COME AS A CHILD LESSON 118 - WHEN YOUR BEST EFFORTS ARE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH

So by now Moses had his personal life with God straightened out, and both sons most likely had been circumcised (remember we think there is a possibility that the youngest son was not quite eight days old when God got mad about the first son not being circumcised, so probably he was circumcised shortly after that incident.)  

It seemed that Moses must have gone back to Midian, taking Zipporah and the boys back home for awhile.  They needed to heal and would not be able to make the long journey to Egypt until they recovered from the circumscism.  Moses would need to go without them.  They could join him later.   

God still had to deal with the fact that Moses was not wanting to be the speaker for him with Pharaoh.  Moses must have gone to Mt. Horeb to discuss this with God up on the Holy Ground where he had seen the burning bush.  We know that Moses was there because that is where Aaron found him when he sought him out because God had commissioned him to do so.  Possibly Jethro told Aaron where to look?  We are not certain how this transpired, but the two long lost brothers did meet on the Mountain of God.

So much of this reminds me of the relationship today of the Christians and Jews.  When will they find out they are REAL brothers?  When will one believe another?  It seems a lot of miracles take place up on The Mountain of God.  It will be like watching Moses and Aaron when this finally happens and the family is reunited.  Well - on with the current story.....

The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So Aaron went to meet Moses at The Mountain of God.   

It had been forty years since Moses had seen Aaron.  Aaron had been a slave and Moses had been a Prince of Pharaoh.  They probably had never accomplished that natural closeness that most brothers are able to develop.  They knew each other; but they didn't KNOW each other.   

Now that Moses understood that Aaron was his real brother, God brought the two together out in the wilderness on top of His mountain and then God began to instruct them on their mission.  The scriptures indicate that the brothers embraced.  The word used in the scriptures is "kiss," and it indicates that God was a part of this scene as well as the brothers.   God must have quickly repaired their relationship and brought them to the point of brotherly love.  It was customary for those cultures when meeting close friends and relatives to embrace and kiss both sides of the face.   

Moses explained to Aaron everything the LORD had been saying to him.  Perhaps that is why they went up to Mt. Horeb, so that Moses could show Aaron where he had this amazing experience with the burning bush.  Moses explained all the signs  and the things that God had commanded for him and Aaron to say to Pharaoh and the two headed off for Egypt together.

When they arrived, Aaron gathered all of the elders of the Israelites and told them everything the LORD had said to Moses.  They performed the signs before the people and the people believed.  The people were so relieved to hear that God was concerned for them and their misery!   They bowed down and worshiped God. 

So with the backing of the people of Israel, Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and said:  “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:  ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’”

Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go?  I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.”

Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh:  “The God of the Hebrews has met with us.  Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

The request to take a three day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to God is such a foreshadowing of the time when Jesus Christ was sacrificed for our sins and spent three days and three nights in the grave.  God was setting this pattern in motion with his people way back in the days of Moses speaking to Pharaoh.  Moses points out that without this journey there would be plagues or death by the sword, and this is what our salvation redeems us from.  Moses was so hopeful of redeeming the Children of Israel.   Pharaoh, however, was not in a listening mood.  

God's anger was the least of Pharaoh's concerns.  Pharaoh was disturbed that Moses and Aaron were taking the people away from their labor.  He told them all to get back to work.  He was angry with Moses and Aaron.   He gave orders to his slave drivers and overseers to no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks; but they had to go and gather their own straw, making their work much harder.  

This is so typical to what happens to someone desiring to worship God with all of their heart.  Satan is not concerned; except for his own causes.  He does all kinds of things to prevent this time alone with God from happening.  He might remove the essentials for survival, such as happened to the Israelites with Pharaoh's taskmasters.  He will do anything to make it hard for you to be totally dedicated to worshiping The One True God.  

