Tea at Trianon: Five Favorite Scone Recipes

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Five Favorite Scone Recipes

From Victoria:

A classic pairing with a warm cup of tea, the scone takes many shapes and can be made with a variety of flavors to suit diverse palates. We have selected a delightful list of recipes for you to share with loved ones when you gather, no matter the season....When the flowers are in bloom and the sun’s rays are shining brightly in a cerulean sky, taking time to enjoy the loveliness of the day by sharing tea with a few friends can provide just the refreshment the heart requires. Prepare inspired settings and Dried Apricot Scones for a welcoming gathering where guests will feel honored and cherished, and memorable moments can be shared....Anyone can experience regal treatment with an extravagant bouquet of fresh blooms, chosen to match the colors of the best china and setting the stage for a gracious afternoon. Pass around gleaming silver trays of dainty Lavender Cream Scones, tea sandwiches, herb-strewn savories, and flower-bedecked sweets—all worthy of a queen. (Read more.)