Warning! For adults only, this recipe contains alcohol.

Each year on the first Saturday of May, you will find me at Churchill Downs, drink in hand, cheering the horses to victory at the Kentucky Derby. The derby is the first jewel in the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred horseracing and is a magical event steeped in tradition. One of those traditions and the drink in my hand mentioned above is the Mint Julep—bourbon, mint, and sugar served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup. My version of this drink may not be traditional, but it is definitely a winner.

Serves 4
1 1?4 cups fresh blackberries, plus more for garnish
1?4 cup superfine sugar
1?2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup plus 4 tablespoons bourbon
1 big bunch of fresh mint leaves, plus whole sprigs for garnish
Shaved or crushed ice
Club soda, chilled

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Warm and bubbly with a golden brown crust, this easy-to-prepare side dish is one of my favorite cold-weather indulgences. I am a big fan of cauliflower’s soft, slightly nutty flavor and don’t think it gets the attention it deserves. It has a remarkable ability to absorb the flavors of whatever it is being cooked with, such as the rich creamy sauce of smooth Monterey Jack, salty Parmesan, and tangy goat cheeses in this gratin.

Serves 4 to 6
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
3 cups whole milk, or more if needed
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, grated (1 1?2 cups)
6 ounces fresh goat cheese, cut into small pieces
1?2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into florets, each floret cut into 2 or 3 pieces
Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

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To celebrate the launch of Bobby Flay’s new cookbook, several adventurous bloggers got into the Flay spirit and hosted some “throwdowns” of their own. 

They were issued a challenge to pair up with a fellow foodie, and prepare two versions of a dish: the Bobby Flay version and a favourite family recipe. But the kicker was that they didn’t get to pick a winner: they had to leave it to their family or friends to decide. Sounds like fun, right? Yes, it was.

Mary at Bons Bons et Chocolat  prepared Bobby Flay’s pumpkin pie and brought it to work to be judged by her coworkers! Find out which pie took the prize. MORE…