My friend Barkley Payne is a native Kentuckian and has had many Kentucky Derby parties over the years. When I told him I was looking for ideas for throwing a party of my own, he was more than happy to share some of the recipes he has enjoyed in the past. Barkley also credits his dear friend Anne-Berry O’Brien for many of the ideas.
Bourbon-Soy Tenderloin with Creamy Mustard Spread
shared by Barkley Payne and Anne-Berry O’Brien
Ingredients
2 pork tenderloins
1/4 cu Soy Sauce
1/4 cu Bourbon
2 tbl Brown Sugar
Method
Mix together soy, bourbon and brown sugar. Place marinade and tenderloins in a sealable bag and remove as much air as possible. Seal bag and refrigerate for at least half a day or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake marinade and tenderloin for one hour – do not cover. Turn tenderloins after 30 minutes. Broil last few minutes to lightly brown if necessary. Pull any fat. Slice and serve with dipping sauce and mini buns.
Creamy Mustard Spread (And Dipping Sauce)
Ingredients
1/3 cu Mayonnaise, low-fat or non-fat can be used
1/3 cu Sour Cream, low-fat or non-fat can be used
1 tbl Scallions
1 tbl Dry Mustard
Salt, to taste
1 1/2 tbl Vinegar, optional
Method
Mix ingredients. Refrigerate overnight. Serve with tenderloin strips and mini buns.
Note: This mixture is more settled and delicious if made a day or several hours in advance.
Kentucky Derby Pie
shared by Barkley Payne and Anne-Berry O’Brien
serves 8
Ingredients
1 cu Sugar
½ cu Flour
½ cu Melted Butter
2 lg Eggs, slightly beaten
¾ cu Chopped Pecans
6 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 tsp Vanilla
2 tbl Bourbon
1 9” Pie Shell, unbaked
Method
Combine sugar and flour in a mixing bowl. Mix in butter. Add eggs, nuts, chips, vanilla & bourbon, mix well. Pour in pie shell. Place on baking sheet and bake preheated oven 305 for 55 minutes until top is brown.
Aunt Prue’s Cheese Straws
shared by Barkley Payne and Anne-Berry O’Brien
makes about 48 straws, about 4” x 8” each
Ingredients
2 cu Sharp Cheddar Cheese
6 tbl Butter, melted
1 cu All Purpose Flour, sifted
2 tsp Baking Power
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
Method
Cream the cheese and butter in a mixer slow speed. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Place on cutting board, pat down more or less flat and cut 4” long straws.
Place on a well greased baking sheet, spaced apart. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until they are crisp and dry.
Mint Julep
Ingredients
Fresh Mint
Sugar
Water
Kentucky Bourbon
Crushed Ice
Method
Early in the day or the day before, make a mint simple syrup. Place 1 cup of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar in a medium saucepan. Roughly chop about 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves and add them to the pot. Bring the pot to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. As soon as the pot reaches a boil, remove it from the heat and cover it for 15-20 minutes. Strain the liquid into a glass container and refrigerate for 4 hours or longer.
To prepare a mint julep, place 4-6 mint leaves in the bottom of an 8 ounce glass. Add 1 ounce simple syrup and muddle the ingredients to release the mint’s essence. Fill the glass with crushed ice and add 2 ounces of bourbon. Stir to combine and garnish with a few mint leaves.