It's Derby Time!!!

We are going to our first Kentucky Derby party this weekend!  I have been so excited about this!!!  I am looking at recipes and trying to decide what to make.  So here are a few ideas that I have and maybe you can use for your own party.
 

Chicken Fingers With Chive Dipping Sauce 

Ingredients:

• 8 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 6 cup(s) of Plain Corn Flakes (1 full box), crushed in a food processor
• 2 cup(s) of Cream, divided
• 2 tbsp. Fresh chopped Parsley
• 2 tbsp. Fresh Dill
• 1 tsp. Black Pepper
• 1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Seasoned Salt
• ½ Cup Hellman’s Mayonnaise
• ¼ cup(s) Chopped Scallions
• 1 tbsp. Butter
• 2 tbsp. Corn starch

Directions:

1.     Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2.     Slice chicken breast into “finger” size pieces.

3.     Place 1 Cup of cream in a bowl.  Soak chicken in Cream for 1 hour.

4.     In a small bowl, place Hellman’s Mayonnaise.  Whisk in 1/4 tsp. Seasoned Salt, a pinch Garlic Powder, and ½ tsp. Black pepper and coast chicken fingers in Mayonnaise.

5.     Place corn flake crumbs in a bowl, mix in a pinch Garlic Powder, ½ tsp. Black Pepper and 1/4 tsp. Seasoned Salt.  Dredge chicken fingers in corn flake crumbs.

6.     Place chicken on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. (Spray chicken fingers with cooking spray to add additional crispiness.)  Bake for 30 minutes.

7.     Sauce: Melt butter in a large sauce pan.  Add chives and sauté for 1 minute.  Add 1 Cup cream to pan.  Sift in corn starch and blend well.  Add Parsley and Dill, stir and bring to a simmer.

8.     Let the sauce simmer and it will reduce and become thicker, about 10 minutes.

Caprese Bites

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup(s) of Olive Oil
• 4 Plum Tomatoes sliced
• 3 cloves Fresh Garlic minced
• 1 tsp. Seasoned Salt
• 1 tsp. Black Pepper
• Loaves of 2 inch diameter bread sliced in ¼ inch slice
• 24 Large Fresh Basil leaves
• ½ lb. Mozzarella cheese 

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl mix together garlic, seasoned salt, black pepper and olive oil.
2. Gently mix in tomatoes. 
3. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
4. Slice bread on a diagonal about 1/4 inch thick.
5. Remove tomatoes from olive oil mixture and set aside.
6. Brush tops of bread slices with olive oil mixture.
7. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in oven for about 5 minutes.  Until just toasted. 
8. Place a large leaf of Basil on each slice of bread and top with a slice of tomato.
9. Scoop mozzarella cheese with a tablespoon size measuring spoon and top tomato slice with mozzarella cheese.