JASON KAPCALA ONLINE
  • North to Lakeville
  • About
    • Appearances
    • Publications

Stacking Stones
​A Creative Craft Blog

From the mind of Jason Kapcala comes an eclectic journal dedicated to the study of creative writing, rock music, tailgating, and other miscellany. The musings, meditations, contemplations, and ruminations expressed here are my own unless otherwise indicated. Please feel free to share your comments, thoughts, and opinions, but do so respectfully and intelligently.
Return to Stacking Stones

Saturday Evening Tailgate: The Kentucky Derby (Special Edition)

5/3/2014

1 Comment

 
PictureWhy the long face?
This weekend marks the 140th Kentucky Derby--the "Run for the Roses," "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports," the first jewel in horse racing's Triple Crown. That means there will be plenty of big hats, rose garlands, and mint juleps. It also means that one of the twenty three-year-old thoroughbred entrants will be putting its name in the history books.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not expert on horse racing. I do watch the "big three" each year, but mostly I pick my winners based on which horse seems spunkiest at the start, and mostly I get it wrong. Still, I did call one race correctly this year already, so we'll see if I can keep my hot streak going this weekend. More importantly, the Derby means lots of great down-home southern cooking, and that's something I do know a thing or two about. (At least, for a yank!)


Picture
Run for the Roses Shooters

Corn chowder isn't exclusively a Kentucky food (or even necessarily limited to the south), but when you add a little bourbon and some brown-sugared bacon, it's the perfect early spring soup, and one that's sure to please your guests. In keeping with a finger food theme, I've gone ahead and turned this soup into a shooter, serving it in a small tasting glass at a comfortable temperature. Yes, it is acceptable to "drink" this soup directly. No spoons necessary!


  • 6-8 slices of Candied Bacon, crumbled (recipe below)
  • 4 TBSP Butter
  • 1 Yellow Onion, diced
  • 2 (12 oz.) Cans of Creamed Corn
  • 4 oz. Bourbon (I prefer Bulleit for a true Kentucky whiskey)
  • 4-6 shakes Tabasco Sauce
  • 1/2 c. Chicken Stock (you may use low sodium)
  • 1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
  • Pinch of Thyme
  • Pinch of Turmeric
  • 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper, to taste
  • 8 oz. Shredded Cheddar
  • 1/2 c. Heavy Cream
  • Fresh Parsley, to garnish


Saute the onion in butter for 5 min. until soft, then stir in the creamed corn.

In a small separate pan, heat the bourbon. Ignite it with a match and let it flame out. Then pour the bourbon over the corn mixture and stir well. Stir in hot sauce, chicken stock, nutmeg, thyme, salt, pepper, and cheddar, and heat through (about 20 min.).

Slowly add in heavy cream, stirring constantly to thicken.

Serve in tasting glasses or snifters; garnish with the crumbled candied bacon and parsley.



Candied Bacon

  • 6-8 slices of Bacon
  • 4 oz. Cider Vinegar
  • 1/4 c. Brown Sugar


Mix the vinegar and brown sugar and brush over bacon pieces (both sides). Cook bacon according to directions until crisp. Let cool and harden. Then break into pieces.


Picture
Deviled Deviled Eggs

What's the perfect picnic snack? Deviled eggs. And what's the quintessential southern sandwich spread? Deviled ham. In this devilish recipe, we bring both together to create a fun and filling finger food.


  • 6-8 Hard-boiled Eggs, halved, with the yolks scooped out and reserved
  • 1/4 lb. thinly sliced Smoked Ham, shredded
  • 1/8 c. Mayonnaise
  • 1/2 TBSP Dijon Mustard
  • 1/4 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
  • 2-3 drops Tabasco Sauce
  • 1 tsp. Dehydrated Onion (re-hydrated in 1 tsp. cider vinegar)
  • 1 tsp. Sweet Pickle Relish
  • 1 tsp. Fresh Parsley, chopped
  • Paprika, for garnish


To Hardboil the Eggs: Put the eggs in a boiling pan and cover with cold water one inch above the top of the eggs. Heat on high until the eggs reach a boil. Then remove the pan from the heat and immediately cover it. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Then drain the hot water out, pouring in cold water as you do so. Let the eggs sit in ice water for 20-30 minutes before drying them off and moving them to the refrigerator or peeling them. To peel, tap both ends on the counter and roll the egg in your hands until the shell becomes loose enough to peel off.


