Despite my general love for Washington and our life here, Kentucky will always have my heart. You better believe that I would hightail it back to the Bluegrass state in an instant if the opportunity presented itself.  This love prompts lavish and extreme excitement over Kentucky-centered events that often passed more or less unnoticed when I was actually within its blessed borders. Thus, while we have never actually attended the Derby, some of my fellow Kentucky DC-based diaspora came together to throw a party for the Kentucky Derby.Derby hats… excellent for hiding the hair that was not exactly on point because I burnt my finger on the iron on the first curl and promptly gave up. Of course, like all celebrations, this one was a clever ruse to eat all the tastiest treats. I’m pleased to say that our Kentucky crew and adopted natives represented with all the classics. Derby pie (x3!), bourbon balls, beer cheese, horsey treats, mint julep punch, Appalachian apple cake, and mini hot browns, just to name a few. In marriage, you learn to pick your battles.  I learned in the first year that getting James in a bow-tie was just not a battle worth picking. Which is why I’m doing the bordering-on-scary smile of excitement that he donned that dapper orange bow for the party. Though not everyone would consider bunting an important thing to keep on hand, I have found that whipping out yards of homemade bunting at a moments notice can only ever improve the situation. Bless that husband of mine, who has nobly climbed up on many a ladder to hang and rehang bunting over the course of our relationship.  That my friends, that is Derby Pie bliss face.  I wore that face all evening… and the next afternoon… and the following morning for both breakfast and afternoon snack. Should you be interested in getting your own Derby Pie bliss face on, I’m sharing the recipe that we used. And by we, I really mean my friend Rachel, as I managed to make very little/ none of the food for this fête. Therefore, even if the horse I was rooting for thanks to our blind buy-in lost (poor Materiality!), I’m pretty sure I was a winner. I wish there were more pictures of this amazing pie, but alas, I was too focused on eating it.

Derby Pie

• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cups white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 4 tbsp bourbon
• 3/4 cup white corn syrup
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 3/4 cups chocolate chips
• 1 pie shell

1. Layer shell with chocolate chips, then pecans.
2. Beat eggs. Stir in the rest of ingredients.
3. Pour filling over chips and nuts. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes, or until pie is set and golden.
4. Cool and consume with fresh whipped cream. I maybe liked it even better chilled the next day.