Kentucky Derby Spins

 Today is the famed and much beloved Kentucky Derby. The event is known for racing but also for the classic foods from the Bluegrass State. As with all traditional recipes they just need some updating. They' still will be tasty but with a modern spin.

Mint julips have always been a must at the Derby and also got many through the humid Kentucky summers. Update them by turning them into slushies.It's a refreshing cocktail on a hot Spring or summer night.It's also an easy mix too. First freeze glasses for only fifteen minutes. It;s then blending ice, bourbon, mint leaves and simple syrup in a blender for about thirty seconds or until it resembles a Slurpee or Icee.  Gently slap a mint leave against your wrist to release the mint oils and place on top of the slush. You can serve with  spoons or straws. Simple syrup is an easy cook and it's great for also sweetening iced teas and lemonades too.It's just cooking up one cup of white granulated sugar with one cup of water. You don't have to wait to the water to boil. Just heat it up enough so that the sugar completely. You can add mint oil to intensify the flavor of the julip if you want. A few drops will do it.  another way to make your mint julip a cool sip is serving it in  home made ice cups. This is just filling up a regular size glass or cup with water and then placing another cup inside it . Freeze and then pour the mint julip slushie into it.

Hot brown sandwiches are a Louisville tradition having originated at the city's famed Brown Hotel. It's basically a turkey sandwich with a Mornay sauce made from eggs and  Parmesan cheese. Tomatoes are added and the whole thing is placed in the broiler.  The sandwiches are sometimes topped with bacon. It's a big sandwich, perfect for a hearty dinner or lunch. It can be streamlined by turning them into manageable sliders. Use King's Hawaiian rolls for a neat sweet taste to counteract the savory. Layer all the ingredients, turkey, tomato and bacon on the rolls. Put them in a buttered baking dish or pan and then pour the sauce over the rolls.Let stand for ten minutes covered with aluminum foil. It's then baking them for twenty minutes in a 350 degree oven for twenty minutes. Burgoo is another Kentucky classic that can have a different spin on it.  This classic stew that the settlers first ate is a mix of chicken , pork shoulder and ground beef. There's a variety of different veggies too like carrots and peas. You can easily make it and then top with a mashed potato crust. It's also a different spin on the British classic and could have been made by the English who settled Kentucky in the 1700's.

The Kentucky Derby is one one the most traditional events the US has. Yet it's time to update the foods associated with it.  There's still the classic taste but new spins for a new generation

A Southern Mother's Day

With Mother's Day and the Kentucky Derby falling within the same weekend, it's nice to combine the two and have  Southern style brunches lunches or dinners. Southern cooking represents handed down recipes and hours of family fun in the kitchen..It's is the perfect cuisine to celebrate mothers no matter where they live.

A Southern style brunch is full of all sorts of flavors. You can start off with mint juleps,a mix of mint leaves, bourbon and water.Confectioners sugar or  a simple syrup is added to it for sweetness.If it's too much for a late morning meal then use the bourbon in  a Southern punch. Add Chardonay to it along with a combo of juices, namely, cranberry ,orange and lime. Use the juices and seltzer for a kid's punch.As for food ,think classics like a basket of fresh from the oven biscuits served with honey butter. Cheddar grits would go well with any egg dish or you can blend the eggs with the grits and cheese for a savory custard. A baked ham is always a welcome addition and slices can be made into a sandwich along with scrambled eggs and biscuits.if you want to keep it light then serve  oven baked maple glazed bacon instead.It's an easy recipe with just brushing the strips with syrup a few minutes before they're done. Shrimp is sometimes served , usually at brunch tables in Georgia and the Carolinas,They're usually made with a mix of chopped green peppers and onions and served with grits.The seafood can be served for an afternoon lunch too.

Southern lunches and dinners are big affairs too.Of course there is Kentucky fried chicken and no from the local KFC. There is an actual recipe that calls for a variety of spices such as ginger, mustard, oregano, and basil  mixed with flour to give the pieces that spicy taste and after bite.  You can use breadcrumbs but a simple batter mixed with the seasonings and spices will make for for a crunchier  and crisper chew. Serve on homemade buttermilk waffles with a drizzle of maple syrup for sweetness.Hot browns are a Kentucky staple, originating in Louisville and they make a fun lunch or dinner for mom. The open faced  sandwiches start with  turkey and bacon piled onto white bread and then topped with a Mornay sauce, a white Bechamel sauce mixed with Gruyere cheese and egg yolk, An easier version is a white sauce with grated Parmesan cheese added. You can also add a tomato slice and an egg too. They're then baked for ten minutes. A quick fun dish is Louville style chili which is a spicy stew served over spaghetti.It can be made meatless or with cooked with  chicken but the usual recipe calls for pork ,lamb or beef . All three can be added  for a really hearty meal. Finish with a Derby pie, a chocolate and walnut tort baked in a pie shell.

This is a weekend of celebrating both for moms and horse racing.  Do it Southern style with boozy drinks and good food. Mom will love it and so will the rest of the family!