Combine the reserved egg yolks with the rest of the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Spoon into egg whites. Sprinkle with paprika.


Picture
Crostini "Derby Hats"

As any Derby fan will tell you, this event is all about hat-i-tude. Men and especially women attend the pre-race parade to show off their head wear. The hats are colorful, and often unusual, and always big. In this dish, we're using crostini as our base, and topping them with two traditional southern spreads: Pimento Cheese and Benedictine. It's a fun twist on the old high-society tea sandwich.


  • 1 French Baguette--sliced, buttered, and toasted


Pimento-Cheese Spread:
  • 8 oz. Shredded Cheddar
  • 4 oz. Whipped Cream Cheese
  • 2 oz. Mayonnaise
  • 1 (2 oz.) jar Pimentos, chopped and drained
  • 1/8 tsp. Tabasco sauce
  • Salt and Pepper to taste


Mix all ingredients in a food processor.



Benedictine:
  • 1 small Cucumber (you may only use half)
  • 3-4 Scallions, chopped
  • 4 oz. Whipped Cream Cheese
  • 1 oz. Mayonnaise
  • Salt and Cayenne Pepper to taste


Peel cucumber. Sliced lengthwise and scrape out seeds. Grate cucumber into bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.


***


Top half of the baguette slices with a small mound of pimento-cheese spread (use a spoon to shape the "hat") and broil in oven for about 2 min. (these can also be eaten cold). Garnish with a strip of roasted red pepper, or a sprig of parsley or dill.

Top the other half of the baguette slices with a small mound of Benedictine (again, using a spoon to shape it) and serve cold. Garnish with a sprig of parsley or dill.


Picture
Sweet Potato Salad

Potato salad is a great side dish for spring and summer picnics, but this recipe switches things up a little by using sweet potatoes instead of white, and substituting a honey vinaigrette for the traditional mayonnaise-based dressing.


  • 2 large Sweet Potatoes, peeled and sliced into rounds
  • 3-4 TBSP Olive Oil
  • Sea Salt, to taste
  • 1 Carrot, shredded
  • 1 can Chick Peas, drained
  • 1 jar of Brown-Sugar Glazed Pecans
  • 1/2 Red Onion, chopped
  • Feta Cheese, for garnish
  • Parsley, chopped for garnish



Honey Vinaigrette:
  • 1 TBSP Honey
  • 1 TBSP Yellow Mustard
  • 1 tsp. Lemon Juice
  • 1/4 c. Cider Vinegar
  • 1/2 c. Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp. Ginger Paste
  • Pinch of Crushed Red Pepper
  • Fresh Parsley, to taste


Mix together the dressing ingredients and let them blend in the refrigerator over night.

Brush the potato rounds with olive oil and season with salt. Grill for about 8 min. The flip and grill for 8 min. more. Let them cool completely before chopping them into chunks.

Combine the chopped sweet potatoes, shredded carrots, chick peas, pecans, and chopped onion. Toss with the dressing, and chill for a few hours before serving.

Top with feta cheese and parsley before eating.


Note: This recipe works best when you eyeball the ingredients. Add as much carrot, chick pea, pecan, feta, and dressing, as suits your taste preferences.


Picture
Marinated Asparagus Spears

Asparagus is a side that looks as great as it tastes. If you marinate it the night before, it takes on a great flavor and works as an excellent side dish.


  • 1 bundle of Asparagus (about 1 lb.)
  • 1/2 c. Olive Oil
  • 8 TBSP Lemon Juice
  • 4 cloves of Garlic, minced
  • 6 tsp. Dill, chopped
  • Salt and Red Pepper Flakes, to taste


Remove the woody bottoms of the asparagus stems. Mix the remaining ingredients together and pour over the asparagus. Let it sit, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, turning halfway.

Grill over high heat for 2-3 min. until tender but still crunchy.


Picture
Kap's Fried Chicken

And finally, the jewel in our Tailgating Triple Crown, my famous fried chicken recipe. This quintessential southern specialty takes a little work, but the payoff is entirely worth it! Colonel Sanders may have had his secret recipe of spices, but I'm happy to share the flavors that go into making this chicken so flavorful. The key is in the overnight brine.


