KENTUCKY DERBY RECIPES & CHAPEAUS

I love a nice chapeau, whether on a man or woman. They have character and style provided they aren’t accompanying a team sport like baseball or football. Every year I go in search of the perfect one to wear on Derby Day. I’m a bit of a killjoy though. I do not like the fancy ornate hats that Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski wear.  Or the ones all those charming Kentucky ladies do. I love looking at the one of a kind creations, it’s true. But on someone else, not me.  Nothing tops this pretty, little old head of mine, unless it’s somewhat sedate and understated. I’m BIG into color, just not crazy about flowers. I had enough of them to last a lifetime in my Easter Bonnets growing up. So every year finding the perfect chapeau becomes a bit of a chore. Like last minute Christmas shoppers, I usually wait until the clock ticks down to score one,  overpriced and relatively mundane. This year I took a step back in time and went looking for something vintage. And I found it right out of the gate. It’s picture perfect.  No fuss and affordable. Who could ask for anything more? Though I settled on this beauty,  I could not resist looking at other options after the purchase. You can tell,  the choices were limited where I live, budgetary concerns aside. Ultimately my favorite head topper was the right decision.  I have the perfect dress to go with the hat. So now all I have to do is gussy up the rest of me. I’ll make some Kentucky Hot Browns, sip an OAKS LILY (instead of a Mint Julip) and head off to the races. CUPID may not be there but you can BET Bob Baffert will.

Basic Black Hat

Yellow Floral Hat

Pink Ribbon Hat

Red Bow Hat

Beige Floral Hat

CHIC HAT

Animal Print Hat

AND THE WINNER IS THIS ONE

"PEACH PERFECTION"

Do you love it or hate it? 

MAY THE BEST HORSE WIN

AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

RECIPE

Kentucky Hot Browns

(click on photo to enlarge)

Oaks Lily

The Grey Goose Oaks Lily is the official drink of the Kentucky Oaks.

·                                 2 ounces vodka

·                                 2 ounces sweet and sour mix (or lemonade)

·                                 6 ounces cranberry juice

·                                 triple sec

·                                 blackberries

combine all ingredients in a shaker along with ice. Shake, strain and add extra ice, then garnish with the blackberries.