Mar 26

Talk Derby to Me: The Hats

by Jan

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When you think of the Derby, big hats and mint juleps come to mind. Both are are a longstanding tradition at the Kentucky Derby.

You can find spectacular hats custom designed and costing hundreds of dollars as well as hats glue gunned and bedazzled and created at home.

On your Kentucky Derby Invitations, it’s fun to require both men and women to come in their finest Derby attire.

You can award prizes for the most stylish, the most creative and the most bizarre.

Who knows, wearing a fabulous derby hat to the party may increase your odds at picking a winner come post time.

Cinco de Mayo Party Invitations

by Jan

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Cinco de Mayo celebrations erupt at restaurants, bars and in homes throughout the country on the 5th of May each year. Why not join the celebration this year by having your own get together?

All that’s required are fabulous Cinco de Mayo Invitations, lots of spicy food, beer, Margaritas or Sangria, music, colorful decor and some enjoyable friends!

So, if you have friends, like to decorate with bright colors, can cook some spicy food and turn on a blender, you can have a Cinco de Mayo party! Dress in your finest fiesta attire and then get set to say Ole!

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Mar 26

Homemade Banana-Coconut Ice Cream

by Jan

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Banana Coconut Ice Cream

As a kid, one of my favorite things was when we would make home-made ice cream. We started with the old fashioned ice cream maker that you had to hand crank and all the kids got a try at it. When the electric ice cream makers came out, it took the work out of it and some of the nostalgia, but the ice cream it made as fabulous. I still remember peaches from my aunt Virginia’s tree in vanilla ice cream and all the cousins actually sitting still for the few minutes it took to eat it.

As bananas are one of my favorite flavors, I’m going to have to try this Banana-Coconut Ice Cream. It’s best with ripe bananas and the flavor is supposed to be more intense the next day, if it will last that long.

Ingredients:
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup sugar
6 egg yolks
4 cups milk
2 cups half-and-half
1 (15-ounce) can cream of coconut
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 ripe bananas, mashed
Garnish: toasted sweetened flaked coconut

Directions:
Bake coconut in a shallow pan at 350°, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until toasted.

Whisk together sugar, egg yolks, and milk in a heavy saucepan over medium heat; cook, whisking constantly, 20 minutes or until mixture thickens and will coat a spoon (do not boil).

Remove from heat; whisk in toasted coconut, half-and-half, cream of coconut, and vanilla. Fold in banana. Cover and chill 3 hours.
Pour mixture into freezer container of a 1-gallon hand-turned or electric ice-cream freezer. Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Pack freezer with additional ice and rock salt, and let stand 1 hour before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Note: For testing purposes only, Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut was used.

Source: Southern Living

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Mar 21

Holy Cross on Shimmery Pink Religious Invitations

by Jan

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A favorite religious invitation is our brown cross and swirls printed on beautiful shimmery baby pink paper with matching shimmery pink envelopes. The Holy Cross on Shimmery Pink Invitations are an exclusive design from Announcingit.com and perfect for girl’s first holy communion invitations, baptism invitations, christening invitations or any other religious occasion.

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Mar 21

Holy Cross on Shimmery Blue Religious Invitations

by Jan

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A favorite religious invitation is our brown cross and swirls printed on beautiful shimmery aquamarine blue paper with matching shimmery aquamarine blue envelopes. The Holy Cross on Blue Invitations are an exclusive design from Announcingit.com and perfect for boy’s first holy communion invitations, baptism invitations, christening invitations or any other religious occasion.

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Mar 20

Talk Derby to Me: Kentucky Derby Infield Punch

by Jan

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Kentucky Derby Infield Punch Recipe

What drinks will you serve your Kentucky Derby party guests?

The Mint Julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby but if you’re not a fan of bourbon, why not try “Infield Punch” instead.

It’s red color will match a “Run for the Roses” party theme and it is easy to serve a crowd from a punch bowl or a pitcher.