  • 4-6 boneless, skinless Chicken Breast halves
  • Peanut Oil, enough for frying



Buttermilk Brine:
  • 3 c. Buttermilk
  • 1/4 c. Kosher Salt
  • 2 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/8 c. Honey
  • A few dashes of your favorite Hot Sauce (such as Texas Pete or Frank's Red Hot)
  • 1 Bayleaf



Breading:
  • 2 c. Flour or Chicken Breader (I prefer House-Autry Chicken Breader)
  • 1 tsp. Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary
  • 1/2 tsp. dried Thyme
  • 1/2 tsp. dried Tarragon
  • 1 tsp. Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp. Ground Sage
  • 1 tsp. Dried Basil
  • 1 tsp. Dried Marjoram
  • 1 tsp. Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp. Mustard Powder
  • 2 tsp. Season Salt
  • 2 TBSP Paprika
  • 1 tsp. Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
  • Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
  • Pinch of Ground Cinnamon


Wash off the chicken breast halves and place them in a container with the buttermilk brine. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator overnight. Then discard the brine.

Heat peanut oil to 400 degrees--you only need enough oil to wet the skillet (between 1/8 and 1/4 inch). We're not deep frying this chicken, so you don't need to go overboard.

Mix together the breader with the spices (add extra paprika, if necessary, for color). Put it into a clean brown paper bag.

Pat chicken dry (this is very important). Then put the chicken into the bag one piece at a time, and shake it until the chicken is thoroughly coated.

When all chicken is coated, reduce the oil temperature to 360 degrees and fry the pieces in the heated oil for 10 to 12 min. Then flip the chicken, and fry it for 10-12 min. more. (In other words, you should fry the chicken for about 20 to 25 min. total.) Your goal is to cook the chicken until it is adequately browned on the outside and cooked through so that there is no pink in the middle.

Drain the chicken on a rack over a sheet pan lined with paper towels. Do not store in a tight container while still warm or the coating with become soggy and slip off.



Note: The best way to reheat this chicken is to bake it in the oven at 360 degrees until heated through (about 10-12 min.)


Picture
Bourbon Bread Pudding

Most traditional bread puddings contain raisins, but to kick this dish up a notch, derby-style, the raisins have been marinating in bourbon. Oh, and did I mention these are golden raisins? After all, some horse is going to emerge victorious today.


  • 2 TBSP Butter, plus some extra to grease the baking dish
  • 10 c. cubed Tuscan Bread (about a loaf)
  • 1 c. Pecans, chopped
  • 1 c. Bourbon-soaked Raisins (recipe below)
  • 4 c. Half-and-Half
  • 1 c. Whole Milk
  • 5 eggs, beaten
  • 1 c. Brown Sugar, packed
  • 3 TBSP Bourbon (I used Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon)
  • 2 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt
  • 1/4 tsp. Nutmeg


Grease a 13 x 9" baking dish, and put the bread cubes in it. Sprinkle the pecans and the raisins over top.

Whisk together the half-and-half, milk, eggs, butter, brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl.

Pour the custard mixture over the bread and stir to make sure all the bread gets covered. Let the pudding sit for at least 1 hours, so the bread can fully absorb the custard.

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees. When ready, put the dish in the oven and bake for 50 min. until set. Remove, and let stand for 10 min. before serving.

This goes well with whipped cream or ice cream. (We paired it with Turkey Hill Sweet Potato Pecan Pie Ice Cream!)



Bourbon-Soaked Raisins:
  • 1 c. Golden Raisins
  • 1 1/2 c. Bourbon


Cover the raisins in the bourbon and soak for 12-24 hours.

Picture
Picture

Picture
Drink Recommendations

Beer: Stella Artois

Cocktail: Easy Mint Julep


These two were no brainers, as Stella is the official beer of the Kentucky Derby and Mint Juleps are the official cocktail (and, quintessentially southern). For the Julep, I cut a few corners this time. (Hey, I've been in the kitchen all day!) I bought Plantation Style Mint Julep soda and combined it with my bourbon to create a quick cocktail solution. Purists will be unhappy, I am sure, but this is a very refreshing drink, nonetheless, and you can make it in seconds.


  • 1 oz. Bourbon (I used Bulleit Kentucky Whiskey)
  • Plantation Style Mint Julep Soda


Mix well over ice and enjoy!


