In honor of the most quintessential of Southern events, The Kentucky Derby, we had a “Derby-Driven Dinner.”
For this meal I decided to turn to my favorite Southern cooking resource: Southern Living magazine, which provided me with delicious ideas for my celebration dinner. I made Kentucky Hot Browns from the magazine and paired them with a side of roasted broccoli with bacon and some delicious pecan-coconut lemon bars for dessert.
Let me just say that you’re going to be really glad that I took pictures because this meal was amazing. But, before I begin, let me tell you a little about the Hot Brown. It was created in 1926 at the Brown hotel in Louisville. It was created as alternative to late-night (read “hangover”) ham and egg suppers. Basically, it’s a fancy open faced club sandwich. Toasted thickly sliced white bread is topped with sliced roasted turkey slathered in an amazing Mornay sauce; all toasted under the broiler before being topped with bacon and sliced tomato.
I know you’re drooling. It’s ok, so was I. I just had to make it. I started with a loaf of my ubiquitous Peasant Bread and built the sandwich on slices of it after I toasted them under the broiler. Thick sliced turkey from the deli went on, followed by the sauce. Oh yes, the glorious sauce. The Mornay sauce is a basic white sauce with parmesan, and very easy to make, but it is the key to making this sandwich special. Without it, it’s just a sandwich like any other. I made the broccoli in a half-hearted effort to minimize the artery-clogging impact of the sandwich. But I lost all resolve when I noticed that I had leftover bacon that needed a home, and broccoli that needed a flavor boost, so into the veggies the bacon went (and some leftover parmesan cheese, but I thought that mentioning it would be gratuitous).
The making of a Hot Brown:
The Pecan-Coconut Lemon Bars were exquisite. The layers of flavor made them interesting. The crust was similar to pecan sandie cookie and the filling was a delicious combo of lemon, coconut and lemon. These are a must have. You need to make them. They’re perfect for an adult party because the flavors are more sophisticated than your average bar cookie. They were the perfect ending to a heavy meal because the light lemony filling made you forget about what you’d just done at the dinner table.
The meal was a hit with everyone. My 5 year old twins loved it because it was covered in cheese and my 7 year old loved it because he could pick it up with his hands(much to my chagrin, but you gotta pick your battles!), and my husband, well, he just plain adored it. He actually woke up in the middle night to eat leftovers. He came back to bed with this message, “You’ve done it to me honey. I’m addicted to your food. Give me a kiss. But you’ll have to roll over and meet me because I can’t move I’m so full.” Mission accomplished!
I know my Grandmother would be proud, because I filled my family with love and food with this meal. And while I’m fairly certain she never went to the Derby, it doesn’t matter. She loved tradition and the memories that special celebrations created, and that’s what’s important.
Recipes:
Kentucky Hot Browns: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/kentucky-hot-browns-50400000112163/
Pecan-Coconut Lemon Bars: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/coconut-pecan-lemon-bars-10000001806896/
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