Christmas Kitchen Memories ~ (and chance to win Wee Little Sheep)

 Christmas in the kitchen around here makes me happy. Even if I am not baking or entertaining guests the kitchen is full of cheerful reminders of this season. Some of the things in my Christmas kitchen have been with us for many years and bring with them happy memories.

 This Santa cookie jar needs to be filled with cookies. The butter is out for softening at room temperature so my husband can bake his Berry Butternuts * , jam thumbprint cookies his father made every year and now my husband continues the tradition for our family. I also make *sugar cookies  every year using my favorite recipe from many years ago. Often I wait to make and bake these cookies when I have grandchildren over a few days before Christmas.

 This teapot is my hot cocoa pot, and the goose mugs are for serving lots of hot chocolate with marshmallows during the Christmas season. We received the mugs as gifts from my husband's parents many years ago. We got the teapot after his parents died. This set always remind us of my husbands' parents and their love of celebrating Christmas with family.

 My Santa sugar bowl and creamer. I made these the first year my husband and I were married and have brought these two out every Christmas season. They sit beside the coffee pot ready for guests needing real cream and sugar in their coffee or tea. There are so many good memories surrounding these little Santa accessories , and the privilege of being able to serve coffee, tea, coco, and so much more to family and friends over the years is not taken for granted by my husband and me. God has been generous with us in the gift and blessings of so much family and so many good friends.

My Christmas kitchen is ready again for company and full of sweet reminders of Christmases past. Christmas kitchen memories of good times gone by and the glimmer of new memories in the making.

Don't forget to leave a comment if you'd like to win a pair of these Wee Little Sheep*. The 20th is the last day of this give-away opportunity. I will enter your name for every comment you leave ( limited to one comment per day ).

Tea-Time Tuesday ~ Paul Revere

 Liberty Blue china, made in England.The blue & white and the history represented make this china especially appealing to me.

 I have to admit, this cup for Tea-Time Tuesday is filled with strong  black coffee, my beverage of first choice. I am a Pacific Northwesterner & of primarily Scandinavian descent, thus, black coffee (no cream or sugar) is usually my first choice of hot drink.

 *Liberty Blue* Historical Colonial Scenes, Old North Church ~ Made in England. This particular pattern memorializes the midnight ride of Paul Revere.If you're interested in the history of this event and the site, click here*.

 The early history of our nation is fascinating to me, and to combine it with the Thanksgiving celebrations we observe in this month make it a natural for me to display the Liberty Blue tea / coffee cup.

Of course, anyone who loves strong black coffee or tea knows, it is best accompanied by a good sugar cookie.Fortunately, I made a dozen or more.* Now for another pot of coffee, I have a Thanksgiving menu and shopping list to work on.

I am linking with these ladies for Tea-Time Tuesday :

• Terri at Artful Affirmations *
• Martha at Martha's Favorites*
• Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Christmas Sugar Cookies

~This Santa Nodder was a gift to my Hubby from one of his favorite great Aunts. He received this when he was quite young, and this Santa is at least 50 years old. HALF A CENTURY ! Almost an antique, like Hubby and myself. This Santa was meant to hold an apple or orange or candy for Christmas. We bring him out every year, and so he is definitely part of our family tradition.~We don't put apples or oranges in him though, I keep a small set of plastic angel figurines in him and allow children to play with them. Our daughter , A.Joy ( Nov. 30 ), posted a song and a little bit of her memories about the little figurines shown here . ~Another tradition for our family, and with many, many families, is the baking of Christmas cookies. The favorites are sugar cookies. The kids have always liked to frost and decorate them, but I leave a few unfrosted and bare of decoration because in all the eating of special foods and desserts, I yearn for a delicious and plain sugar cookie with a good cup of coffee.

~The grandchildren love to help me bake and frost and decorate Christmas cookies.~

~Here below is the best recipe I have found for sugar cookies. I have tried a lot of different recipes, they are all good, but this one always turns out for me and is a staple in December. I make a lot of the dough, wrap balls of it in wax paper, then put the wrapped balls of dough into zip lock bags and pull out a ball to roll out and cut into shapes just before company comes, while company is here, or if I need to take a batch somewhere for a Christmas festivity. ~Aren't they cute ? Decorating is fun, but eating the frosting and candy decorations and cookies is more fun!

~Christmas Sugar Cookies~

2 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons butter ( my preference ) or margarine 1 /3 cup shortening 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tablespoon milk 1 tablespoon vanilla ~ Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat butter and shortening with mixer for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well. Add dry ingredients; beat well. Divide dough in half; cover and chill about 3 hours. Working with half the dough at a time, on a lightly floured surface, roll to 1/8 " thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place on un-greased cookie sheet. Bake 375 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes or until done. Cool on wire rack and then decorate as desired. Makes 36 to 48 cookies.

~ I don't know about you, but I think this Santa has a slightly sly look on his face. Maybe he has visions of eating the cookies we made after we go to bed. "There is no ideal Christmas, only the one you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires,affections and traditions." Bill Mckibben