Derby Party
I adore Derby. I also adore Derby parties.
Over the years, I’ve watched the Run
from the Roses from Churchill Downs, from friends’ gatherings and from my own
living room. I’ve ordered mint juleps in
official Derby glasses and I’ve made them from freshly cooled simple syrup and
mint that I planted just for the occasion. To me, making a big deal of Derby isn’t about
having connections to the racing industry or knowing anything about
gambling. It’s simply a celebration of
Kentucky. One year, several of my aunts
and cousins gathered at my grandmother’s house for a Derby party. We watched the race and drew horse names from
a bowl to determine our “pick.” We made
quarter bets, and my ever-so-religious grandmother insisted that the winner put
the pot in the church offering plate the next morning. To this day, it’s one of my fondest Derby
memories.
This year, I’ll be watching Derby with
a small group of relatives in my hometown.
As I’ve planned the soiree with my mother, I’ve put together a list of
my favorite Derby party recipes.
What do y’all serve at Derby Parties?
 |
| Derby 2003. |
When we lived in Nashville, I couldn’t
let the celebration slip. One year, I
made a huge production of donning a festive Lilly Pulitzer dress and an over-the-top
chapeaux, even though I was watching the race in the living room of our condo
and my beau and our black lab were far more modestly attired. Perhaps it was a little silly, but I felt
connected to home in a profound way.
 |
| And they're off! |
Derby Pie™
Derby
Pie was first created by the Kern family at the Melrose Inn in
Prospect. Although the official name of
pastry has been trademarked by the Kerns, many variants of chocolate and
nut pie have arisen across the state. I
still prefer to pick up an original Kerns Kitchen version.
 |
| Louisville Stoneware Hot Brown Plate |
Mini Hot Browns
Hot browns are my
favorite. They’re rich and
decadent. And they have no place being
eaten in front of people. A great
alternative is a little hot brown bite – there’s all of the comforting flavor,
but none of the gooey mess nor resulting carb coma.
Cut several slices of bread into
quarters and lightly toast. On each
toast point, layer a small amount of shaved turkey breast, provolone cheese, a
slice of Roma tomato, and about half a piece of cooked bacon. Place in toaster oven or in a warm oven until
the cheese has melted and the tomato has slightly wilted. Serve immediately.
Beer cheese
I love beer cheese. The sharp, tangy dip is an amazing compliment
to crackers or crudités. It’s also
pretty awesome on a warm hamburger. Beer
cheese recipes across central Kentucky come in two varieties – standard and
mayonnaise-included. I prefer the
former. I love the flavor that Bourbon
Barrel Ale gives beer cheese – the nutty, complex beer with a hint of
bourbon is the perfect complement to the sharp tang of the cheese and garlic.
In a food processor, combine about 20
ounces of grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese, 2 minced garlic cloves, 4 ounces
of flat beer (Kentucky Ale Bourbon Barrel is my favorite for this recipe), and
a dash each of salt and Tabasco sauce.
Pulse until smooth. Transfer to
an airtight container and refrigerate for a few hours before serving.
Mint Juleps
 |
| Louisville Stoneware Mint Julep Pitcher |
Among Kentucky’s true bourbon aficionados,
the recipe coined by Courier-Journal founding publisher Henry Watterson rings
true:
"Pluck the mint gently from its bed, just as the dew of the
evening is about to form upon it ... Prepare the simple syrup and measure out a
half-tumbler of whiskey. Pour the
whiskey into a well-frosted silver cup, throw the other ingredients away and
drink the whiskey."
It just isn’t Derby without a julep,
though. Just make a simple syrup:
combine one cup water and one cup sugar in a saucepan. Let the sugar dissolve in the water and allow
the mixture to simmer slightly. Remove
from heat and let cool. (You can depart from the traditional “muddling” by
infusing the syrup with mint -- just add a sprig of mint when you remove the
syrup from the heat and let steep for about 15 minutes, then strain.) Combine one part simple syrup to two parts
bourbon (I prefer Maker’s Mark) in a small pitcher. Add a mint leaf or two to each julep glass;
muddle by pressing mint along the cup with the back of a spoon. Pour bourbon-syrup mixture over crushed
ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Benedictine Sandwiches
I’ve never been a huge Benedictine fan,
but I’m dying to try my hand at making a batch of my own. The
famous cucumber spread invented by Louisville
caterer and cookbook author Jennie Benedict is synonymous with the Derby
City.
