It is all over the news these days….The Kentucky Derby!
Are you excited?
Do you watch it on Television or do you actually go to Churchill Downs to watch the race of the roses?
Some years the question is asked, “can this horse or that horse win the triple crown”?
That is not the case this year and although I don’t have any idea which horse is the fastest or the one expected to win the Derby, I still like to play along.
After all, it is another excuse for a tablescape….and you know I love setting tables.
That is not to say that I don’t pick a horse to win the Kentucky Derby.
Of course I am like many others who pick a horse just for fun…
…….however, there is never any money involved when I pick a horse as I do not bet on horses.
Unless it is for something like who cleans the kitchen or who has to make the bed tomorrow or who makes the next pizza run! 🙂
Do you want to know my inside secret on how I pick a horse to win the Derby?
I choose a horse by it’s color.
Yep! My strategy is the color of the horse because it is such a pretty color for a horse.
Gray.
If it is a gray horse, that is my choice for the win.
And if there is not a gray horse in the running, then my pick defaults to the colors of the silks on the jockeys.
Preferably, yellow or green or both.
Yes, those two colors are some of my favorites.
And I have to admit that usually there is one of those choice preferences in the Kentucky Derby.
Very scientific wouldn’t you say?
My choice has nothing to do with previous races or track times.
I like a gray horse and if by some rare occasion there are more than one gray in the running…well, then I go to the silks of the jockeys.
OK, since we have established that my horses usually come in last..
………let’s we talk tables.
I started my tablescape with a burlap runner and burlap place mats.
I used silver chargers for the roses dinner plates and matching cups and salad plates.
We can’t have a roses place setting without using silverware with stable knots in the handles.
Keeping to the rope theme, I used blue napkins with rope detailing, coupled with a red shear napkin and secured with silver napkin rings
Of course, we have to have silver mint julip glasses and I used them for red roses.
The hurricane glasses are filled with a mint tea Julip which is delish.
The centerpiece is a gray horses’ head (of course it is) that I picked up at Pier 1 and I couldn’t help but add my first place blue ribbon to his mane.
The silver ice bucket compliments all the silver on the table that will soon be serving a Kentucky Derby Meal.
I know the wine says dark horse…believe me if I could have found a gray horse label…it would be sitting in that ice bucket right now. I noticed there were chestnut colored horses on a 14 hands label but I decided my gray would be the dark horse of the race.
And what would the Kentucky Derby be with out a hat?
A big floppy Derby hat.
This hat is just waiting for me to put it on as I serve my southern mint tea Julips.
The Menu is pretty simple and original to the Kentucky Derby.
I started with a fruit, cheese and crackers cheese board.
And for the main meal…..
I made Hot Browns Sliders which are so easy to make.
The recipes follow this post, but they are so easy to make using deli turkey, sliced tomato, bacon and a cheese sauce.
These can be made ahead of time and popped into the oven to warm them up.
And they are sooooo good.
And you can’t have the run for the roses meal without a Kentucky Derby Pecan (with chocolate) pie….and perhaps topped with a little whipped cream with maybe just a smidge of bourbon if you so desire. 😉
Yummy!
I was very original with the side salad.
Cole Slaw from Kentucky Fried Chicken. LOL
Make it easy on yourself….there are a lot of short cuts one can take and I will never tell if you don’t.
The Menu is below.
Menu
Kentucky Mint Tea Julip
Kentucky fruit and cheese board
Kentucky Hot Brown Mini Sandwiches
Kentucky Cole Slaw
Kentucky Pecan Derby pie
with Maker’s Mark bourbon whipped cream, if desired.
I hope you are having a great day.
Do you like to watch the Kentucky Derby?
I love to see your comments and I will answer each and every one.
Blessings Always
- 1 pkg of King's Hawaiian rolls
- 1 pkg Stouffers Welsh Rarebit Cheese Sauce (or a slice of gruyere cheese)
- 12 slices deli turkey
- 12 slices deli ham
- 12 slices Roma Tomatoes
- 6 slices of fried bacon (halved)
- Melted Butter
- Melt the cheese sauce according to package directions (3 minutes in microwave)
- Assemble the sliders by slicing the 12 dinner rolls in half and adding as much cheese sauce as you prefer
- Add folded pieces of turkey and folded pieces of ham (your way of putting on a sandwich)
- Top with slice of tomato and two pieces of cooked bacon
- Add more cheese to the top before putting the roll top on the sandwich
- Brush the top with butter if desired and place in 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes, serve hot
- 1 pie dough crust (I bought refrigerated Pillsbury)
- 1 3/4 cups pecans loosely chopped
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup dark corn syrup
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/4 cup of bourbon (you can substitute water if desired)
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Bourbon Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons bourbon
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees
- Place pie crust into a pie pan
- Spread the chocolate chips mixed with the pecans in the bottom of the pie shell and set aside
- In a medium sized sauce pan, add the corn syrup, white and brown sugar stirring as you bring to a boil. Boil for about 3 minutes and set aside to cool enough for adding the eggs
- Beat the eggs and add the bourbon or water
- Then add butter and vanilla and salt mixing well
- Temper a bit of the egg mixture to the warm sugar/syrup mixture being careful not to curdle the eggs
- Slowly add the remaining egg mixture to combine all the ingredients
- Pour the mixture into the pie shell and top with whole pecans if desired.
- Bake for about 25 minutes or until set
- Bourbon Whipped Cream
- Mix the cream, powdered sugar and bourbon together in a cold bowl
- With an electric mixer beat until the desired consistency and chill until ready to serve
- #You can use cool whip and add a bit of bourbon to it, whipping with a whisk
- 3/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 6 mint sprigs
- 2 cups cold water
- 5 cups crushed ice
- 2 1/2 cups of chilled ginger ale
- Lots of crushed ice
- Lemon slices and mint sprigs for garnish if desired
- Mix sugar, cold water, lemon juice and about 6 roughly chopped mint sprigs in a bolw and let stand for 45 minutes for flavors to meld.
