The Kentucky Derby is just a week away, and the in-house chefs at Churchill Downs (Rosemary's Catering) are sharing recipes for the ultimate Derby Watch Party.
From Mint Juleps to Bourbon Balls, all can enjoy the ultimate Derby Party!
Bourbon Balls
Yield: 16
Ingredients
1 cup chopped nuts
5 T bourbon
16 oz confectioners' sugar
½ cup butter
18 oz semi-sweet chocolate
24 ea. whole pecans
Method
- Combine nuts and bourbon. Allow to soak overnight
- Add sugar, nuts, and butter in a mixing bowl
- Stir into mixture that you can scoop and roll
- Roll into 1 oz balls, or to your desired size.
- Melt chocolate
- Dip bourbon balls in melted chocolate
- Place on wax paper to cool, set half pecan on top for garnish
Bourbon Bread Pudding
Yield: 16
Ingredients
4 cups croissants, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups milk/cream
5 eggs
¼ cup bourbon
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla paste
3 T sorghum
1 cup chocolate chips
Salt, to taste
Method
- Combine all items, except croissant pieces and chocolate, and mix well to make custards
- Spray 9x13'' baking dish, spread croissant pieces and chocolate evenly
- Gently pour custard over
- Press gently to moisten all croissant pieces and chocolate
- Bake at 325 degrees for 30-45 minutes, until no liquid remains but is still moist
- Let cool 30 minutes, cut, serve
Hot Brown Party Dip
Yield: 16
Ingredients
1 cup whole milk
2 cups American cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded gruyere cheese
2 cups sundried tomato, roughly chopped
2 lbs thick sliced roast turkey, cut into bite size pieces
1-2 lbs cooked bacon, cut into bits
Sliced baquette crostini (30-60 slices)
salt and pepper to taste
Method
- Warm milk in sauce pan, remove from heat and melt American cheese into it by stirring until smooth. Add salt and pepper
- Spread half the cheese in on the bottom of a 9x13'' oven-safe dish
- Lay turkey over cheese sauce to cover completely
- Spread remaining cheese sauce over turkey
- Sprinkle bacon and sundried tomatoes over whole casserole
- Cover with shredded cheese and bake at 325 degrees for 20-30 minutes, until cheese is melted and desired color is achieved
Classic Mint Julep
Yield: 1
Ingredients
3-5 mint leaves
1 sprig mint
2 tsp sugar
Crushed ice
1½-2 oz bourbon
Method
- Add mint leaves and 2 tsp sugar to a glass, then muddle until incorporated
- Add crushed ice to top off glass
- Finish with 1½ -2 oz bourbon, then stir
- Slap a sprig of fresh mint, then top off the glass
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Yield: 16
Ingredients
10 cups Weisenberger Mills biscuit mix
15 oz canned yams
¼ cup cream
5 lbs chicken thighs
½ cup molasses
½ cup dijon mustard
¼ cup kosher salt
Bread and buttler pickles (desired amount)
Long toothpicks (1 box)
Method
- Combine yams and cream with whisk in mixing bowl
- Follow steps for biscuits using yams as liquid
- For chicken, combine all remaining ingredients in food-safe container the night before
- Lay chicken on baking sheet and bake in over 20-35 minutes at 325 degrees, or until internal temperatue reacheds 165 degrees
- Cut thighs into biscuit-sized pieces
- Assemble biscuits by placing chicken and pickle chip on split bisquit, topping with toothpick
All photos courtesy Rosemary's Catering
