Kentucky Derby Party

I spent so much time browsing the web to find cute Derby party ideas, that I thought I would blog about all the different things I used this year to make our party fabulous.
This was my first time hosting a derby party, but since my boy is from Kentucky, it felt like the perfect party to host for all of my friends. J was a good taste tester, as I had not made any of the dishes before, so he made sure they were as good as he remembered.

First off, I used the FREE derby printables from these 2 websites to print on cardstock and use throughout the house, as you will see in the pictures below.

http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/04/kentucky-derby-party-taste-of-derby-printables-free/#more-62032

http://www.mirabellecreations.blogspot.com/2012/04/free-printables-138th-kentucky-derby.html

So from there, I used the recipes they suggested to create a wonderful spread:

Mini Hot Browns (made 2 different batches, one with Gruyere and one with Cheddar, but both on rolls, not bread)
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/baby-hot-browns-10000000544487/

http://www.plainchicken.com/2011/11/kentucky-hot-brown-bites.html

these were definitely and hit and ran out first!

Ham Stuffed Biscuits with Mustard Butter (actually used Bisquick instead of making them by hand!)

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/ham-stuffed-biscuits-with-mustard-butter-10000001820970/

so happy to use my awesome wedding present platter

Kentucky style fried chicken with cream gravy (I just used a Pioneer white gravy packet)

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Southern-Fried-Chicken-with-Gravy

Benedictine Sandwiches (I omitted the lettuce)

http://www.yumsugar.com/Wich-Week-Benedictine-Cheese-Tea-Sandwiches-1610066

 

Mini Corn Muffins (Jiffy mix)

Veggies and Dip (carrots, cucumbers, red peppers and Ranch dressing)

Run for the Roses cupcakes (white cake mix and icing topped with Wilton red icing roses and in the mini Wilton rose cupcake wrappers from Michaels)

http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/04/kentucky-derby-taste-of-derby-official-party/

Mint Julep Cupcakes (I used white icing and added some green food coloring instead of more bourbon, since so much bourbon was used already!)

http://goodiegirl.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/kentucky-derby-cupcake-recipe-cupcake-wars/

Derby Pies (I used dark chocolate chips that I chopped up and they were delicious!)

http://www.onehundredeggs.com/?p=592

Bourbon Balls (I did one pecan on the inside and one on the outside of the chocolate)

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/bourbon-balls-10000000258968/

 Mint Juleps

http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/kentucky-derby-2011-mint-julep/

 Sweet Tea with Mint Ice Cubes

I got this silver vase for the red roses from World Market, only because they were out of the trophy vase
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/8.5%22+trophy+vase.do?&from=fn

The flags and foam cutouts (trophies and ribbons) were from Dollar Tree. I also got the mini gold trophies there.

My sister ordered all of the Kentucky Derby official gear from their website. This included the balloons, streamers, napkins, drink stirrers, and pitcher.

http://store.kentuckyderby.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=415

streaming the race channel on slingbox

official merchandise napkins

pita chips, salsa, triscuits and hummus for snacks

more printouts for deco and the balloons

I got the horseshoes at Hobby Lobby and wrapped the vase with the printouts.

printouts in frame from Joanne's

more framed printouts

this was my fav part! I got the toy horse and artificial roses from Michaels. I used a foam block and artificial grass to make the centerpiece.

hallway outside our apartment

more framed printouts. I got the horse winestopper from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

the flags I made, I was pretty proud so I hung them everywhere!

foyer in our house

our patio

straws with flags

straws I made with the printouts

straws with flags

the Bar

the aftermath of a successful party! :)