Even though The Children of Israel had more work added on, they were required to make the same number of bricks as before.  This meant longer, even harder days of unreasonable labor without rest.    Pharaoh declared them to be lazy and claimed they were making excuses not to work by crying out through Moses and Aaron.  He called them liars and told his overseers to pay no attention to them if they cried out.  The slave drivers complied to Pharaoh’s demands.  When the people did not make their quota of bricks they beat them.  When the people complained to Pharaoh he just called them lazy and said they wanted to get out of their work and that was why they were saying they needed to go out to the wilderness to worship their God. 

When Pharaoh would not relent and The Children of Israel saw they now had twice as much work to contend with; they were angry with Moses and Aaron.  They complained to them that their suggestions had made Pharaoh even harder on them than before, and now they had lost any favor that they might have gained with working hard for Pharaoh in the past.  They were angry and frustrated!  Their faith began to crumble.  They told Moses and Aaron “May the LORD look upon you and judge you!”

So Moses went back to talk to God.  He had one question:  “Why?”  Why God?  Why have you brought judgment on these people instead of deliverance?  Why did you ask me to go and cause all of this trouble for them?

Now Moses was homeless, without any friends, tired and worn out and missing his family in Midian.  His mission now looked like a complete failure.  All he could do was sit with his questions for God as the people suffered more and more.  

What does one do if they have been obedient to God and things go south anyway?  

Should one be patient and keep trusting in spite of the horrible circumstances? 

Sometimes it always looks darkest just before the dawn.

SEASONS - MOTHER'S DAY 2016

(Writting and photography by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

There is nothing more exciting or rewarding than being a mother, except maybe being a grandmother.  That is my latest and greatest blessing!   A Mother's Day present coming my way in October will be the gift of yet a third grandchild!  I could not be more excited or grateful to God.   The thought of how wonderful the grandmother experience has been so far consumes my soul!  I love being a grandmother, and I’ve loved being a mother.  

My four children did not come to me naturally, I married their Dad when they were very young and they were raised in my home for most of their lives.  They still saw and loved their birth-mother on a regular basis, and I never discouraged them from loving her.  These special children that God gave me so unexpectedly have enough love in their hearts for both of us.  I know that is very rare these days, but I can only explain it by saying it is yet another miracle that God has worked out in my life.  I have learned over and over again how God takes hard circumstances and turns them into blessings.  

 In God's Kingdom no one is "less" and everyone is "more."  There is always enough love to go around, because God IS love.  With Him in our midst, there is nothing that we cannot work through, and most of the time when we do our blessings are even greater and more appreciated.  This is my family, and I wouldn't change or rearrange anything.

I am finally in that place of realizing that my kids are grown and raised and living well rounded God-centered lives.  Nothing could make me happier!  There is nothing more comforting than knowing that peaceful feeling of “mission accomplished.”   There is great peace in realizing that you have raised up children who have become productive, life-giving adults who are responsible and loving and kind and who are now out there every day making a difference in the world, each one contributing in their own special way.

These are my thoughts as we near Mother’s Day this year.  God keeps pointing out to me that all the years of struggle and hard work of raising four beautiful children is beginning to bear fruit.  It is very eye-opening, after watching struggle after struggle as they grew wings and began to leave the nest.  On Mother’s Day I will get all kinds of gifts and tokens of thanks for this, but the greatest gift of all is just knowing that they are living their lives out, each of them in such a beautiful, unique and individual way.  I have never felt more blessed or honored.  It has been my privilege to participate in changing the world through watching them grow and for this I am forever thankful.

Now that they are grown I cherish so many things that have happened along the way,  Since it is Mother’s Day and the whole world is pondering the things of motherhood in general, I bring out my treasured memories and lay them at the feet of Jesus and whisper “Thank You.” 

Thank you for the one who has worked very hard to overcome addictions, who is working on becoming more responsible late in life.  Thank you that he finally gets it!  He has not lost his heart or his sense of humor along the way in spite of  having to recover from some huge mistakes.  He has learned some things the hard way, but he has learned.   Thank you that he has been a fighter in hard circumstances, and thank you that he has developed an uncanny ability for loving the unlovable, the poor, the downcast, the ones that no one else will love.  Thank you that he sees through the superficial and gets to the real part of people, who they are and what they are all about and appreciates them for what God made them to be.  Thank you for his gift to encourage and inspire people.  I am constantly surprised and amazed at this. Thank you that he sees the good in everyone and is finally beginning to find his own joy in the midst of it.  Thank you for helping him to be brave enough to face his problems seek the proper help to work through them.    

