It isn't so much a difficult exercise as much as a commitment to discipline. "What you focus on the most is the direction you will go and that is what will show up in your life and your pursuits!" Sounds easy enough! Although, one would have to give up negative thinking! Imagine that! It is worth the effort however, because, it pays off in such amazing dividends. An abundant and empowered person is courageous, creative, focused, generous, patient, flexible, joyful and playful! There are more qualities such being clear in their communication, they are grateful and appreciative with a purposeful life! Wow! Those sound like qualities and benefits to help anyone succeed in the deepest desires...and someone who would be fun to associate with! Ha! That is probably why they are so successful, they are people magnets. Live your life abundantly. Watkins products can help you in this arena. They are natural, fun, come complete with a heritage of quality ad goodness. Your family will feel your extra special touch with Watkins! Enjoy the recipe!

Watkins Iced Spice Bars
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 c. Watkins Original Grapeseed Oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. Watkins Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Watkins Pumpkin Pie spice
1/4 tsp.Watkins Cloves
1/2 cup walnuts, pecans or peanuts
1/2 cup raisins
Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. Watkins Original Grapeseed Oil
1/2 tsp. Watkins Vanilla
1 - 2 T. water
Prepare 15 X 10 inch baking pan by spraying with Watkins Cooking Spray - Combine first 10 ingredients, mix well. Stir in nuts and raisins. Pour batter into prepared baking pan spreading evenly. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes. Cool bars in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Blend remaining ingredients until smooth. Spread on bars after they are cool. Store in airtight container. Makes approx. 4 doz. bars.

Choose a Handle...

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. --Henry Ward Beecher

Imagine if it were that easy to simply grab hold of one of those handles, give it a quarter turn and we would instantly experience the weeds of our worry or the fruits of our faith. In all likelihood, we probably have our hands firmly gripped on both. It depends on which one we apply the most vigor to that give us the soothing coolness or the uncomfortable heat of the moment. Interesting then is it not, that our choice as to how hard to crank on the handle most likely determines our outcome. Ah, there we go again, choices. The way we manage ourselves and thoughts are often more important than the way we manage our time...but that's another blog post. Consider the choices of having a little nest egg on the side...or a little sideline business to coddle along and grow. Perhaps there may be a time when the little sideline business steps up to help out in a major way. Perhaps now is the time for you to consider a Watkins Business Opportunity...perhaps not. Either way, it remains a choice.

Please choose to pamper yourself and your family a little bit and try this recipe soon! Enjoy!

Cranberry Swirl Coffeecake
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
8 oz sour cream
8 oz whole berry cranberry sauce
1 tsp Watkins Almond Extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp Watkins Baking Powder
2 cups flour
1/2 cup nuts
Topping:
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp Watkins Almond Extract
1 tbsp warm water
Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Spray tube or Bundt pan with Watkins Cooking Spray. Cream butter. Add sugar gradually. Add unbeaten eggs, one at a time on medium speed of mixer. On low speed, add sifted, dry ingredients, alternating with sour cream. Add flavoring. Pour in half of batter, then half of cranberry sauce. (Try to keep cranberry sauce away from edges of pan.) Repeat. Cover with nuts. Bake for 55 min. Let cool in pan at least 20 minutes before inverting. Add topping while cake is still warm. (Freezes well.)

Green for Growth...

If you like green, just take a walk along the trails behind my home. The Rockybranch Creek flows into the Kinnickinnic River and both are trodden by feet and paws. There are the occasional hooves making an impression as well. As my dogs and I scampered along today getting our exercise, I couldn't help but be amazed and in awe of the color of green. From a metaphorical sense it represents so much. Green for growth, green for clean and pure, green for inexperienced, green for young and fibrous rather than dried and withered are just a few which come to mind. Then there are the not so desirable connections of green with envy or descriptions of someone in the throws of illness. Yikes! But I was in wonderment of the green for growth theme and felt extremely grateful I was able to feel that way. One of the green growth aspect of our lives revolves all around our business and family. Our Watkins business gives us the kind of flexibility I can take long "green viewing" walks during the day...or when I choose. Our coffers are filled by our business earnings and so our family is cared for. You know...you can start building a sideline Watkins businessif you wish. Work it part-time to build it to a full time income. Who knows, perhaps you can tend to it with skill and care and grow your own coffer filling "green" Watkins Business. Check out the possibilities!

Green also reminds me of summer salads! Please enjoy this one!

Lime Chicken Salad with Fruit
3 tbsp sugar
¼ c white wine vinegar
2 tbsp lime juice
¼ tsp Watkins Dry Mustard
¼ tsp Watkins Sea Salt
½ tsp poppy seeds
½ cup Watkins Citrus & Cilantro Grapeseed Oil
3 chicken breasts grilled & sliced thin *see recipe note
1 cantaloupe or honeydew
1 head leaf lettuce
1 cup green grapes, halved
1 cup sliced strawberries
½ cup toasted pecans
½ cup blueberries

Combine sugar, vinegar, lime juice, dry mustard, sea salt & poppy seeds in a blender. Blend to mix. Gradually add Grapeseed Oil in a thin stream. Cover and blend 2 minutes until dressing is slightly thickened. Reserve 1/3 cup and pour remaining dressing over chicken. Cover & chill. To Serve: Line serving platter with lettuce and arrange the sliced melon & grapes around the edge. Lay chicken slices in the center. Toss strawberries, pecans & blueberries in reserved dressing. Spoon over chicken.

*Recipe Note: Before grilling, brushed the chicken breasts with Watkins Citrus & Cilantro Grapeseed Oil and then sprinkled them with Watkins Sesame Garlic Snack & Dip Seasoning.Yum!