Now that I think that I have recovered from this past Saturday’s Derby Party, I’ll share some photos!! Just yesterday did I get all of the dishes used washed & put away, and start to clean the house {again}. It never fails… you make your home sparkling clean before your guests arrive, and then right after they leave you have to start making your home sparkling clean again! We had fun anyways!
The festivities started at 2:00pm with cocktails & appetizers. We provided all of the appetizers, dinner, non-alcoholic drinks, and cocktails to everyone, but if they wanted beer instead, they had to bring that themselves.
It was so halious though when the guys were placing their bets. They did it online with my husband placing the wagers online for them. He looked like a bookie & needed a bookie hat! 
I knew whenever a horse race was about to start, because all of a sudden the guys was come in from outside, crowd around our kitchen table, & it would get really loud! Then they would all hover around the TV to watch to see if they won any money. Here’s a quick photo a took of everyone – you can’t see everyone because they are either sitting down on the furniture or floor.
We had probably about 20 adults, with 11 kiddos, so our house was one busy place. I was able to get photos of food items while I was making/baking them. However, whenever I displayed everything, I didn’t get any photos, because honest – I forgot! My head was too busy with getting dinner finished & getting everything ready. But it was all yummy!!!!
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to make my rose garland that I wanted to. I have this rose paper design that I wanted to put together & thing string different ones together. This party was more focused on the food & drinks, more than the decor. However, I was able to get my horse cupcake toppers made for the kid’s cupcakes – the kids loved them! Here’s a picture of what cupcakes I had left after Saturday {sorry for the poor photo quality}:
Our menu consisted of….
{Some of the photos look different b/c I was trying out a different setting on my camera.}
Appetizers:
**Mini Hot Browns {which I didn’t get a photo in time b/c they went SO fast, but this is what they are suppose to look like}
**Benedictine {which I got photos of when I was making it, but not how I had it displayed}
- shredded cucumbers & onion
- with cream cheese
Cocktails:
**Bourbon Punch – yum {mix of OJ, limeade, bourbon, sugar, water}
**Oaks Lily – my fave {mix of cranberry juice, vodka, sweet & sour mix}
**Bloody Mary’s
* We did Mint Julep {the official KY Derby drink} last year, but no one really drank it, so it was a waste. I passed on making it this year.
Main Course:
**Bourbon Marinated Pork Tenderloin served with Henry Bain Sauce {yummy sauce}
- photos of the meat marinating {has to for at least 12 hrs}
**Garlic Cheese Grits {yum yum to my tum}
- just before going into the oven to bake with more cheese on top!
**Corn on the Cob
Dessert:
**Cupcakes {for the kiddos}
**Bourbon Balls
- powdered sugar, butter, & bourbon, dipped in chocolate – that’s it! – no cooking required
- adult only dessert!
** Kentucky Derby Pie {homemade – 1st time I made it & I L-O-V-E it!} – Does include bourbon, but it’s cooked out of it while baking for 55 mins
- chopped pecans & chocolate chips
- tons of sugar, butter, & a little bourbon simmering together
- so moist & delicious {I hate pecan pie, but love this}
And the must-have at any Derby party - Kentucky Bourbon!
If anyone would like to try any of these dishes or drinks, I would be more than happy to forward you my recipes – just let me know! Tomorrow, I’ll show pictures of my Derby hat this year and I’ll even include photos of last year’s hat.