PREDICTIONS:

As I mentioned earlier, I'm not much of a horse racing buff. That said, I've been reading up on the ponies, and I'm going to give this my best shot.


Win! -- Wicked Strong
Wicked Strong is . . . well . . . wicked strong. And if he wins, a portion of the winnings will be donated to the One Fund, established in the wake of last year's Boston Marathon bombing. Currently second in odds, this horse is a good distance racer and will pose a real threat to the field.


Place -- California Chrome
Chrome has shined in his past four races, winning by a combined 24 lengths, which is why he's the heavy favorite going into the derby. That said, though California has many good tracks and trainers, only three horses from the state have gone on to win the Derby (and none in over 50 years). This won't be the year that changes that trend. 


Show -- Danza
This colt is relatively inexperienced, and he comes from a sprinter pedigree, but he has recently shown that he's capable of running with (and beating) top competition on longer tracks. He'll peak at the Derby, but it won't be enough to show the rest of the field who's the boss.
Danza
California Chrome
Wicked Strong

All recipes listed above come from my own imagination unless otherwise indicated. If you try one of these recipes in your own kitchen, leave a comment below and tell me how it goes. And, of course, share your modifications, enhancements, improvements, etc.

Subscribe to Stacking Stones

1 Comment
Dominique
5/3/2014 03:13:47 pm

I made fresh whipped cream, and lightly seasoned it with nutmeg, vanilla extract, and a half an ounce of Bourbon. We topped the bread pudding with it, along with the great ice cream that Kap mentioned. It was a REALLY great dessert. The bread pudding isn't that sweet, but the raisins and the ice cream make all the difference in the world.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Jason Kapcala

    Writerly meditations, craft notes, tailgating recipes, musical musings & more.

    RSS Feed

    Subscribe to Stacking Stones


    Categories

    All
    Artist Interviews
    Autobiography Vs. Memoir
    Avoiding Cliche
    Contests
    Course Announcements
    Cover Letters
    Essay Structure
    Ethics
    Featured Student Writing
    Fictive Devices In Creative Nonfiction
    Fictive Devices In Poetry
    Flow
    Foreshadowing
    Form
    Fraudulence
    Free Writing
    Guest Blogger
    History
    Humor
    In Memory
    Journal Reviews
    Kent Haruf
    Metaphor
    MFA Backlash
    Multi-Genre
    Must Read!
    Name That Blog Contest
    Narration
    Narrative Structure
    Nonfiction Vs. Creative Nonfiction
    Novel Writing
    Open Vs. Closed Narratives
    Other
    Planning
    Plot
    Poetic Turn
    Point Of View
    Publishing
    Reading Poetry
    Reflection
    Revision
    Rock & Roll
    Saturday Morning Soundtrack
    Setting Goals
    Sideshadowing
    Strange Bedfellows
    Sunday Afternoon Tailgate
    Teaching Writing
    The Challenger
    The Challenger
    Time In Writing
    Transcribing
    Triggers
    Truth Vs. Truth
    What Makes A Writer?
    Woodworking
    Workshopping
    Writing And Television

    Featured Links

    Amy Correia 

    Canyon Voices

    Cleaver Magazine

    Cubicle Struggles

    The East Bay Review

    Eccentric Chai

    Fletcher's Grove

    Four Way Review

    The Good Men Project

    Green Chamber Studio

    Justin Wants to Feed You

    Long Story, Short

    ​Main Street Rag
    ​
    Masque & Spectacle

    ​Outrider Press

    Prime Number

    Recommended Reading

    Renée K. Nicholson

    Saturday Morning Soundtrack 
    (@ Youtube)

