Derby Day Done Right

With Derby day almost upon us, and in homage to my Southern roots; here are a few inspirational derby day party ideas, glorious hats, and fun facts.  This is one place where a fascinator just won't do ladies.  The bigger the brim, the better, but with a touch of grace please. I'm definitely a downturn brim girl myself when it comes to hats.  I think they add a bit of mystery and fun to almost any hat! And, if I were a betting woman, I'd place my money on Bodemeister ;) Did you know that the Mint Julep didn't come to the Derby until 1938?  According to The Huffington Post, "The refreshing mint julep became the official drink of the Derby in 1938 (the first Derby was run in 1875) and was served in water glasses. According to the Derby Museum at Churchill Downs in Louisville, the glasses disappeared from the track dining room. So management started charging 25 cents per glass and the most popular race souvenir was born. They are collector's items and older glasses command hundreds of dollars on eBay. By 2010 the production run was up to 700,000 and they can be bought in stores. Sterling Silver Julep Cups were introduced in 1951 and they play an important role in Derby lore." And of course, you must bake the perfect Derby Pie for any Derby celebration.  Short on time, not to worry order from the Kentucky Derby store.  Derby-Pie® is the perfect blend of real chocolate and California walnuts baked in Kern's own flaky crust. The Official Pie of Churchill Downs and a Derby Party tradition for over 50 years.  Enjoy!

Diane Lane - Perfection, as always at the 2010 Derby.

 Images Above Courtesy of Southern Living.

The Perfect Mint Julep Recipe

Yield: 1 (12 ounce) cocktail
Preparation time: 10 minutes. Start mixing at least by 4:30 for 5:00 post time.
Ingredients
8 to 10 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint for garnish
1 tablespoon of sugar, more or less to taste
1 1/2 ounce clean fresh Kentucky spring water
3 ounces premium Bourbon
Crushed ice
About the Bourbon. Knob Creek is my favorite sippin' whiskey, but I cringe at the thought of mixing it with sugar and mint. So I use Jim Beam Black Label, first rate 8 year old that sells for about $25 where I live.
Optional: Replace the sugar with 1 ounce peach syrup.
Optional: Replace the water with seltzer to make it more lively.
Do this
1) Rinse the mint to make sure any dirt splashed on the underside of the leaves is gone. Don't dry them. The moisture from the rinse is helpful in making the drink.
2) Put the leaves in a 12 ounce cocktail glass and pour the sugar on top. Muddle them together with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon. When the leaves and wet sugar begin to turn to a mushy paste, add the water and the bourbon, and stir with a fork until the sugar dissolves. Top with crushed ice, garnish with the sprig of mint, get your bets down, and serve.

Images Above Courtesy of Hats in the Belfry.Com.

Image Courtesy of Kentucky Derby Store.

Go Bodemeister!  

royal wedding watch breakfast

Spring is almost here and I have Royal Wedding fever.  Yes, I've fallen prey to the excitement and am planning a Royal Wedding Watch breakfast for my ladies! I love planning parties for my friends and family. My yearly Halloween party is quite fun, with everyone always having a memorable time.  This little get-together should be equally as memorable and so much fun - I can't wait. Hats are mandatory, pj's optional due to the early hour we will be watching! I've based the morning's color scheme on the newly released Royal Collection China being sold by Buckingham Palace and The Royal Collection shop.  The porcelain pieces are pale grey and silver, with gold embellishments and a touch of pale blue.  The tea towel is my favorite piece; I love the blue starburst, as well as the garlands. So pretty. My checklist is almost complete, and I'm awaiting my final goodies to arrive from the UK.  Enjoy!

images above courtesy of http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/default.asp

For starters, I'd like to create a beautiful 'breakfast/dessert' table that will feature all of our fun breakfast foods and some very yummy sweets.  Here is my inspiration table from Amy Atlas Events. I have all the crisp white serving pieces, but will be adding touches of pale blues, greys and silvers.  My sky-blue and white damask tablecloth will be the perfect table covering, with perhaps my crisp white table runner as a topper. 

image via http://www.amyatlas.com/

image via http://www.amyatlas.com/

The amazingly talented Micheline, from Madame Butterfly Cakes, made a beautiful Fall basket cake for my family to enjoy at Thanksgiving last year, and has graciously accepted the task of making a Royal Wedding Cake for my breakfast!  She is magnificently talented and I can't wait to see what she will be creating! Maybe something like this beautiful homage to Wedgewood?  

My Wedding Breakfast Menu Cards are being created by Sarah Ridgley.  I love Etsy, and Sarah is one of the talented letterpress artists that creates true works of art and sells them on Etsy.  Here is a working draft as of today.  It will be printed on heavy, 8x10 ivory paper with rounded edges and sit on the dessert table with all the yummies that you see on the card.  Sarah is also making little tags for my dessert table.  Love them! Sarah also made the large letterpress card that will go on my foyer table to welcome my guests as they enter.  This is how I found Sarah on Etsy!  Fun!

My hat (aka Fascinator) is being created by Hats by Cressida.  Another great Etsy find!  It will be in a pale grey to match my suit (or pj's, whichever I am motived to be in!) and will look like this.  How much fun is this?

My floral arrangements, (you can't have a ladies tea without flowers!) will be pale pink, creamy ivory and crisp green. I'm trying to go for a very soft look, but with punches of crisp green.  My large glass hurricane urns that previously stood on my mantle, will adorn our dessert table filled with large bunches of limelight hydrangea.  I think this will set off the pale blue damask table cloth and other pale blues of the macaron, as well as the crisp whites of the serving pieces just right.  Lisa at Main Street Nursery is so perfect at creating exactly what I'm looking for each and every time.  Here are some ideas I've given her to work with. 

image via http://www.marthastewart.com/

image via http://www.marthastewart.com/

image via http://www.teleflora.com/flowers/bouquet/telefloras-park-avenue-centerpiece-372828p.asp

image via http://www.carolynshepard.com/

And, just for giggles; I've also included a few of those fun items that have been popping up all over the place. This flag will fly outside on the porch to welcome guests to their royal morning!  I just couldn't resist.

 

I'm counting down the days, and will keep you informed as to any fun little things I've found to add to the day's festivities!  If you see something you think I'd like, please let me know! Aren't you dying to know, what will she wear? (I personally am hoping for something very Grace Kelly-esque).