Before the onset of this significant date, the heart invariably swells with joy in anticipation of gifts, fun, and friendly meetings. But some people don't like their birthdays for various reasons. Someone because they are at least a year older, but they are getting older. And some, especially thrifty people, tensely calculate how much it will cost them and the announcement of the estimate spoils their mood. Life is such that everyone is forced to save money from time to time. But this is not a reason to deprive yourself of the holidays. Therefore, we will try to answer the question: how to inexpensively set a table for a birthday?

Where does the tradition come from?

When did people start celebrating birthdays? There are two versions. According to the first, the tradition was based on Roman rites held in honor of the gods. The pagans set rich tables, congratulations were heard, and various gifts were given. This hypothesis is more modern. And the second version says that the roots of the tradition go back to ancient times, when there were beliefs about the special vulnerability of a person on his birthday. It was believed that any wishes or curses had double power on such dates. Therefore, ancient people tried to appease the spirits with offerings so that they would not harm the newborn.

Name day of Mukha-Tsokotukha

Gradually they got personal, but for a long time no one paid attention to the date of birth of children and women. The first woman whose birthday was celebrated on a grand scale was the beautiful Cleopatra. It was not customary for ordinary people to record and celebrate ladies' birthdays.

The Greeks and Egyptians often and pompously celebrated the birth dates of the gods, as well as pharaohs and kings. Sometimes, on the occasion of the birth of the pharaoh, prisoners were released from prisons. In ordinary families, it was common practice to celebrate only the birthday of the head of the family.

The position of Christianity on this issue was initially extremely harsh: life was given to man to atone for sins, so he had no time for fun. Later, the church softened somewhat and allowed baptisms with name days. But the Soviet system was against name days and, figuratively speaking, trampled tradition with its iron boot. Even the famous birthday fly was ordered to be removed from the works of old man Korney.

By the way, name days in Rus' were very popular: they baked a loaf, brewed delicious beer, made pies and always sang songs. Of course, peasant holidays were much more modest than the royal ones: sometimes the amount spent on the name day of the crowned person could build several luxurious palaces.

Cake with surprise

It is clear that ordinary people have always dreamed of setting a tasty and inexpensive table for their birthday. But what's a holiday without cake? Few people know where this indispensable attribute of birthdays came to us. If you dig deeper, it is believed that the idea itself came again from the times of paganism, when sacred altars in honor of the ancient gods were lit in pitch darkness.

But the tradition was introduced into use by the Germans. They created a common ritual for celebrating a child's birthday. To do this, they prepared a delicious cake in which they hid various symbolic objects, placed candles on top according to the number of years of the hero of the occasion, and, waking up the child at dawn, sang cheerful songs to him. It is noteworthy that the pie was not eaten until evening, until the whole family had gathered at the table. The child had to wish for something cherished and blow out the candles in one go. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Jam Day: their morals

Different countries treat such holidays differently. Most people on the planet have a reverent attitude toward anniversaries. But some nationalities celebrate odd or non-round dates. Traditions are also different: in Italy, spaghetti is an indispensable dish on the birthday boy’s table (so that he lives for a long time), and in Latin American countries they always break a piñata with gifts loaded into it.

Englishmen who have lived to 80 years or more are personally congratulated by Her Royal Majesty. But the most unlucky birthday people live in Japan: instead of children, their parents are congratulated, and gifts are generally given only after the age of 60.

Economy table rules

If the birthday hostess still decides to gather close people under her hospitable roof, but wants to balance her needs with her capabilities, then there is a way out.

Setting the table for a birthday at home is inexpensive, very tasty, and in such a way that it looks presentable - an absolutely doable task. To do this, you need to adhere to the simplest rules:

1. The menu must be thought out in advance. It’s a good idea to delve into cookbooks and leaf through magazines. You need to pay attention to the ingredients: it’s cheaper to buy seasonal products, so the menu is selected accordingly. If a housewife wants to set a birthday table at home inexpensively, recipes with photos are especially welcome, because you can immediately see how the dishes will look on the table.
2. Accurately calculate the number of invitees (taking into account, of course, several uninvited guests). You can prepare hot food in portions, but in this case the birthday girl will have no peace. It is better to make a common dish with a reserve.
3. As a rule, first courses are not included in the birthday menu. The exception is exotic gourmet soups.
4. If you are planning a traditional celebration, then it is quite possible to set the birthday table at home inexpensively. Recipes for budget dishes can be found in any source to suit your taste. But it must include cold and hot appetizers, a main course (meat or fish), salads and dessert.

Alcoholic drinks are also an important attribute of the holiday table, since they increase the mood, forgive the pun.

Modest cut and luxurious roll

Many families adhere to classic, long-standing traditions and set the table with their favorite dishes that guests know by heart. But this approach has its own benefits: people will never leave hungry and are guaranteed to be satisfied.

