KENTUCKY DERBY
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The Perfect Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Recipe
Who doesn’t love an excuse to dress up, put on a gorgeous spring hat and drink out of a chilled silver cup? I know this girl does! This quick and easy Mint Julep cocktail recipe is perfect for a Kentucky Derby party or for a lazy summer day on the front porch. Whether you live in Kentucky, the South or the Northeast, Derby parties are sure to be popping up all around you the first week in May – perhaps even at your house. If you are considering hosting – you do not want to miss my Kentucky Derby Party planning check list – sure to reduce hostess stress and…
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Your Ultimate Kentucky Derby Party Planning Checklist
The Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, ending the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds is held at Churchill Downs on a one and a quarter miles {2 km} track. Also known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports” and also “The Run for the Roses”, first raced in 1875 recently celebrating its 140 anniversary, is the first leg of the American Triple Crown and followed by the Preakness Stakes, then the Belmont Stakes. A horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown. The attendance at the Kentucky Derby ranks first…
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Bourbon Bacon Deviled Eggs
Deviled Eggs recipes have traditionally varied greatly by ingredient mainly regionally, however in the last few years they have become more and more adventurous all across the nation with the addition of new flavor profiles. These Bourbon Bacon Deviled Eggs keep the filling clean with just a few ingredients to let the Bourbon Bacon flavor shine through. It’s the perfect dish to serve to guests to welcome them as they arrive for a gathering at your home, yet not spoil their appetite, or to bring to a neighbors BBQ. As a kid I remember arriving at a relatives homes for a special gatherings and heading immediately to the food display.…
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Zesty Southern Pimento Cheese
Admittedly my relationship with Pimento Cheese did not begin until I moved South. I had heard of it, but honestly thought of it as some type of cheese mixture close to Port Wine Cheese or a Cheese Ball you have at the holiday’s. After a few visits with neighbors and attending various gatherings this “southern” mixture started to become more and more a part of my entertaining menu. Still, I had not made it personally – I thought, “Is a girl born and raised in the Northeast even allowed to make and serve this dish??” So, I began to do a little research on recipes and the history of Pimento…
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Kentucky Derby Cups: A Brief History
“Kentuckians maintain that when a mint julep is made right, you can hear angels sing. Always made with fresh mint, Kentucky bourbon, and plenty of crushed or shaved ice, it is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. ” Traditionally, mint juleps are served in silver or pewter cups (which frost better than glass). Thousands of mint juleps are served every year at the Derby, on the first Saturday in May, at Churchill Downs, and at weekend Derby parties around the nation. The racetracks’ clubhouse began mixing mint juleps around 1875. The drink really became popular and became the track’s signature libation in 1938 when the management began charging 75…
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A Classic Blue + Silver Centerpiece
One of my favorite entertaining tips is for every host to have a “go-to” centerpiece or arrangement that they can easily pull together in a moments notice when friends or family give the word that they will be stopping by, or simply to have on your kitchen table to welcome you home each day. This classic Blue and Silver centerpiece using Hydrangeas is at the top of my list as it is a fantastic combination of simplicity and elegance. To watch this video click on the image below. My favorite silver vase to use is similar to the mint julep cups found at the Kentucky Derby. I love to mix…
- COCKTAILS, ENTERTAINING, For Your Bar, GATHERINGS, KENTUCKY DERBY, Spring Entertaining, Summer Entertaining
Cinco vs Derby. Lime vs Mint. The battle continues.
Kentucky Derby or Cinco de Mayo? Mint Julep or Margarita? It is an age-old question leading up to the first weekend in May. Well OK, maybe not age-old but still, a question that I have asked every year in May during my adult entertaining years. Living in the North East most of my life Cinco de Mayo was my excuse to have a party and my kick off to summer. One month before the traditional Memorial Day weekend, I would send out the invite and pray for a warm sunny day to host friends for guacamole, salsa, margaritas and the always popular “Cinco Brownies” outside on the patio. Then one…
