The second jewel in the Triple Crown is The Preakness Stakes, which is held in Maryland. Black-Eyed Susans will grace the track, as Maryland's official state flower. This is the theme that will run through the party. Maryland is also famous for it's crab..so we'll have some interesting menu options for you to choose from. Now...let's prepare for our Preakness Party!
As I indicated at the Kentucky Derby Party page, there are "party kits" and related linens availabale for these events. I have cotton tablecloths with jockey cap designs. Paper goods, invitations and or linens can be purchased at the following links:
Horse & Hound or
Party Kits & Equestrian Gifts
If you prefer to do it yourself from scratch, here are some tools for a fun party:

Go to Invitations

Go to Table Setting

Go To Menu

Go to "Best Bets"

INVITATIONS

Invitations for this affair should be fairly easy. Make your own, of course, if you have the software or the artistic ability. Otherwise, invitations or even blank cards with Black-Eyed Susans or sunflowers should be readily available from your local card shop. Post Time for this race will again, be around 6:15 p.m., est. It's nice to have your guests arrive at about 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. Everyone will want to be all settled in with a cocktail in time for the Post Parade and the singing of "O Maryland, My Maryland". You may want to run off copies of the lyrics, so everyone can join in. These can be obtained from 50states.com The melody is what you are hearing now. Little plastic sunflower pins may be in order for your guests. Let's see what else we can do with those Black-Eyed Susans.

Table Settings

There are several color combinations we can use for this party, but marigold yellow will always be one. This can be combined with a forest green, or an electric blue or for that "Black-Eyed Susan" effect..a tobacco brown. We'll be doing buffet for this event, so let's start with the marigold table cloth. Since we'll be using plastic plates, a paper tablecloth is acceptable. I'm going to contrast with a royal, electric blue for my plates and flatware. Just as we did for our Derby party, we'll use two napkins for each flatware setting..one blue and one marigold. Place the blue napkin down on the table so you are looking at it in a diamond shape. Place a marigold one on top. Take a blue knife and fork and place them in the corner of the diamond nearest you and roll them in the napkins moving left to right. So you'll have the blue flatware up against the marigold napkin, enclosed with a blue one. Tie each flatware setting off with curly marigold ribbon. Place them in a basket or a bowl, alongside the stack of plates. For your centerpiece...Black-Eyed Susans of course! An arrangement such as this would be ideal!

The red ribbon works fine. I'm going to use blue to match my plates and flatware.

Menu

Marty's Maryland Crabcakes

Marty's Cool Cole Slaw

Corn on the Cob

Warm Honey Dijon Potato Salad

Honey Baked Ham or Smoked Turkey Breast

corn bread or biscuits

Melon Ambrosia and lemon wafers

The ideal meal for this fest, would be boiled blue crab. That depends on your situation. If you can have your party outdoors, you may want to consider this option. Just go to your local seafood market, buy a few pounds of crab and boil them up. What has to be considered is the mess. I for one, would not want shells all over the house when hosting a crowd and you should provide bibs and plenty of napkins for your guests. I'm going to stick with Marty's crab cakes. The reason I've added the ham or turkey is, because not everyone eats fish. I know if I invite ten friends, at least four do not eat fish, so you'll want to have something else on hand. And now for our recipes.

Marty's Maryland Crab Cakes

2 lbs. crab meat

3 tbs. minced scallions

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp. dry mustard

2 tbs. finely chopped parsley

2 tsps. hot sauce

cayenne pepper

1/2 c. mayonnaise

1/2 bread crumbs

Combine the ingredients and use your own judgement with the cayenne pepper. Add cayenne pepper to taste. There is a spicy sauce that goes along with this dish, so I'll go light on the cayenne. Those who like spicier, can use the sauce.
Measure 1/2 cup of mixture for each patty, and fry in peanut oil. Drain. This should yield about 15 crab cakes.

Marty's Sauce Especiale

1 bottle of Thousand Island or Russian Dressing

2 1/2 tsps. curry powder

4 dashes of hot sauce or tabasco

Mix ingredients together and serve on the side.

Marty's Cool Cole Slaw

1 bag of slaw mix from the produce section of your market

1 1/2 cups of Hellman's Mayonnaise

1 tsp. cider vinegar

honey or maple syrup

salt & pepper

This recipe can be modified by using low fat or no fat dressing and mayonnaise.

Mix first 3 ingredients together, add salt,pepper and honey to taste. I think next year..the party's at Marty's! :0)

Warm Potato Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing

3 lbs of red Bliss potatoes cut into chunks

1 small red onion diced

1/2 c. salad oil

1 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

1/4 c. honey mustard

2 tsp. basil

1/4 tsp. oregano

one clove of garlic,peeled and grated or pressed

salt & pepper to taste

Boil the potatoes so that you can easily pierce them with a fork..do not allow to get flaky. Drain potatos and set aside, allowing to cool to room temperature. Combine all the ingredients for the dressing. In a large bowl combine potatoes with onion. Heat the dressing for 2 minutes on high in the microwave. Pour over potatoes and toss well.

This recipe can also be modified by simply heating 3/4 of a bottle of Kraft Fat Free Honey Dijon Salad Dressing, pour over pototoes and onions and toss well. Half the time and zero fat...and delish!

We all know how to boil up the water for the corn on the cob. Corn bread can be easily made from packaged quik-mixes or serve up some hungry jack biscuits.

Melon Ambrosia

2 bags frozen melon balls

2 oranges, sectioned

2 banana sliced

4 oz. strawberries

4 oz. red seedless grapes

1 bag sliced frozen peaches

2 tbs. sugar

1 oz. shredded coconut

juice of one lemon

1/2 cup dark spiced rum

Combine all the ingredients, except the coconut and chill. Sprinkle with cococnut before serving. Place lemon wafers on a plate on the side. Quite often, guests will bring some sort of pastry or candy. Variety is the spice of life! I always put everything out on the table for a dessert buffet.