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A Very Happy Christmas to you all!
Hello dear friends and welcome to my last HOME party before the holidays!


"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and a talk beside the fire: it is the time for HOME." ~ Edith Sitwell


I bet you're counting down the days till Christmas just like I am.  
It has been such a busy week for me and all day yesterday I had computer woes so it really threw a wrench into preparing my HOME post for today. Therefore, my lovely friends, I won't be featuring anyone's post today. I'm so sorry about that because I know some of you really enjoy the features. 


Today, I would like to share a couple of recipes with you. So please come in and join me for a cup of something hot and a piece of my home made fruit cake.

"There's more, much more, to Christmas
Than candlelight and cheer;
It's the spirit of sweet friendship
That brightens all year.
It's thoughtfulness and kindness,
It's hope reborn again,
For peace, for understanding,
And for goodwill to men!" ~ Author unknown

For you teacup lovers out there, the teacup is made by Royal Stafford in England; established in 1845.

Do you like my new teapot? It is Bella Casa made by Ganz. It is an early Christmas gift from my son and his family. I think it's so pretty with the holly teacup.

The darling tea towel you see beneath it is made of linen and came from Ireland. I love the Christmas robins on it!

You know that I have a love for our little feathered friends and our son is in Wildlife Conservation so he can identify and enjoys talking about the birdies with us.

Speaking of my son, he sees his surgeon tomorrow for follow up after his surgery. We are praying for good results and I will keep you posted.

I made these fruit scones for our tea this week and they are just the thing with a cup of tea or coffee. I will share the recipe below as I had a few ladies ask me for it. 

Fruit Scones

2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/3-1/2 cup shortening
1 cup mixed fruit {the kind you use in fruit cake}
1 beaten egg added to
2/3 cup milk

Mix first six ingredients together and cut in shortening. Add fruit and mix in. Add egg with milk and stir until a soft dough forms. Gently knead on a lightly floured surface. Roll out thick and cut out scones with a glass. Brush the tops with milk and sprinkle with a little sugar. Bake in 450 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Drizzle with icing when hot from the oven.

Icing
1 cup sifted icing sugar
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 TBSP milk

Almost every year for Christmas, I make fudge, Peanut Brittle, and Almond bark. Today I will share my recipe for Peanut brittle.

It makes great hostess gifts and sweet little packages for family and friends.

One of my son's music teachers enjoyed receiving it at Christmas-time. He always told me it was his favourite confection and he looked forward to receiving it every year. Rich and creamy, it is filled with peanuts and oh, so buttery good!

Peanut Brittle

Grease a baking sheet.
In a saucepan, combine:
1-1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup water

Heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Then bring to a boil and continue cooking until it reaches the hard crack stage {300 on candy thermometer} or until a few drops in cold water separate into hard, brittle threads.

Remove from heat and stir in
2 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp salt
1-1/2 cups salted peanuts

Quickly pour onto prepared baking sheet.

Cool and break into pieces. Enjoy!

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~ Peg Bracken

This is my little teacup tree which I added Baby's Breath to. The wee rocking horse was a gift from my middle son when he was a little boy.

I am so happy you have joined me at HOME today and I do appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment as I love hearing from you!

Now that my shopping is done and my baking is finished, I'm going to curl up on the couch and watch some Christmas movies. The big day will be here before we know it.


Thank you for making my HOME party a joy to bring to you each week. I hope you will plan to join me in the new year too.

Let us remember to pray for those dear souls in CT who lost their loved ones last week. May God comfort them and give them peace in their time of trial.

Merry Christmas from my HOME to yours! God bless you and your loved ones!


"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." ~ Luke 2:14

"The greatest Christmas gift of all
Was never placed beneath a tree,
But lay within a manger
Beneath a star, for all to see." Unknown


I am joining the following parties as well~

Home and Garden Thursday ~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Thursday~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Cottage Style Linky Party~ http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits ~ http://www.stonegableblog.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Open House~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/
 


Sharing from my heart~ Sandi