Standard cold appetizers include meat, cheese and vegetable slices. This classic approach has never failed anyone. The main thing is the variety of varieties in the cutting composition. Everyone knows that any feast should start with cold appetizers. This is the so-called organizational moment: it is useless to hope that no one will be late. And while waiting, the rest of the guests will be able to have a great meal so as not to drink on an empty stomach.

For those who want to set a birthday table at home inexpensively, Korean snacks are perfect: buy a little of everything (try the dishes first) and place them on the table in small plates. Homemade pickles and marinades are also in great demand among guests.

There are express recipes for those initiated on how to deliciously and inexpensively set the table for a birthday: a cold roll and an appetizer with the romantic name “Raffaello”. The first one is prepared as follows:

• a sheet of thin pita bread is greased with a mixture that includes: mayonnaise, garlic, dill and grated cheese;
• Thinly sliced ​​ham is placed on top;
• then the actions are repeated;
• roll the pita bread into a roll;
• Wrap the product in cling film and put it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

This inexpensive but original dish should be served by cutting it into portioned pieces with a very sharp knife.

The Raffaello appetizer will require the following ingredients:

• crab sticks;
• garlic;
• hard cheese;
• mayonnaise;
• cashews (but to save money, you can use walnuts).

A nut kernel is rolled into a mixture of cheese, full-fat mayonnaise and garlic. Next, grate the frozen crab stick on a fine grater. Roll in grated crab meat with a surprise: the dish is ready. Using this recipe, you can reveal the secret of how to quickly and inexpensively set the table for a birthday. To make these balls look festive, they are placed on fresh lettuce leaves.

You can also use seasonal dishes. The budget version of the menu is prepared in the summer. For example, eggplant tongues or fingers. The second option is more expensive, since it contains very little meat, but it does include meat.

Delightful hot snacks

A hostess asking herself the question of how to set a tasty and inexpensive table for a birthday party should not forget about hot appetizers. They follow the cold ones when everyone has gathered at the table and it’s time for the first toasts. There should not be a lot of them, and they are prepared shortly before serving. This is a light dish with small portion sizes. An example of such a snack would be easy-to-prepare meat balls:

• traditional minced cutlets are made, with the addition of raw eggs;
• the finished dough layer is rolled out and cut into strips;
• meat balls are wrapped with dough threads like a ball;
• The dish is baked in the oven until cooked.

This snack looks very presentable.

Nowadays it is not a problem for a housewife to set a table for a birthday at home inexpensively; recipes simply jump out of magazines, cookbooks, and Internet portals. Here, for example, is a dish similar to julienne, which is prepared ridiculously quickly and tastes simply charming. We present to housewives champignons in sour cream sauce.

The dish is prepared like this:

• Add peeled mushrooms to carefully sautéed onions and carrots and simmer for about 10 minutes;
• later sour cream and seasonings are added and everything is stewed until cooked.

The simplest dish can be made beautiful by sprinkling it with grated cheese and herbs on top and serving it in ceramic pots.

Salads for the date

If you intend to set the table for a birthday at home inexpensively, then you can’t do without salads. For the traditional approach, Olivier, herring under a fur coat, Mimosa or Caesar are suitable. You can use the simplest option, which will require products such as:

• green pea;
• ham;
• pickled champignons;
• mayonnaise.

This salad is suitable when guests are literally on the doorstep or come unexpectedly. After all, you don’t need to prepare anything in advance, all the components are simply mixed.

Salads with seafood can look original; the female half of the guests especially like them.

Main serving of dishes

A very important moment when, after the artistic exclamation: “Fedya! Game!" For example, a delicious baked duck appears on the table, stuffed with dried apricots and apples. But the question was how to inexpensively set the table for a birthday, what does the game have to do with it? You don’t have to bake the duck this way; you can do the same with chicken. You can use not the whole bird, but its legs or wings. If you marinate them well and roll them in honey, you will get an excellent dish with a delicious crispy crust.

In general, before planning the main serving, you need to ask yourself what your guests like more: meat or fish? Only after this can you prepare the treasured main course. Of course, with fish there is several times more trouble than with meat, but pike will become truly festive and will be remembered by guests for a long time. It’s a good idea to serve medallions or steaks to the holiday table. One thing is certain - meat must be present on the table.

As a side dish for main courses, you should choose potatoes in any form: mashed, fried, fried, boiled with herbs.

What about compote?

To set the table for a birthday inexpensively, food recipes are not all that a housewife needs. Drinks are also important. Of course, you can’t do without compotes, juices, carbonated drinks, maybe even croutons. What about alcohol? It is important to take into account here that not everyone drinks strong alcohol, so champagne and other wines are a mandatory attribute on the festive table.

Desserts require tea or coffee. For dessert, of course, in the classic version, they serve a cake with candles, but how can you set a festive table for a birthday inexpensively? After all, cakes are quite an expensive pleasure. There is a solution: either bake a cake with your own hands, or buy cakes, cookies or candies. By the way, a confectionery product prepared personally is better than any purchased product, because the hostess puts her soul into the dish.