    Saw Palm

    Sling Magazine

    Souvenir

    SummerBooks

    The Summerset Review

    TypeWell

    ​Urban Farmhouse Press
Write to live.
© 2020 Jason Kapcala. All Rights Reserved.
Photos used under Creative Commons from kirstyhall, Keith Allison, haxney, kirstyhall, xoque, Keith Allison, Wouter Verhelst, Joe Bielawa, Keith Allison, Sister72, marc.cappelletti, bionicteaching, bluesbby, Jon's pics, Wouter Verhelst, ViaggioRoutard, xoque, Beverly & Pack, cwwycoff1, K.M. Klemencic, DOCHKAS, Justin Block, Anuj Biyani, aprilandrandy, Ron Cogswell, 4nnakin, Tom Pumphret, tenpixels, billsoPHOTO, Navin75, kozumel, Berto Garcia, dgoomany, Gerry Dincher, AJ Guel Photography, Eric Kilby, Picturepest, Keith Allison, rattler97, Cabe6403, bionicteaching, KatVitulano Photos, garryknight, Keith Allison, MHS Touchdown Club, Zengame, supermattzor, trekkyandy, phill.lister, marcen27, twosheffs, daniel spils, kla4067, sydneyduhh, Marcus Q, slgckgc, J McSporran, jasonmurphyphotography, nflravens, Keith Allison, Keith Allison, bob stephan, CraigInDenver, dbecher, Moe_, amseaman, Js473, weeklydig, Keith Allison, Môsieur J. [version 9.1], dluders, DoD News Features, uyht, zzkt, billsoPHOTO, Keith Allison, Edvill, Edvill, SteelCityHobbies, Mobilus In Mobili, fantasyfootballswami, Bob Jagendorf, tedeytan, waferboard, Rev Stan, andymag, dluders, George Vnoucek, Keith Allison, aprilandrandy, Mike Morbeck, Piano Piano!, Jim Larrison, Erik Daniel Drost, CraigInDenver, VaMedia, Kool Cats Photography over 2 Million Views, Jo Naylor, vixyao, deege@fermentarium.com, kirstyhall, sara biljana (vacation), AllenCisneros, greenchartreuse, swanksalot, Daquella manera, takomabibelot, kla4067, kk+, tnarik, New Deal Lions Sports and then some, herrkloeppel, emdot, Nirazilla, MIKI Yoshihito (´・ω・), Patrick Feller, brian.gratwicke, ToGa Wanderings, fpharpua2002, dustpuppy, kirstyhall, kirstyhall, HelloImNik, sergis blog, sergis blog, kirstyhall, kirstyhall, MvanM, Erik Daniel Drost, kirstyhall, ArranET, David Guo's Master, M.Pastor, Michael Fleshman, Matthias Murphy, michaela.raquel, Quasic, Sh4rp_i, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing - Northern VA, D Simmonds, Fadzly's eyes, Dano, jvc, Bright Adventures, kirstyhall, PhilipRobertson, jasonmurphyphotography, Alan Cleaver, 96dpi, left-hand, bixentro, kirstyhall, mrkumm, StockMonkeys.com, lucianvenutian, jacilluch, roland, Moe_, kirstyhall, JohnSeb, Bari D, laogooli, Joybot, projectnada, Phil Roeder, rick, Cappellmeister, akeg, h.koppdelaney, mikecogh, Alison's Eyes, weegeebored, suvodeb, jakuza, SnowViolent, KJGarbutt, striatic, kozumel, DeFries, katerha, Chandler Abraham, Brandon Grasley, the_gman, kevin dooley, dno1967b, JohnSeb, kirstyhall, Moe_, Javier Kohen, OakleyOriginals, craigemorsels, TschiAe, Jeff Kubina, jDevaun, modomatic, Linking Paths, Tulane Public Relations, PDA.PHOTO, Moe_, Tiger Girl, Will Folsom, alvarolg, kirstyhall, hectorir, Editor B, rust.bucket, bert23.com, DeeAshley, kirstyhall, Patrick Hoesly, bibendum84, kirstyhall, kirstyhall, madaise, breahn, Rusty Clark, Gamma-Ray Productions, Dougtone, Visual Artist Frank Bonilla, HowardLake, Francis Storr, goingslo, ewan traveler, KJGarbutt, CarbonNYC, flakeparadigm, C.Y.R.I.L., James Willamor, legalizefreedom, tnarik, h.koppdelaney, basheertome, Nicholas_T, BrownGuacamole, gnomonic, afroboof, Global X, Martin Cathrae, Lorenzo Sernicola, kirstyhall, hoyasmeg, Hollingsworth, jameskadamson, Jennie Faber, this lyre lark, The Nothing Corporation, kirstyhall, LTHWRK, MHS Touchdown Club, JSam76, Matthew Straubmuller, kirstyhall, John-Morgan, Canned Muffins, Dennis Vu Photography for Unleashed Media, rbrwr, kirstyhall
  • North to Lakeville
  • About
    • Appearances
    • Publications