The recipe I want to try this year
comes from the Courier-Journal:
· 8 ounces of
cream cheese, softened
· 3 tablespoons cucumber juice
· 1 tablespoon onion juice
· 1 teaspoon salt
· a few grains of cayenne pepper
· 2 drops green food coloring
To get the juice, peel and grate a cucumber, then wrap in a clean dish towel and squeeze juice into a dish. Discard pulp. Do the same for the onion. Mix all ingredients with a fork until well blended. Using a blender will make the spread too runny."
· 3 tablespoons cucumber juice
· 1 tablespoon onion juice
· 1 teaspoon salt
· a few grains of cayenne pepper
· 2 drops green food coloring
To get the juice, peel and grate a cucumber, then wrap in a clean dish towel and squeeze juice into a dish. Discard pulp. Do the same for the onion. Mix all ingredients with a fork until well blended. Using a blender will make the spread too runny."
What do y’all serve at Derby Parties?
3 Years Ago ...
Three years ago my husband and I tied the knot on Derby Day!
Being from Kentucky, I wanted to incorporate something to tie in the Bluegrass state.
I decided to go with "Lucky In Love" favor bags filled with chocolate horseshoes.
Here are some pictures to enjoy :)
The favor bag labels were made by a Kentucky girl, M.Ellen Designs of Lexington, KY!
Quilts Galore
Since Sarah shared with us why Paducah is known as Quilt City with the AQS Quilt Show in town and Cincinnati recently hosted the International Quilt Festival, I thought it a perfect time to share some of our favorite quilts.
She also throws in some great modern prints, too, with this patchwork quilt. I’m not sure who likes it more – Heather with her love of Lilly P or Max!
Emily loves quilts for the same reasons I do – each quilt is a labor of love. Quilters often quilt because they love the process, but every quilter I know loves to make quilts for others – almost meditating over the recipient while making the gift.
With this in mind, Emily decided to learn to quilt. She found a local quilter on Etsy and asked for lessons. This is a great way to learn a new craft.
While Emily quickly found out that quilting isn’t always great for those with ever-changing attention spans, she did make two awesome quilts!
One for her father with an Asian influence, and a great patchwork quilt made from some modern Amy Butler fabric (an icon in the modern quilting world!).
My beloved aunt, Carol, helped teach me to quilt when I decided to do a class project on quilting. When she passed away, I inherited her amazing machine, and my love for modern-style quilting really blossomed. I love to use modern fabrics in conjunction with more traditional patterns and also to try to come up with new designs.
I’ve found that baby blankets are just about the perfect size – not so big I get tired of them and not so small that they aren’t functional. Plus, I love giving handmade baby gifts! Who doesn’t want a quilt to snuggle under?
If I could just find the time to make a quilt for myself!
Derby Divide
I read Heather's latest post here about Derby Festival, I sat perplexed. What are these wondrous events that take place in Louisville? As a long-time Lexingtonian, you would think that I knew all about the Derby Festival. Instead, I had the same thoughts Heather shared prior to her Louisville residency:
In MY Lexington, which admittedly might have slightly less social flourish than other residents, you can go to Keeneland to watch Oaks and Derby. There is food served of course (burgoo or bread pudding, anyone?), and you can bring your picnic blankets and family to enjoy spring Kentucky weather and betting on ponies without the traffic at Churchill Downs. Dress codes for some of the dining rooms go away and sky high heels make way for ballet flats.
Occasionally, I'll hear of friends who are taking their kids to Thunder. I just assumed it was a big ol' firework spectacle and honestly didn't associate it much with Derby. The Chow Wagon is a new discovery for me this year. Given my affection for food, I'm quite surprised my stomach hasn't heard of it yet. In fact, in a quick glance at the Derby Festival schedule, I've learned there are also volleyball tournaments and races of steamboats, feet (running), and beds. Yes, beds.