Thank you for the one who has worked so hard to develop a career where she helps others to overcome their handicaps.  Thank you for the joy she finds in working with children as well as adults who are struggling every day.  Thank you for the way that she loves life and squeezes every ounce of happiness out of it every day.  Thank you that she has been patient and willing to wait for the things that she knows are right and just for her.  Her choice in a husband has been exceptional, and the way she loves his seven year old son melts my heart.  The new baby on the way in October will only make that joy overflow more!  She is an awesome mother and a loving wife.  

Thank you God, for that smile that is always there, never letting the little things drag her down, only moving forward in love, even if it is only an inch at a time.  How wonderful to see her surrounded by loving and caring friends for a life time.  Is this the same teary eyed little girl that looked up at me and said “I’ll never make any new friends?”  How funny to think that she ever thought such a thing; just look at her now!  How sweet to see her finding the love she has waited for many years to find.  How perfectly open to God she has been in letting Him form her patterns for life.  Sometimes it takes my breath away when I look at all of it coming together for her.

Thank you for the one who is always positive, never negative, always bringing grace and love into every little moment and creating magic with her charm and genuine beauty.  She has that uncanny gift of making magic out of nothing at all!  She comes bearing simple little gifts that delight the soul and make you smile on a rainy day.  Her smile can stop the world!  She is so eclectic, off-the-wall creative and a genuinely true artist of life.  She is such a giving loving aunt to her sister's children.   She thinks of all the little things that make life special.  She knows just when to come and go in order to lift your spirits and make you laugh.  She never forgets her promises.  I have watched her struggle, make mistakes, recover with grace, face hard situations and come out rejoicing! The smile and the love never leave her face and she has always kept her genuine heart of concern for others.  I doubt she has ever made an enemy in her life.   She is always looking outward instead of inward and she shines with genuine beauty.  She has wisely followed her heart and is very busy pursuing her dreams.  I am thankful to be in her life and to see the effect she has on everyone around her every day. 

I am thankful for the sweet and beautiful level-headed one.  What would I do without her constant inspiration?  If you could get inside that level head you would be amazed at how creative her thoughts are.  The first one to make me such a proud grandmother and the one who brings so much peace and calm and beauty into every life she touches.  I am amazed at her ability to make good choices in tough life situations.  I am pleased at the way she honors her husband and keeps her household.  She has an uncanny way of making plans and seeing them through.  I am amazed at how she works a hard demanding job and still puts her family first.    Her zest for music and travel are contagious, and her sense of balance is a true blessing.  She can draw and paint like Rembrandt, maybe even better.  Her natural beauty is amazing. She lights up every room she enters.  She brings the beauty and grace of life into every situation she encounters.  She has a quirky sense of humor that sneaks up on you when you least expect it.  She is blessed with the finest husband in the land, and she loves him with her whole heart.  What an awesome mother she is to my beautiful granddaughter! 

With all of these special personalities in these gift-from-God adult children, plus two awesome son-in-laws and two and one-half amazing grandchildren, there is never a dull moment in this family.  Every day in my life is Mother’s Day .  I have a bucket full of the memories and we are making new ones every day.  I will always cherish the memories of them growing up in our home and I look forward to making a million more both in our home and in their homes.

 They have all grown up so smart, beautiful and successful; each in their own way, I still cherish all of these blessings that come with invisible price tags, these blessings that can’t be measured in monetary value, and now I am rejoicing with the opportunity to do all the fun parts over with my grand children.

Mother’s Day has never felt more fulfilling or refreshing.  

At this point I have realized it was nothing I did at all to have these wonderful people in my family, but simply God weaving his wonder across our lives and putting all the pieces of the puzzle together at just the right moments.  For this I am eternally grateful.

