The website for the 142nd Kentucky Derby, at www.kentuckyderby.com, is a very exciting place. There you will find information about every aspect of the longest running sporting event in the United States (continuously since 1875), which will take place on Saturday, May 7.
Besides details regarding the Derby’s history, traditions and horses, you will find sensational tips about how to throw a party, including how to decorate your home, what to wear and, of course, what to eat and drink, along with the recipes you’ll be needing to make them. Recipes for appetizers and snacks, entrees and sides, and desserts and beverages, embrace the kind of Derby culinary fare you’d hope for, with the recipes for Kentucky Burgoo, a thick stew comprised of a variety of meats and vegetables and Woodford Reserve Strawberries Derby, made with strawberries soaked in honey and bourbon, looking particularly toothsome.
The burgoo, even better on the second day, is a recipe open to interpretation, so, by all means, feel free to create a version of your own. I left out the ground cloves specified in the list of ingredients and added more vegetables, including cabbage, to my stew. The strawberry dessert is divine, as is, but regarding the mint julep recipe, the called-for silver mint julep cups for serving, though nice, are not essential.
With the red rose being the official flower of the Kentucky Derby, choose them for decorating your Kentucky Derby party dining table. In addition, for decorating yourself, think about a hat – the bigger the better.