- Remove most of the mint leaving smaller pieces
- Using two 2 quart pitchers, place half of the mixture and half of the ginger ale in each pitcher and add the crushed ice just before serving
- If you are adding bourbon, this would be the time to add to taste, stirring well
- Top with lemon slices and additional mint sprigs or use them individually on each glass
- This recipe makes about 3 quarts of Mint Juleps
Great post! Oh how I miss KY Derby pie, from the days long ago before food allergies!
I love your table and all your creative derby references. Thanks for sharing at TFT!
thank you Amber for hosting.
Cute cute table Kari! We always watch and bet, I choose by the name I like best!! I won a couple of years ago with the horse called “I’ll Have Another” 😂 Your menu is PERFECT! Have fun!
Jenna
I love that name for a horse. The Derby will be here before we know it. I am sure you will come up with beautiful table too. hugs
You aren’t missing a beat with these holidays and I love it. The gray horse centerpiece is amazing as is the rest of the table. I’ve always wanted to attend the Derby just to wear a big hat, while avoiding walking in the horse poo. Once upon a time I had the white and brown polka dress Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman. My kids didn’t like it so much, but I felt pretty. We just might have Hot Browns this weekend thanks for the menu and all the tips.
How cool was that dress Sandra? A quick story…Years ago when I lived in New Mexico, my BIL raised race horses and we would go to the races to watch his horses race. He would say go bet on the horse to win and of course the family bet on his horse…except me. I put a $2.00 bet on a gray horse and my BIL’s horse did NOT win…but the gray horse did, I think the gray came in 3rd (you know win, place, or show) so I had about 7 or 10 dollars in my pocket (can’t remember how much but it was not a lot of money like you see in the movies.) Anyway, he told the family he would replace their losses if they would give him their losing ticket.
When he got to me, I said that was ok, I did not need to replace my loss. He looked me in the eye with a twinkle and said “you didn’t bet on my horse did you?” And I had to laugh and confess.
Kari,
Really love your Kentucky Derby post and table. Even though I have never been to Kentucky I have made Hot Brown sandwiches many times from an old southern cookbook, they are so good! Now, I can make your sliders too! Our weather here in northern Calif. is so beautiful now. It is true what God says, “Everything shall pass” and now instead of grey, dark days there is blue sky and spring!
Happy Spring, my friend
P.S. I have always liked KFC coleslaw.
Linda
Thank you sweet friend. Personally I love KFC cole slaw too…. and I love hot brown sandwiches..oh, well, I will just say it. I love just about any food. LOL So glad you are seeing some beautiful weather in No Cal….hang in there, the best is yet to come.
Beautiful table Kari! My scientific process for picking a horse: I pick a name I like! LOL
Hugs~
Perfect process Tammy….I like it almost as much as I like mine. We are very clever gals, aren’t we? Hugs
Evidently someone knows when the Kentucky Derby is! What a perfect table for it! I love the rose dishes, just great for the Run for the Roses!
thanks Chloe….I also have a Preakness table….LOL
Kari this is such a fun post! I would love to join you for your Derby party! My favorite part is the beautiful rose plate! May I ask where you found them?
Polly from west Texas
Actually Polly, the china pattern is called Pink Roses (they look more red then pink) and made by Churchill China company of England. (No relation to Winston or Churchill Downs)
I have had the set for several years….I don’t think they make this pattern anymore. Perhaps Replacements might have some…I haven’t checked. You would be welcome at my derby party for sure….the more the merrier!
Thank you for stopping by.
This all sounds great, Kari. You know I invited all of the Birds in Paradise to my Annual Derby Party on our facebook page. I hope you guys will join us. We just don’t see enough of you.
Donna
Absolutely great post! Would love to see you wearing that awesome hat.
Actually Deb, I wore it on Palm Sunday…..LOL…I also have a yellow one just like it and I wore it on Easter. I have lots of hats and love wearing them…these days, church is about the only place to do so…unless, I am at “Ascot” watching the races. Yeah….like that is ever going to happen. LOL Thanks for stopping by.
Yummy those sliders look so good 😜I love those plates so pretty 💙
Thanks sweetie….you know I have such fun putting these tablescapes together and it is so nice to see someone else likes them too. Hugs
We definitely celebrate Derby Day at this house. We are from Louisville, Kentucky! But due to my husband’s career with CSX Railroad we wound up in Florida. We stand and put our hands over our heart when they sing “My Old Kentucky Home” and get a little misty-eyed! 😁
I think I’ll try your hot brown sliders. Sounds so easy compared to the long, drawn-out process of the original. A quick bite for a quick race.😉
We get aggravated with our newspaper here because they don’t realize how important this race is! LOL. Today was the first day we got to see the names of the horses. I pick mine kind of like you do.
Happy Derby Day!
It is so fun isn’t it Nancy? I fully understand your feelings when they sing “My Old Kentucky Home”…I can get emotional over ANY music.
Well, just know that we will be watching the race with you even though we are in Florida also…and I will be wearing my hat even though I will be in casual clothes…:) but that is ok because we are at the races in spirit! thanks for stopping by. Hugs
I can’t find your Kentucky Derby recipes. I’d love to try them.
Sorry Nena…the recipes are there now at the bottom of the post. All the recipes are so simple to make and so good too.
Lovely, as always!
Thanks so much Jane….I do appreciate all your inputs. I am counting down the days until I see you guys. Hugs