Kentucky Derby Infield Punch

2.5 Gallons Red Fruit Punch
1 750 ml bottle of your choice of vodka, gin, rum, or pure grain alcohol
1 lemon, sliced

Combine fruit punch and your choice of liquor in a pitcher and chill. To keep the punch from getting watered down, add ice to individual glasses instead of the punch and garnish with lemon slices. (serves 10)

Yogurt Covered Blueberries

by Jan

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Yogurt Covered Blueberries

Start with two cups of honey flavored yogurt like Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt and a carton of fresh blueberries.

Stick of toothpick in a berry, dip and swirl it in the yogurt. Use a second toothpick to push it off onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet. When done, place them in the freezer for about an hour, then take them out, pop them off the wax paper and store in a baggie.

Source: Fluffimama

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Mar 16

Skinny Loaded Bake Potato Soup

by Jan

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Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Everything you love about a baked potato but this recipe is made skinny and in the form of soup.

Get the recipe

Source: Skinny Taste

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Mar 16

Oreo Cookie Double Chocolate Brownie Recipe

by Jan

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Oreo Cookie Double Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Best ever brownies with chocolate chips and Oreo cookies! Just add milk.

Ingredients:
1 package Ghirardelli Double Chocolate brownie mix (with the chocolate chips in it)
1 egg
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup water
10-14 Oreo cookies

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 325. Prepare the brownie mix as directed with the egg, oil and water.
Crush the Oreos in a large bag with your hands or a rolling pin. Pour them into the batter and mix well. Batter will be thick.
Pour batter into a greased square baking pan (mine is about 8×8) and bake for 30-40 minutes.

Check doneness by inserting a knife into the brownies; if it comes out mostly clean, you should be good to go. But when in doubt, I’d say underbake!

By Pinch Of Yum

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Mar 15

Talk Derby to Me: Mint Julep Recipe

by Jan

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The official drink of the Kentucky Derby is the Mint Julep. If you’re thinking about serving original Mint Juleps at your Kentucky Derby Party, you will need to start them way in advance and whichever recipe you choose, you will need lots and lots and lots of crushed or shaved ice!

The original mint julep takes 4-6 hours for the bourbon-sugar mixture to sit or you can make the quick or really quick versions that don’t require any wait time for the flavors to blend.

Bourbon Mint Julep Recipes and Kentucky Derby Invitations

Bourbon Mint Julep Kentucky Derby Invitations

Original Mint Julep Recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water (prefer distilled or bottled)
8 fresh mint sprigs finely chopped (Use only the leaves, no stems)
1 quart bourbon (Early Times, Jim Beam but Wild Turkey will suffice)
Fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Preparation:
Combine sugar, water, chopped mint leaves and bourbon in a glass container and stir until the sugar dissolves*. Cover and let stand 4 -6 hours.

To serve:
Strain the bourbon-sugar mixture into a large pitcher and discard the chopped mint. Fill your choice of glass with cracked ice; add bourbon-sugar mixture, and garnish with mint sprigs. *You might want to make extra of the bourbon-sugar mixture so you don’t run out.

Southern Hospitality Kentucky Derby Party Invitations

Southern Hospitality Kentucky Derby Invitations

Quick Kentucky Derby Mint Juleps Recipe
Makes one mint julep

In a bowl, place several fresh mint sprigs (without stems), 1 tsp. of sugar and 1/4 ounce of water. Crush the leaves with a spoon or a muddler and stir until sugar dissolves.

Fill a chilled tumbler with crushed ice, fill with choice of Bourbon and top with strained sugar-mint mixture. Or place a bit of the sugar-mint mixture into the chilled glass. Add a layer of crushed ice. Continue at least one more time, topping with ice, then top off with bourbon. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

Derby Day Mint Julep and Hat Lady Kentucky Derby Party Invitations

Derby Day Lady Invitations

Really, Really Quick Mint Julep Recipe for a Crowd

2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons pure mint extract (not peppermint)
2 drops green food coloring
Water
Bourbon Whiskey

Directions:
Combine first three ingredients in a container a little larger than one gallon. Add water to make a gallon. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.

For each drink, fill the cup to the brim with cracked or shaved ice. Pour 2 ounces of bourbon over the ice. Pour 2 ounces of the mix over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.