No need for gifts kids - just keep being the lovable people you are!

FOOD ART AND FAMILY TRADITIONS - CELEBRATING DERBY DAY IN FINE TRADITION

(Writing and photography by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

There are very few things in this life that never change, 

except perhaps, The Kentucky Derby.  In Kentucky; tradition is always tradition.

I take comfort in knowing this fact.  Tradition definitely finds a place in my soul.  

When something is right, you don’t tamper with it.  

You just leave it like it is for the world to love and cherish.   

The Kentucky Derby is one of those things.  

It is now going into it’s  142nd  year, and The Derby is ripe with  traditions.

Everyone loves the tradition of the Garland of Roses presented in the winner's circle.  This first happened in 1896 when winner Ben Brush received a floral arrangement of pink and white roses.  Everyone admires the beautiful twin spires designed by a drafter named Joseph Dominic Baldez who drew the blueprints for the grandstand at Churchill Downs.  Of course it is customary to drink mint juleps and there are a whole number of favorite Kentucky Derby recipes to draw from.  The Oaks and The Derby are the oldest continuously contested sporting event in history.  There are a lot of emotions that come forth from the crowd during the playing of the official song - "My Old Kentucky Home."  

Each year the people gather with excitement and anticipation for the festival events that happen before the race.  Most of these events are huge and are planned for and anticipated all year long.  On Kentucky Derby Eve, distinguished guest and celebrities assemble for a Gala Event known as "One of the 10 Best Parties In The World."   This party is held in the home of Patricia Barnstable Brown (better known as "Tricia"), and it is hosted jointly with her twin sister, Priscilla (better known as “Cyb”.)  

These two amazing hosts and twin sisters have led very interesting lives.   Most people remember them as the twins in the Wrigley’s chewing gum “Doublemint” commercials from back in the 1970s.     They both hail from the University of Kentucky, and Patricia once served as Miss Kentucky.  They also starred together in a short-lived run of a television show called “Quark.”

  

Every Derby Eve these two amazing ladies do a tremendous amount of fund raising for diabetes research, the terrible disease that actually took the life of Patricia's husband, though her fund raising efforts actually started long before that tragedy happened.  The party has evolved over the years into quite a family affair, with the two sisters hosting, but also joined by their Mom, "Willie", and Tricia's 33 year old attorney son, Chris.  Everyone seems to love Chris's suggestions for keeping the party fresh and vibrant each year.  Tickets start selling for around $1,000 each for this Gala and there are many very famous guests who attend.  

The Gala at Barnstable Brown isn’t the only party going on in the area around Chruchhill Downs during Derby week though.  There are numerous other events raising money for charities all over Louisville in the time leading up to Derby Week.  Some of the most well known events are:  The Taste of Derby (supports hunger relief organizations through the Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation), The Julep (supports cancer research), Night Of…One Race, One Winner, One Party (supports the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, Inc.),  Race For Grace (benefits The Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy), Silks In The Bluegrass (sponsors Operation Open Arms), Unbridled Eve (sponsors Blessings In A Backpack),  Brews, Bison and Bourbon For The Backside (benefits The Backside Learning Center).  

So you see, the Derby is not only fun and exciting, it is helpful to the world as a whole.  It is amazing how much money is raised by these charities in just one week because of the Derby.  

Wouldn't it be fun to be there the whole week before Derby Day and participate in the festivities leading up to the race?  You would not get bored while waiting for race day.  There are a million little things to do, like riding or racing hot air balloons and watching or racing steamboats.    

Definitely think of adding Kentucky Derby Week to "Things to Do" on your bucket list.  

In the meantime – if you can't make it to Kentucky, you can always have your own local party and catch the race on TV.  It would be fun to come up with some great ideas for celebrating with your friends and family.  Here are a few fun ideas and traditional recipes to try at your own gathering:  

1.  Design and mail out some handmade, artsy invitations, possibly using your own artwork or the art of one of your local artist on the cover.   The Derby has that tradition of supporting local charities, so why not support a few of your own? 