Apparently the cultural differences between Lexington and Louisville have yet to span the short 70 miles down I-64. Perhaps next year I will immerse myself in all that is Derby - bed races and pyrotechnics included.
Can any other non-Louisville residents relate to this general gap in knowledge? Or am I stuck in my little Lexington bubble drinking bourbon by myself?
Is a Chow Wagon more appetizing than it sounds? And Thunder is just a bunch of fireworks, right?
Occasionally, I'll hear of friends who are taking their kids to Thunder. I just assumed it was a big ol' firework spectacle and honestly didn't associate it much with Derby. The Chow Wagon is a new discovery for me this year. Given my affection for food, I'm quite surprised my stomach hasn't heard of it yet. In fact, in a quick glance at the Derby Festival schedule, I've learned there are also volleyball tournaments and races of steamboats, feet (running), and beds. Yes, beds.
Apparently the cultural differences between Lexington and Louisville have yet to span the short 70 miles down I-64. Perhaps next year I will immerse myself in all that is Derby - bed races and pyrotechnics included.
Can any other non-Louisville residents relate to this general gap in knowledge? Or am I stuck in my little Lexington bubble drinking bourbon by myself?
Kentucky Writers' Day
In honor of Kentucky Writers' Day, the HerKentucky team put together a few thoughts about our favorite Kentucky writers.
 |
| Wendell Berry. Image via Garden and Gun |
Lydia:
I love Bobbie Ann Mason for her storytelling. I love Barbara Kingsolver for the rich imagery in so many of her books. Prodigal Summer is one of my all-time favorite books, but The Poisonwood Bible was the one that really drew me in to her canon. I also love Wendell Berry for both his fiction and his activism. I respect that he fights for what he believes in. (Most of which I also happen to believe in, so that helps!)
Also, as a reader and unashamed lover of romance novels, I have to give a shout out to Jude Deveraux who is hugely successful in her field and is from Fairdale. She's been on the New York Times Best-Seller list with 36 different books. Last summer, I set out to read every one of her books that follow the Montgomery/Taggert families and loved it!
Oh, I forgot to add an up-and-comer in young adult fiction named Tammy Blackwell. She has a trilogy of YA paranormal fiction that features a great strong female character. She's a librarian in Marshall County.
Sarah:
I know other states might have more Presidents or celebrities but I have to say that Kentucky has done a fantastic job of producing writers. When I get comfortable calling myself a writer, then I'll be so honored to be included in this group. Here are my top five:
 |
| bell hooks. Image via Berea College. |
1. Wendell Berry Others have captured his genius much better than I can. All I can say is if I ever met him I'm pretty sure I would go full-scale Wayne's World "I'm not worthy!"
2. Barbara Kingsolver I was a vegetarian for five years. Then I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I'm not a vegetarian anymore. I'd say that about sums it up.
3. Bobbie Ann Mason From just down the road, her memoir Clear Springs made me feel at home when I was anything but.
4. Molly Harper She's from Paducah (and in my book club!). Molly Harper writes about vampires...and librarians. Need I say more?
5. bell hooks Feminism is for Everybody should be handed out to every college freshman in the nation.
 |
| Hunter S. Thompson, by Annie Leibovitz |
Cristina:
Hunter S. Thompson, Louisville native, for introducing us to Gonzo journalism with his 1970 essay "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved", and for the fact that his ashes were fired into the sky by a cannon (arranged by another Kentuckian, Johnny Depp) because "he loved explosions".
Heather:
I have to agree with Cristina; Dr. Thompson's piece about the Derby is on my short list for the greatest configuration of words ever set to paper. As I've said before, I find his sports writing to be the greatest and most underreported of his works.
The works of Verna Mae Slone and Paul Brett Johnson are sentimental favorites for me, because both authors were my distant cousins on my father's side.
A few years ago, I had the good fortune to interview a Western Kentucky-born writer named Holly Goddard Jones. She was charming and down-to-earth, and her short stories captured rural Kentucky life without pathos or exploitation (a rare gift in a young author.) Holly hasn't quite made my "favorite Kentucky writers" list yet, but I certainly think she's one to watch...
Who are your favorite Kentucky Writers?
Who are your favorite Kentucky Writers?