Freshen up! Our Room Fresheners are the perfect way to spritz up a room. Combined with open windows and fresh air, these are the perfect remedy for kickin’ back at home.

Ready for BBQs and picnics this summer? Bring this side to complete the meal!

Ingredients

¼ cup rice wine vinegar

1 tbsp Watkins Original Grapeseed Oil

2 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp sugar

1½ tsp Watkins Ginger

1½ tsp toasted sesame seeds

To taste, Watkins Black Pepper

3 cups broccoli coleslaw mix (shredded hearts of broccoli, carrots and cabbage)

¾ cup fresh bean sprouts, rinsed and drained

¾ cup sliced fresh mushrooms

½ cup chopped red bell pepper

Directions 

In a small bowl, combine vinegar, grapeseed oil, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, sesame seeds and pepper. In large bowl, combine broccoli slaw mix, bean sprouts, mushrooms and red pepper. Pour dressing over top and toss lightly. Refrigerate until serving time. Drain before serving.

Makes 6 servings.

Sun protection is important all year long, but especially now as the summer season quickly approaches! Lather on the sunscreen! 

It’s back-to-school time! And even if you’re not a student or a parent of student(s), this is a great time to get your house in order. Kind of like spring cleaning, but a more fun version. While you’re stocking up on pens, notebooks and new clothes for the fall season, why not treat yourself to some new items to jazz up your bathroom and kitchen as well?

• On your next trip to Target, snag one of our new Foaming Hand Soaps. Your little ones will especially appreciate the Kids’ Juicy Apple.

• New school year = busy schedules. Treat yourself (or your mom) to a little bit of relaxation with our new Lavender Body Oil Mist and Lavender Sugar and Shea Body Scrub.

• While we don’t want to admit it, cooler temps are coming. Prepare your hands and cuticles with our moisturizing Lemon Hand & Cuticle Salve.

• Tired of running your AC all summer long? Stock up on our natural Room Sprays to freshen up the air.

• Watkins Lemon All Purpose Cleaner is a staff favorite. The non-toxic natural formula is family-friendly and can be used on virtually any surface.

How are you spending these last days of summer? What’s on your shopping list?

The recent heat wave probably had you dreading stepping even one foot outside. Hopefully you don’t have that same dread over opening this month’s utility bill. We wanted to share with you a few energy saving tips that will both help save kilowatts per hour and the money in your wallet.

Tip #1: Did you know nearly half of your utility bill goes towards cooling and heating your home? Stay in your comfort zone, but set your thermostat as close to the outside temperature as possible, the closer the better. In the summertime, wear lighter clothing in the house. A few degrees can make a huge difference in your monthly electric bill.

Tip #2: Not only do trees and shrubs add visual appeal to your home, but they also help to naturally keep it cool.

Tip #3: Who wants to stay cooped up inside on a beautiful summer night? Plan your get togethers to be held outdoors in the evenings and cut costs on indoor utilities.

Tip #4: Be cautious to not over-freeze your foods! Keep your refrigerator set between 37˚ F to 40˚ F and your freezer at 5˚ F.

Last tip: enjoy the summer! 

Are you familiar with the saying, “It’s all about the little things”? We definitely agree, but we also think it’s all about the sweet things. Last weekend, in our pursuit of making the most of the month of August, we set out for a little afternoon of relaxation. 

We found a dock overlooking one of our local lakes and enjoy sitting with our feet in the water watching the sunset. And, to top it off, we enjoyed this delicious little twist on the summer classic: shortcake.

Simply Sweet Cinnamon Strawberry Shortcakes

1 ¾ cups/425 mL all-purpose flour

3 tbsp/45 mL sugar

1 tbsp/15 mL Watkins Baking Powder

½ tsp/2mL baking soda

½ tsp/2 mL Watkins Cinnamon

½ tsp/2 mL Watkins Orange Peel

½ tsp/2.5 mL salt

¼ cup/60 mL butter

¼ tsp/1 mL Watkins Vanilla

1 ¼ - 1 ½ cup/310-375 mL heavy cream

¼ cup/60 mL walnuts, chopped.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together flour, sugar, baking power, baking soda, cinnamon, orange peel and butter. Stir in vanilla, cream and walnuts. Drop on baking sheet using a ¼ cup/60 mL measuring cup. Brush with butter and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, if desired. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until brown. Cool shortcakes and cover with strawberries and whipped cream.

Sweetened Strawberries

4-6 cups/1-1.5 quarts strawberries

¼ cup/60 mL sugar

Hull and quarter strawberries, toss in media bowl with sugar. Let stand for 20 minutes.