2.  Have an after the race gathering to watch the movie "Dreamer" and give out favors with quotes from the movie with those immortal words by John Gatins framed in small frames to your guests.   

  

I LOVE the poetic quality of those words so cleverly written for the movie; 

"You are a great champion. 
When you ran, the ground shook, the sky opened and mere mortals parted, 
Parted the way to victory, 
where you'll meet me in The Winner's Circle, 
and I'll place a blanket of flowers on your back.”   

Yes, the invitations could have beautiful local artwork, a painting of roses with horses in the background, and the inside left would contain this lovely quote.    Or maybe you have your own vision and creation of an imaginative invitation for your guest.  Go for it!

Of course, the time for your party would need to coincide with the time that the race is being broadcast in your local area.   

Be sure to add a footnote saying “please wear your best hat, and be prepared to wager a $25 bet.”  Give the "bet" money to your favorite local charity after the race.  Everyone can be a winner.

Please be all about the hats!  
Aren't they just the most fun?   
I found the hats pictured above at the Victoria Tea Room in Blue Ridge, TN.  We were on a trip to ride the train through the fall foliage with my parents at the time.  I think the white one with the gold bow would make a nice show for Derby Day.  
I should have bought it!
But don't worry - I'll find just the right one before the race, 
and so should you.  

My daughters were always fascinated by hats growing up.  I wish I had taken them to the Kentucky Derby at some point.  Maybe it isn't too late to plan for some day.  Here is one of my favorite photos of the hats I bought for our twins on their birthday when they turned a quarter of a century.  I bought these hats for them because I have such vivid and fond memories of them trying on hats everywhere they could be found as they grew up!  I would lose them in the stores and I always knew to check out the hat section first!  They would definitely make good candidates for hat wearers on Derby Day.
  

Okay, I'm getting sidetracked, so back to the vision of your Derby party......

 As the people arrive (wearing their best hats of course - possibly from the fabulous selection found at the local Gus Mayer) you would be playing mood appropriate music in the background.  A medley of race songs, maybe "The Soundtrack from Dreamer,” “Run For The Roses” by Dan Fogelberg, and the traditional song by Mr. Foster; "My Old Kentucky Home.” 

You might also think about incorporating  the sound track from "Secretariat," and for fun I would throw in  "Stewball Was A Racehorse" by Peter, Paul and Mary,  "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers, "Faster Horses" by Tom T. Hall and "Got Your Horse Right Here" from "Guys and Dolls."  

I could think of a million more if we had time, but you get the idea, the music will be great for creating the atmosphere we want here!  

"Run For The Roses" by Dan Fogelberg has always been one of my very favorite songs.  I lived in Kentucky for one year of my life, during my junior year of high school, and this song always brings technicolor memories of those days to my mind.  It was that famous year when Secretariat won the Triple Crown.  Ah....so nice to have been in that place in time and get to be a small part of such wonderful history!  I loved every moment and got all caught up in the excitement. 

All the more reason for this Derby party!  

Okay; I'll try to stop my journey down memory lane and get back to the vision for this party you might want to throw....  

When people cross the threshold of the door to the house (that will be decorated to remind them of Churchill Downs in as many ways as possible, including a horseshoe wreath on the front door),  they will immediately be handed their first Mint Julep of the evening, then they will be whisked away by an able assistant-host/helper to pose in their lovely hats for an individual photo memory keepsake that they will receive in the mail post-party, with another handmade card.  You might want to write personal notes in each card to express your thanks and memories of their attendance.

There could be a booth just past the foyer of your house resembling the twin spires as much as possible. (This will take a little creativity and work, but it will be worth the effort for the effects it would achieve.) There could be a book at this spot for each guest to sign, stating that they are posting a "wager" on the race.  They can indicate their favored horse when they sign the book.   Guests will be instructed to place $25 into a clear vase sitting on the table next to the book, where they will be pretending to be placing a wager on their favored horse.  They will also sign their name to a slip of paper next to the "till", fold it in half, and place it into another container for a drawing later.  The person who's name is drawn after the race is considered the "Winner" and they will get half of the money in the till.  The other half will be given to the person's favorite charity.  Not a bad prize! 

