"Scones of Joy"

In 1996, things were busy from the get go! I had been working on research for scones. This was more for my own knowledge, than for a new product line. You know the tea and scones connection, going back for centuries. And since this was something strongly associated with tea I wanted to know all I could. This explains why I myself started research.

I checked out everyone who was making scones and tasted them all. Most were way to British for me (meaning hard and dry.) Then:

My Grandmother Gray was about to turn 93 when she died in June. She was a very small woman who never learned to drive. But she read and kept up on more international events than any other person I know. She was a fair artist, who painted with a Southwest Desert Flair, she loved flowers and small animals, and she lived a very simple life. She had three children, two girls and a boy. My two Aunts are exceptional artist, one is featured in Art Galleries and does commissioned work. My Father, the middle child and only male, fondly referred to as Sonny, has an artist eye for beauty but has never painted. His name is Art. Grandmother had the most delightful laugh, it was the laugh of a bashful glee teenager and she often lifted her hand to cover her mouth. She was such an inspiration to everyone who met her. But especially to me, even as a small child, she directed my mind to international focuses yet kept me rooted with good basic home values. She was always there to talk to but never made herself an imposition. My Grandmother Gray was nothing but pure "Joy" and a "Rae" of glee and sunshine. I guess God knew that because her parents named her Joy Rae. A beautiful woman. I am especially lucky I got to know her personally and was a beneficiary to all that knowledge, inspiration, love and passion for life.

After her burial, I decided that I did want to make and market scones. But not the typical British type of scones that were mostly being marketed here in the US. I wanted a moist scone that could be used for breakfast, snacks and desserts. I also decided that I wanted to name it after my Grandmother, so they had better be real special. So off to the kitchen I went and tried all sorts of things; good, bad and indifferent. I finally came up with the recipes for three mixes: " Naturally Yours" a natural buttermilk scone, that could be used as is or with fruit or nuts added; "Sophisticated White" a white scone with white chocolate pieces: and "Chocolate Dreams" a dark chocolate scone with semi sweet chocolate pieces. All of our scone mixes work well with our flavored honeys and dessert jams not to mention tying in our whole "Tea Tyme Theme" beautifully as well as tastefully. We hope our "Scones of Joy" will bring you joy in all their good taste and good qualities and we want you to know that our "Scones of Joy" are a direct dedication to a woman who did nothing but light up our lives with joy, My Grandmother Joy. (1996)