Makes 48 1¾ cups all-purpose flour½ cup sugar1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest1½ teaspoons baking powder½ teaspoon baking soda¼ teaspoon salt½ cup finely shredded zucchini2 large eggs, lightly beaten½ cup salted butter, melted½ cup whole buttermilk1 teas

Makes 8 2½ cups all-purpose flour½ cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar, divided2 teaspoons baking powder½ teaspoon salt½ cup cold butter, cut into pieces1 cup finely chopped dried apricots1 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream, divided 1. Preheat oven t

Makes 24 ¾ cup semolina flour¾ cup whole-wheat flour1½ tablespoons chopped fresh parsley1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest1 teaspoon ground black pepper½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt½ cup warm water (105˚ to 120˚)7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divide

Makes 24 3½ cups self-rising soft-wheat flour*¾ cup granulated sugar, divided¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar1 cup chopped dates1 cup chopped walnuts2½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided1 teaspoon ground cardamom¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg1 teaspoon grou

A few years ago, I caught myself daydreaming as I washed and dried my teacup in my friend’s kitchen in Pennsylvania. This wasn’t just a teacup, it was the teacup, I mused, before placing it in its traveling box for my trip home to Illinois. Who trave

Set within the heart of a college campus, this illustrious auberge brims with Southern grace. Teatime is a beloved tradition observed throughout the year within these hallowed halls. Taking tea at The Carolina Inn, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is

Welcome to our sourcebook for entertaining with tea. Within these pages, you will find useful tips, an array of recipes for parties, and a selection of interesting places that feature lovely tearooms. We believe serenity can be found in enjoying a so

Nineteenth-century American painter Mary Cassatt—remembered for poignant renderings that capture the bond between mother and child—inspires a tea experience here that befits her legacy. Nestled in a nook of The Rittenhouse hotel’s elegant lobby, the

There is nothing trivial about tea. Its consumption is one of modern civilization’s most sublime pleasures, while the ceremonies that surround the beloved beverage are embedded in the very cornerstones of hospitality. Though it is without question th

A gem of the Pacific Northwest, The Georgian restaurant indulges guests with a delectable menu presented within the elegant environs of this Seattle landmark. Although perhaps best known for its abundance of yearly rainfall, Seattle also showers its

When both the setting and the hostess are warm and inviting, every guest feels welcome and at home; the ultimate goal of hospitality has been achieved. While some lucky people seem to have been born with a special flair for flawlessly hosting teas an

Just a short stroll from New Orleans’s famed French Quarter, a tearoom steeped in British tradition treats patrons like royalty while elevating the art of taking tea. Aptly named, the Royal Tea served at Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans is no mere

GETTING STARTED The first step in planning a tea party is the simplest: putting pen to paper. If you have not yet developed the practice of keeping a journal, now is the time to start. Part diary and part daybook, the ledger will be a valuable tool i

Afternoon tea amid the glamorous surroundings of Manhattan’s renowned Palm Court is far more than mere refreshment. It is an experience that lingers in the memory long after the last sip. With its French Renaissance–style façade reaching up toward Ne

Whether it’s tea for two or a buffet for many, a well-dressed table is an integral element of any successful party. Consider this comparison: If a party were a theatrical production, the table would serve as the stage. Designing dramatic yet tasteful

Through the window of my Kentucky home, I watched in quiet wonder as snow drifted softly to the ground. With my Valentine tea only a week away, the days ahead promised a flurry of activity. A litany of chores filled my mind. Cleaning house topped the

1. Fill a kettle with fresh, filtered cold water. 2. Warm the teapot with hot tap water. 3. Heat the water in the kettle according to tea type: • For black, heat to a rolling boil (212°).• For green, heat to less than a boil (approximately 170°).• Fo

In 1988, my husband and I had the privilege of volunteering in Bristol, England, for the summer. We jumped at the chance to reconnect with our Anglophile roots. Bristol is near the West Country of Devon and Cornwall, and we spent our weekends driving

Makes 24 2 cups bread flour2 teaspoons baking powder½ teaspoon salt4 tablespoons cold salted butter, cutinto pieces2 tablespoons finely chopped oil-cured olives1 tablespoon finely chopped freshrosemary leaves1 cup plus 4 tablespoons cold heavywhippin

Makes 24 1½ cups all-purpose flour1½ teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon ground ginger½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon2 large eggs½ cup salted butter, melted½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar¼ cup granulated sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract2

Makes 3 small loaves 1 cup confectioners’ sugar½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature½ teaspoon vanilla extract3 large eggs1¼ cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder¼ teaspoon coarse salt¼ cup whole milk½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice1 cup fr

Many years ago, one young woman showed off her proficient sewing skills by turning an everyday bedsheet—the only fabric she had available—into an elegant tablecloth, complete with exquisite pulled-thread and drawn-thread embroidery. Its fragile beaut

Anna Pavlova, once a principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet, achieved fame during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although culinary historians debate whether the dish originated in New Zealand or Australia, most concur tha

Begins on page 39 Makes 2 pounds 2 pounds baby Yukon gold potatoes, sliced in half2 tablespoons olive oil1 teaspoon kosher salt1 teaspoon ground black pepper8 to 10 sprigs fresh thyme 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment

As snowflakes dance outside my window on this brisk winter morning, I am content to linger before the fire, jotting a few lines to a friend. “To send a letter,” former Victoria Writer-in-Residence Phyllis Theroux observed, “is a good way to go somewh

Victoria is pleased to welcome to its pages Jan Karon and Annie Sloan, whose nostalgic recollections and beautifully painted projects promise a year brimming with inspiration. New York Times #1 best-selling author Jan Karon captivates millions with h