You could make a designated "Winner's Circle" table in the dining area.   The winner and their guest would be given a special place of honor at this table when the fine dining starts after the race is over. 

MENU/RECIPES/ORDER OF COURSES/TABLE SCAPE SPECIFICS 

Good primary colors to use in decorating the dining room would be black, white and red.  The tablecloths could be starched black linen.  The plates could be white, with gold rims.  The decor would be based around red roses.  The napkins would be folded in a "rose" pattern and placed on each plate.  Other serving dishes could be crystal and silver.  There might be a dinner plate only on the table, and each course could be brought on separate dishes, either crystal or silver, and placed on the plate (so the plates would not actually be used.)  This would make for ease in serving the courses.  Everyone could have their drinks refreshed and go into the dining area for the first course of salad. 

A SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN'S MINT JULEP

(Have an open bar set up in the Living Room)

(These will be served as people enter and refreshed when needed throughout the evening in silver serving glasses, as that is traditional.  Find some fake ones at the party store if you don't want to get too expensive with all of this).

4 fresh mint leaves

1 tsp. sugar

1 1/2 jiggers bourbon whiskey

Coat the mint leaves with sugar and place  in a 12 ounce glass.

Fill the glass with crushed ice and whiskey. Stir until glass frosts.

Garnish top with mint sprig.

As people arrive and mingle in conversations about the upcoming event, you could serve appetizers.  It might be nice to use little serving tables scattered all around the house, covered in starchy black linen tablecloths for serving, as well as the naked furnishings in the main rooms (coffee tables, side tables and bars) displaying silver trays full of finger foods that will say "taste me."  Red roses could be placed strategically around the room.  Everyone could share the appetizers and lots of good conversation, and you could even have slide shows set up of some of the Kentucky Derby photos from the past, with little tidbits of history.  This would open the door to easy conversations for the shy and retiring of your group. 

Serve the salad for a first course before the race.  Below is a good recipe:

RACE DAY SPLIT-PEAR SALAD

Ingredients:  The amounts here depend on how many guest you are having. Chose perfect pears (one for each guest.)  Some Mixed Greens.  Some Arugula.  Some Pan Roasted Pecans (chopped).  Some Grapes, Some Golden Raisins, Some Craisins, Some Dried Cherries, Some Dried Figs, A Few Containers of Blue Cheese Crumbles, Some Slices of Prosciutto, A Jar of Fresh Honey, A Jar of Extra Light Olive Oil, Some Champagne Vinegar and Some Dijon Mustard.

Instructions:  Mix ½ cup olive oil, 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, 1/8^thteaspoon Dijon Mustard to form  a vinaigrette topping.  Set aside for later.  Cook the prosciutto until crisp in a skillet.  Cool.  Take a ripe pear, turn it on it’s side and cut into rounds.  Use an apple core to remove the core, except for the top part, leave the stem attached.  Take a bowl and mix the greens, pecans, cheese and grapes.  Toss the greens in the dressing you set aside.  Use the arugula for garnishing on the plates.  Place the bottom of the pear on a plate (on top of the arugula bed) top this bottom layer with the salad mixture.  Add a piece of prosciutto over the salad and add the next pear part to the stack.  Continue to build up the pear in this way ending with the stem on top.  Cut one pear into slivers and fan several on a plate.  Garnish with grapes and a piece of prosciutto.  Drizzle with honey and serve cold.  This makes a beautiful presentation, but is not that complicated.  You can prepare ahead and refrigerate until time to serve.

After the Salad course, invite everyone to an area you have set up as the Media Room, where you will have the broadcast of the race set up with pay-for-view on a big screen. 

THE RACE IS ON!  CHEER FOR YOUR FAVORITE HORSE!!!!!!!!!!

