Kentucky Derby Party Recipes

This year the Kentucky Derby will mark its 149th Run for the Roses. Many of us will host or attend parties that will feature several hours of television coverage of the beautiful horses. We will wear a beautiful hat and join in singing "My Old Kentucky Home" while we sip on a mint julep or a glass of bourbon. To help celebrate this great tradition, the physicians and staff at Resurgens Spine Center are sharing some of their favorite recipes. We hope you enjoy Derby Day and what has come to be known as the Greatest 2 Minutes in Sports!!

Kentucky Hot Brown Dip

6-8 ounces Turkey Breast diced in small pieces

2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

8 strips of Bacon, cooked and chopped in small pieces

1 ½ cups Romano cheese, shredded

8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened

¼ cup Sour Cream

1 pint Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half

¼ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

Black Pepper, Salt, Garlic Powder and Paprika to taste

Instructions:

· Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, Monterey Jack, Romano and sour cream. Mix well.

· Add turkey breast, nutmeg, salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Mix well.

· Add the dip to a seasoned cast iron skillet or deep-dish casserole. Top with bacon and cherry tomatoes.

· Bake for 20-25 minutes. Then broil on high for 1 minute.

· Serve with your favorite crackers, bagel chips or baguettes.

Maker's Mark Sausage Balls

Sausage Balls:

2 pounds country sausage

2 sleeves of saltine crackers, finely crushed

1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 eggs

½ cup buttermilk

Bourbon Mustard Dipping Sauce:

1 cup mayonnaise

3 ounces or 2 shots of Maker's Mark Bourbon

1/3 cup yellow mustard

2 Tablespoons honey

Instructions:

· Preheat oven to 450 degrees

· In a large mixing bowl, combine crackers, eggs and buttermilk. Mix well.

· Add sausage and cheese. Mix again, be careful not to overmix.

· Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to cool.

· Form mixture into balls and place on greased cookie sheets.

· Bake for 12 minutes and check progress. Bake for remaining 6 minutes or until cooked through. You want the exterior to be brown and crunchy.

Dipping Sauce:

Combine mayonnaise, mustard, honey and bourbon in a large bowl. Mix well.

Place in a bowl for dipping.

Credit: submitted by our staff via Maker's Mark website

Pimento Cheese Ball

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

¼ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup pimento peppers, drained and dried, then chopped

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon Kosher salt

½ cup pecans, finely chopped

Instructions:

· Combine all ingredients, except the pecans, in a food processor. Pulse it several times until a pale pink or light orange color and ingredients are fully mixed. It should be a chunky consistency.

· Form mixture into a ball. Mixture will be sticky.

· Place chopped pecans into a shallow bowl or pie plate. Roll cheese ball in nuts, gently pressing into it so the pecans stick to the cheese ball.

· Wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve. Take out at least 30 minutes prior to serving.

Serve with crackers, baguettes, bagel chips or your favorite veggies.

Best and Easiest Southern Praline Pecans

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup light brown sugar, packed tightly

¾ cup heavy whipping cream

4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

2 ¼ cups pecan halves

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

· Place parchment paper on a baking sheet and set it aside.

· Have a tablespoon sized scoop ready

· In a medium saucepan, add everything but the pecans, salt and vanilla extract. Stir regularly until it begins to boil.

· When it begins to boil, stir constantly until it reached 236 degrees with a candy thermometer.

· Remove from heat and add the pecan halves, salt and vanilla extract.

· Stir vigorously with a rubber spatula for 3 ½ minutes, or until the mixture begins to thicken. The longer you stir, the thicker the mixture gets. You don't want it too thick or it'll be hard to scoop the pralines and they will dry too firm.

· Quickly drop heaping teaspoons of the mixture onto parchment paper and allow them to cool and become firm. If the mixture is too thin and spreads more than you want, stir a little longer. If the mixture starts to cool too much as you are scooping, place it back on the warm burner (but don't turn it on) and let it keep the mixture warmer. It is helpful to stir the mixture after every few scoops.

· When the pralines are cool and firm, store in an airtight container.

Kentucky Derby Pie

4 eggs

¾ cup brown sugar

¾ cup corn syrup

1/3 cup flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup butter, melted

2 Teaspoons bourbon (optional)

¾ cup chocolate chips

¼ cup chopped pecans

9" prepared, uncooked pie crust

Instructions:

· Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

· Whisk eggs and add brown sugar, corn syrup, and flour

· Whisk until fully incorporated

· Stir in vanilla, butter, and bourbon

· Add chocolate chips and pecans and stir well

· Pour into prepared pie shell and bake in the center of the oven for 60 minutes

· Remove from oven and let cool completely

· Slice and serve. Also good with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream

Mint Julep

Mint Simple Syrup:

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

1 bunch of fresh mint ( approx. 1/3 cup)

Instructions:

· In a small saucepan, add water and sugar. Remove the mint leaves from the stems and add to the pan.

· Simmer until the sugar has dissolved and the mint leaves have darkened (do not boil).

· Let mixture cool to room temperature

· Strain the mint leaves.

· Transfer to an airtight container, chill and serve.

Mint Julep:

In a glass:

· 2 ounces of bourbon

· 1 ounce of mint simple syrup

Stir together.

Add a mint leaf and crushed ice

Serve

Simple Kentucky Derby Adult Beverage

Ingredient: Kentucky Bourbon

Instructions:

Select a glass

Pour the bourbon of your choice

Enjoy

We hope you enjoy some or all of our recipes as you watch the 149^th running of the Kentucky Derby!