I had such a blast chatting with Martha Stewart Living Radio hosts, Kim Fernandez and Betsy Karetnick on the morning live show yesterday. I hope you didn’t miss it, because I shared some fabulous Kentucky Derby Party ideas. If you haven’t caught on yet, I’m BIG on turning any annual event into a reason to party! Here are the tips I shared plus my recipe for a pomegranate mint juelp. DELISH!
Kentucky Derby Party Tips
- Dress up Derby style! Purchase inexpensive hats at the craft store and provide ribbons and flowers for decorating…then have a contest for the Most Festive, Most Original, etc. (the options are endless)!
- Theme the menu! Try traditional Derby dishes such as Burgoo and Benedictine sandwiches. Or draw inspiration from the nationalities of the jockeys or bloodlines of the horeses. What could be a greater conversation piece than why you’re serving fabulous Argentine beef? Top off your meal with cupcakes in the shape of a horseshoe decorated with icing rosettes to represent the “Run for the Roses”.
- Pick the winner! Besides the must-have pool you’ll be running for the winner of the big race, offer an additional pool for the first horse to come BACK over the finish line AFTER the race. It will keep your guests cheering even when the race is over!
- Name that horse! Horse names are traditionally fabulous. Have a contest for who can come up with the best name and their explanation for how they came up with it.
- Bingo! Create a bingo card using trivia about horses, their owners, or racing in general. The first person to get all of the squares marked off in a line wins!
- Mint Juleps please! Serve this traditional Derby drink in silver plastic tumblers or purchase inexpensive collectible tumblers online for everyone to take home with them as a parting gift.
For a delicious new twist on the Mint Julep make yours a PAMA Mint Julep!
PAMA Mint Julep
- 2 oz. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
- 2 oz. Evan Williams Bourbon
- 2 Sprigs fresh mint
- Garnish: pomegranate seeds and sprig of fresh mint
In a cocktail shaker, muddle 2 mint and sugar cubes with PAMA and bourbon. Add ice and shake ingredients vigorously, then strain into a traditional julep cup over crushed ice. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and a sprig of fresh mint, then serve.
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