Kentucky Derby Part 2

I wanted to post a couple of recipes for the most famous part of the Kentucky Derby, and that would be Mint Juleps. 

First is the classic Mint Julep provided by Michael Chiarello on the Food Network, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/mint-julep-recipe/index.html.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup water
• 2/3 cup sugar, plus more for garnish
• 3 bunches mint
• 1 bottle Southern whisky
• 1 egg white
• Mint or lavender sprigs, for garnish

Directions

Make a mint flavored simple syrup by boiling water and sugar with two bunches of roughly torn and bruised mint in large sauce pot. Boil just until the sugar dissolves completely. Cool and strain the mint out of mixture.

Add bottle of whisky to the infusion. Stuff the empty whisky bottle with last bunch of fresh mint leaves and fill with the simple syrup/whiskey mixture.

Cap and put in freezer overnight. It will freeze to a slushy consistency for serving.

Glasses: dip the rim of each glass in egg white, then in sugar for a frosted appearance and chill. Fill with mint julep mixture straight from the frozen bottle and garnish with a mint or lavender sprig.


Next up Mint Julep Sorbet.  Yum right?  Here is a recipe provided by Emeril Lagasse, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/mint-julep-sorbet-recipe/index.html.

 Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 1/4 cup club soda
• Mint sprigs for garnish

Directions

Combine sugar, water, and mint leaves in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.

Add the bourbon and club soda to the cooled syrup, stirring until combined. Freeze mixture according to manufacturer's directions in an ice cream freezer.
Place sorbet in a freezer-safe container and allow mixture to freeze for 4 hours before serving. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

And finally, here is Mint Julep Cupcakes, yes cupcakes.  This is provided by Jen on Hostess at http://blog.hwtm.com/2009/04/mint-julep-cupcakes-recipe/.

MINT JULEP CUPCAKES
{adapted from Cooking and Booking}
Ingredients:
Cupcakes
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon mint extract
4 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup bourbon (or whiskey)
1/2 cup Creme de Menthe
Icing
3 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mint extract
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
milk
*****
Directions:
Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350º F, and grease or line 30 cupcake cups.
Combine salt, baking powder, and 1 3/4 cups of the flour. Beat butter, sugar, eggs, and extracts in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Add the milk and liquors to the batter, then the rest of the flour (1 cup). Mix as little as possible, just until the batter comes together. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake cups. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let cool.
Icing
Combine the powdered sugar, salt, extracts and melted butter and beat until creamy. Gradually add milk until the texture is right for piping. When the cupcakes are completely cool, pipe or spread the icing on top. Garnish with cake sparkles or sprinkles, a straw (trimmed to size), and mint leaves.