I love down home Southern cooking.  It makes you feel good inside, it’s comfort food.  Now you can have that Southern style at your own Kentucky Derby party with these traditional Kentucky recipes. The new edition of Derby Entertaining gives recipes for breakfast, brunch, afternoon cocktails, buffets, and sit-down dinners.  You will find recipes for everything from Benedictine to Bourbon pork Chops to Mint Julep Punch.  Check this book out as well as other Kentucky cookbooks right here!

Try these great Kentucky recipes for your next Kentucky Derby Party.

Hot Brown
Mint Julep
Kentucky Burgoo
Bourbon Balls
Benedictine

And many more Famous Kentucky Recipes.

Have you ever had a Hot Brown?  An open-faced turkey and bacon sandwich, the Hot Brown was created in the 1920’s at the Brown Hotel.  According to the official site, The Brown drew in 1,200 a night for a dinner/dance.  In the wee hours of the morning, the guests would grow tired and hungry, and go to the restaurant for a bite to eat.  The guests grew bored of the traditional ham and eggs, so Chef Fred Schmidt created the new Hot Brown.

The Louisville sandwich has become world famous, and has been featured in several magazines and TV shows. Thanks to the Brown Hotel for the above info and this great recipe, so you can have a Hot Brown at home!  Not only that, you can have this fancy plate to eat your sandwich on.  Louisville Stoneware, another Louisville legend, has created a Hot Brown plate with the recipe right on it.  What a great Kentucky gift! Plus, it is microwave and dishwasher safe.  Wouldn’t it be nice to give this as a gift with the history of the Hot Brown attached to it? Perfect.

MERCHANT PAYS FREIGHT FOR DERBY TASTES SENT TO U.S. TROOPS

The annual April spike in out-of-town orders for Derby Pie is all the proof John Hassmann needs to know there are lots of Derby parties well outside of Louisville on the first Saturday in May.

But as the owner of A Taste of Kentucky, 11800 Shelbyville Road, Hassmann also knows that many U.S. troops serving at home and abroad wish they were here for the Running of the Roses. So each year his business pays the cost of shipping for Kentucky  products sent to soldiers.

“It’s not something we’ve promoted, but it’s been a standing rule that anytime anybody buys something to send to active-duty personnel, we pay the shipping,” said Hassmann, who served in the U.S. Navy in the 1960’s.

Not surprising, top on the gift list is the legendary Kern’s Kitchen Derby Pie.

“For about the last 10 years we’ve sent out four or five cases of pies every Derby and Christmas” to the submarine crews of the U.S.S. Louisville and the U.S.S. Kentucky, Hassmann said. The U.S.S. Louisville crew returned their gratitude a few years ago by taking Hassmann for an all-day ride on the sub during a post-maintenance shakedown cruise.

Thankful sailors attending the Derby also have visited him personally at the shop. “We just try to support them whenever we have the opportunity,” Hassmann said.

1 (6 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate bits
1/2 c. sugar
3 tbsp. light corn syrup (Karo white)
1/3 c. bourbon
2 1/2 c. (about 5 dozen) finely crushed vanilla wafers
1 c. finely chopped pecan nuts
Powdered sugar to roll balls in

Melt chocolate over hot water. Remove from hot water and stir in sugar and syrup. Blend in bourbon. Combine wafers and nuts and add to chocolate mixture; mix well.

Form 1-inch balls and roll in confectioners sugar. Let ripen in covered container at least several days. Makes about 4 1/2 dozen. Will keep 3-4 weeks in tightly covered container!

Nothing will please your guests more then good ol’ Kentucky favorites. You can turn your party into a classic Kentucky gathering or a fun for all BBQ! Which ever you choose, sharing the experience of Kentucky with your guests will be more then enjoyable.

If you want to go with the classic Kentucky party, white linens with polished silver and china will claim the simple elegance of the bluegrass state. Providing your guests with a traditional Kentucky snack will be a delight. Kentucky Benedictine (a cucumber dip) is a go around favorite, serve with crudité, crackers or triangles of cocktail rye. Beaten biscuits and country ham can be made into snack size tastings for your guests. “No dessert until you finish your food” is not taken into account when hosting a Derby party. Bourbon Balls are a definite crowd pleaser. For a main course Burgoo or Hot Browns are always a great choice. Burgoo is a classic soup made with a variety of meats and vegetables. Hot Browns are a signature item from Louisville’s Brown Hotel. Hot Browns can also be made vegetarian style to please any guest. And for dessert…Derby Pie.

If your taste is a little more wild then a classic Kentucky party, then bring on the BBQ and the potluck! Provide the meat for your guests and have your guests bring their favorite southern style side dish. Pick up some Derby themed decorations and have a free for all day, food, liquor and gambling.