After the fun and excitement of this event, draw for the winner of the earlier wagers.  After the winner is proclaimed, invite everyone back to the table for the main course of your meal, setting the winner and his guest at the special table set up as "The Winner's Circle."  Present them with their prize, announce their chosen charity, and enjoy the main course together.  

You could serve two options for the main course, Beef Tenderloin with Henry Bain Sauce, and Creamy Bourbon Chicken.  See the recipes below:

  

BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH HENRY BAIN SAUCE

(Henry Bain was the Head Waiter at Louisville's Pendennis Club. He created this sauce which became a Derby Day special.)

Ingredients:

• 1 beef tenderloin


• 1 cup Major Grey's chutney


• 2 oz pickled walnuts, optional


• 1 cup ketchup


• 2/3 cup A-1 sauce


• 1/4 cup Worcestershire


• 3/4 cup Chili sauce


• dash Tabasco

Preparation:

Grill tenderloin to desired temperature. Slice and serve hot or cold. Whisk chutney and walnuts in food processor. Mix in other ingredients. Serve at room temperature. Store in refrigerator.

(These will be served in large martini glasses, with the tenderloin slices placed artistically into the glasses and the Henry Bain Sauce drizzled over the top) 

CREAMY BOURBON CHICKEN

Ingredients:

• 4 to 6 boneless chicken breast halves, skin removed, or about 3 to 4 pounds bone-in chicken pieces


• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour


• salt and pepper, to taste


• 8 ounces sliced mushrooms


• 3 tablespoons butter


• 2 tablespoons olive oil


• 2 green onions, chopped


• 1/3 to 1/2 cup good bourbon


• 1 cup heavy cream

Preparation:

Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper; lightly dust with flour. Set aside. In a large, heavy skillet over low heat, heat butter and olive oil. Add the chicken pieces and chopped scallions and saute, turning pieces frequently, until chicken is golden and tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. While the chicken cooks, baste with a few spoonfuls of the bourbon every few minutes, adding in very small amounts so liquid cooks off while the chicken cooks and does not accumulate in pan.  When the chicken is cooked through and golden, transfer to a warm platter.  Add sliced mushrooms to the skillet and saute, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes.  Add the heavy cream to the mushrooms and scrape loose any browned bits that may be stuck to the skillet. Simmer until the mixture is hot and starting to thicken. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper to taste, then pour the sauce over the chicken. Serves 4, so plan according to your guest list. 

These could be prepared ahead, placed in the oven to keep warm during the race, and taken out just before serving and put into either silver or crystal serving plates, that would be taken to each individual guest at the table. 

After the main course you could  vote on who wore the best hat.  

This will take place a lot like musical chairs, with everyone parading around in their hats to appropriate music around the table until the music stops and everyone is given a paper to vote on their favorite hat.  These votes could be collected and tallied while dessert is being served.  

Here is a good dessert recipe:

KENTUCKY DERBY PIE

3/4 cups sugar

3 tablespoons flour

3 eggs, beaten 

3/4 cups butter, melted

3 Tablespoons Bourbon Whiskey

1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

3/4 cups chocolate chips, stir in

3/4 cups walnuts, chopped

Combine ingredients and pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.  The pies will be served hot with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the side.

After dessert is enjoyed by all - announce the winner of the best hat contest.  The winner gets a special gift ordered especially for the party from The Kentucky Derby Gift Shop at Churchill Downs.  (Just go to their web-site and pick out one).

The laughter, interesting conversations and warm friendly faces will fill the room until it is time to go home.

To entertain your stay-over for the weekend guests after the main crowd has thinned out and gone home, pull out the movie "Dreamer" and relax together in the spirit of the day.  Order pizza in and kick back and enjoy your company.  Be sure to place one of the red roses on their bed before everyone turns in for the evening.  All Derby Days should end in roses.  It is tradition!

Well, that's my vision of a dream party for watching the Kentucky Derby at home.  If you decide to carry out my vision, please be sure to invite me to the event!

                                            Happy Derby Day!