Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

A Kentucky Derby Party

Today was the 135th Running of the Roses -- The Kentucky Derby. And every year a friend of ours hosts a Kentucky Derby Party -- she's neither a Kentuckian nor a Southerner but she loves to party and the Kentucky Derby gives her a chance to turn her charming home into Churchill Downs.
We all bring an appetizer and all of the ladies wear a hat. Some hats are fancier than others but I prefer to wear my garden hat. I made it into a Derby hat by adding a rhinestone horse pin to the black band.
My appetizer? Mini Hot Browns. The famous Kentucky sandwich from the Brown Hotel and first made in the early 20's. The sandwich is turkey and bacon covered with Mornay sauce and then put into a broiler until the sauce is all hot and bubbly. Often a tomato slice is put on top.

My version -- slices of a good bread, toasted in a skillet, then topped with turkey, a small slice of good bacon and a good spoon of Mornay sauce. Half a cherry tomato tops the appetizer.

It was good and I came home with an empty tray.

The best part of the party is not the food nor the "pretend" bets that we do nor the hat contest . . . but rather
The mint julep that we consume during the course of the afternoon.

9 comments:

Valerie said...

The party sounds like fun and your appetizer looks delicious. Always a great feeling to come home with an empty dish after any type of pot luck or gathering involving food!

Blondie's Journal said...

Mmmmm. the sandwiches, the hats or the mint juleps... which do I covet the most? Well, all of them, of course!!

I will save the recipe for some refreshing summer appetizers! Thank you so much Martha! ;-D

xoxo
Jane

Southerncook said...

Martha, Your appetizer looks wonderful and it must have been since you came home with an empty platter.

DD went to a KD party and was looking for a hat. I just happened to have one that looks exactly like yours. Imagine that???? DH and myself baby sat for the two little girls since their mommy and daddy went to a derby party as well. We had fun too.

Carolyn

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

Your party sounds like a fun time and those little appetizers look yummy! I think I'll have to try those sometime :0)
Mint juleps?! Wow and mmm, mmm, good!
Have a fab day!

Pondside said...

We watched the Derby on TV yesterday - very exciting! Your hat is very tasteful - weren't there some interesting hats in the crowd?

Toad said...

Have you ever heard of Marlborough pie? Sound like something right up your warm weather entertaining alley.

Chandy said...

Wow, I love the sound of those sandwiches! I'll have to try them!

Martha said...

Toad, I've not heard of Marlborough Pie although I've heard (and made) Derby pie. I'll have to look it up -- thanks for the suggestion!

Judy said...

We went to a KD party also, and there was so much food, I was stuffed. We had mint juleps too plus oodles of appetizers and a full buffet, then desserts. Our horse, #10, looked like he was almost going to win until #8 took off.