Summertime is the perfect time for romance, and we think the best dates are more what what you do than how much you spend. We came up with a few fun and affordable ideas to spice up your summer.

For the adventurous type

• Act like a kid again: Fly a kite! And, when you get hungry, share a picnic that includes this easy Summer Coleslaw recipe! 
• Cook together: Stop by your local farmer’s market to pick up fresh produce, and try a new recipe. Check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website to find the farmers’ market closest to you. 
• Attend an outdoor concert: Discover a new band, venue or genre of music right where you live!
• Take a day trip: Pick a spot a few hours away you’ve never visited, and explore. 

Back to basics

• Build a camp fire: Try this Grilled Potatoes recipe that can be made on a grill in your yard or on a rack placed over a fire in the woods. And for desert, make traditional s’mores!
• Watch a movie outdoors: Check out a move in a park, go to a drive-in or set up your own theater in the back yard. Pop some popcorn, and sip a soda for a light summer snack.
• Spend an evening walking trails around a lake.: Water, sunsets and warm weatehr are the perfect summer mix.

Be a good sport

• Ride bikes: Spend an afternoon coasting along a new bike path. 
• Spend a day on the water: Participate in water sports on a speedboat, or rent a canoe, sailboat, kayak or paddleboat for a relaxing afternoon. Don’t forget the sunscreen! 
• Learn a new skill or sport together: Take a dance class, join a team or simply try something new.

Any other date night inspirations to add to the list?

Summer is sandal season, which also means the population is also paying a bit more attention to feet—and so are we. We can’t get enough of our Natural Peppermint Foot Scrub and Peppermint Rejuvinating Foot Cream for the ultimate DIY pedicure at home. The pure peppermint oil infuses feet with a burst of cool refreshment that is rejuvenating and relaxing. The scrub is also perfect for daily use in the shower (for men too!).

And what’s a good pedicure without a great polish? Season after season, we love Zoya and their selection of eco-friendly polishes. The summertime colors are a team favorite—especially the bright red shade, Sooki.

Are your feet already pedi-ready? Give yourself a little mani and polish your fingernails instead!  

Did you know that, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared July “National Ice Cream Month?” It would be very un-American if we didn’t honor this month properly, right?

Luckily, ice cream and summer go hand in hand. Come of my favorite summer evenings include walking or boating to the local ice cream shop for two scoops in a waffle cone. 

If you’re brave enough, you can even make your own ice cream at home, We promise, it’s easy! Try our recipe and report back—we think you’ll love it. The hardest part is waiting for it to freeze!

Watkins Cocoa Ice Cream

Ingredients:

1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup/80mL Watkins Baking Soda

2 cups/500mL heavy whipping cream

1 cup/250mL half-and-half

1 tbsp/15mL Watkins Original Double Strength Vanilla 

Directions:

In medium saucepan, stir together sweetened condensed milk and cocoa. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Gradually add whipping cream, half-and-half and vanilla, beating with whisk until well blended; refrigerate until cold. Place in ice cream freezer container and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. Makes 1-1/2 quarts/liters (18 servings).

Fill us in on your favorite flavor! 

We’re gearing up for the long weekend and couldn’t be more excited—according to weather.com, we have a sunny one coming our way!

Since we live in the land of 10,000 lakes, but also have our share of brutally cold winters, we Minnesotans really take advantage of being out on the water whenever we get the chance—whether it be boating, swimming, fishing, or just lounging on the beach, you’ll know where to find us on the Fourth of July. And of course, just like any celebration, good food is a must. Our go-to summer meal? Fish tacos! If we’re lucky, we catch the fish ourselves. Check out our recipe below:

Ingredients

1 tbsp/15mL Watkins Citrus Cilantro Grapeseed Oil

3 tbsp/45mL Lime juice

3/4 tsp Watkins Garlic Powder

3/4 tsp Watkins Cumin

1/2 tsp Watkins Chili Powder

1/4 tsp Watkins Oregano

1/4 tsp Salt

1 pound tilapia, cod, or halibut fillets

1 Package tortillas

Toppings

Chopped lettuce, tomatoes, and onions

Grated queso fresco or Feta cheese

Directions

Combine spices in a small bowl. Rub both sides of fish with spice mixture and squeeze with lime juice. Allow the fish to marinate for at least 30 minutes. While the fish is marinating, prepare all the necessary toppings and set aside. Cook fish in a frying pan over medium heat with Watkins Citrus Cilantro Oil. Cook until fish is cooked through and tender, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Assemble tacos and enjoy!