Mistress's secrets

To set the table for a birthday at home inexpensively, but at the same time make it unforgettable, you need to know the main secret: competent serving and decoration of dishes. You should not waste your time on this.

What you need for serving and decorating:

1. Tablecloth. The classic version is white, but other colors are allowed.
2. Dishes. Cutlery and glasses should be polished to a shine. For a special occasion, it would be useful to take out your best set from the bins.
3. Don't forget about cloth napkins depending on the number of guests. They can be beautifully laid out in waves or in the form of shapes.
4. Decorate dishes with herbs, bright berries, like cranberries, peas, olives. There is a special knife for curly and fruit, it would be nice to buy it. If you ask yourself: how to set a table for a birthday inexpensively, the recipes may be very surprising. And not only the not too expensive and tasty dishes described in them, but also a presentable appearance. This happens because the dish is decorated correctly, because when you look at the food, your appetite should come.
5. You shouldn’t do a lot of culinary experiments, let everything be as usual, with the exception of one or two dishes.

The holiday table should not be complete without a variety of vegetables and fruits. If you plan to have strong alcohol, then take care of a hearty and plentiful snack.

Little birthday boy

Many mothers probably think about how to inexpensively set the table for a child’s birthday so that he is delighted.

It's actually not difficult at all. There are several tips that you can use to make an unforgettable celebration for your child and his friends:

• paper dishes in bright colors - safe and beautiful, and you don’t need to wash anything;
• decorating the room with balloons, paper garlands;
• small-sized dishes - mostly canapés, salads in bowls, pita rolls with various fillings, chicken croquettes - children do not really like to overeat, unless, of course, it is sweets;
• water drinkers can be offered homemade lemonade, fruit drinks, juices, compotes and milk and fruit cocktails;
• desserts made from cottage cheese are preferable;
• It is better to season salads with sour cream and yoghurt.

Anything is suitable for canapés: ham, cheese stars, pepper slices, olives, corn, shrimp. The sweet version is made like this: bananas, grapes, and kiwi are stuck on skewers.

You can make a delicious salad from boiled chicken, tomatoes, sweet peppers and hard-boiled eggs, decorating it in the shape of a hedgehog with fly agarics on its back. The salad is laid in layers: chicken cut into pieces → tomatoes → grated eggs → chopped pepper. Each layer is coated with sour cream and yogurt dressing. The hedgehog should be sprinkled with grated carrots, and its face should be marked with egg white. The eyes and nose are made from olives and prunes, and fly agaric mushrooms are made from eggs and tomatoes.

It is important to create a festive atmosphere and provide the baby with the opportunity to move actively.

Alternative ideas

Finally, we can offer a few ideas when there is neither time nor desire to spend time in the kitchen, but the soul requires a holiday. You can set the table for a birthday at home inexpensively and deliciously by purchasing ready-made food from a deli or restaurant. This option is especially suitable for a young, advanced company. You can order pizza, ready-made grilled chicken and salads. Japanese cuisine will cost a little more.

There is also an interesting and modern option - a buffet table. But it obeys certain rules:

• division into single portions;
• dishes should be mostly on skewers;
• you can put all kinds of goodies on one large table;
• the main course should be in baskets or make plates by cutting them first;
• If chicken legs are served, the bone is wrapped in a napkin.

Alcoholic drinks must be uncorked, and guests must be provided with glasses. But a huge plus will be that the birthday girl does not have to constantly change plates and cutlery.

The most interesting option would be a birthday party in nature. Happy people born in the summer months know what this means. Picnic in nature, barbecue, barbecue, air and sun - what could be more tempting? But there are nuances here too:

• salads with mayonnaise are not recommended dishes for a picnic;
• the meat must be marinated in advance;
• you should take care of drinking water;
• Sandwiches and side dishes can be taken from home.

And what delicious pilaf on a fire or potatoes baked in ash!

But no matter what the birthday boy chooses, the main thing is his loved ones nearby.

What recipes to choose for the holiday table? On the one hand, these should be recipes with photos, simple and tasty. On the other hand, you always want guests

Surprise with something new and unusual. Yes, simply, you often want to prepare original holiday dishes not just for guests, but also for yourself. After all, the traditional salad with crab sticks and herring under a fur coat is, to put it mildly, already tired.

You won’t get lost or confused in this section of the large culinary portal. All for the reason that the most delicious salads for the festive table and their recipes with photos are collected here. Each recipe was checked by moderators, and we try to give preference to those cooking options that have step-by-step pictures of preparing and combining the products, as well as a clear verbal description. As a result, you can quickly and efficiently prepare a new holiday dish and understand exactly: not only by the final taste, but also by appearance, how well it turned out.

A separate place is occupied by simple recipes with photos of sandwiches for the holiday table. This is a snack that is understandable to everyone, which has a classic format, but with the right approach it can differ greatly in both appearance and composition. If in your mind sandwiches are still associated with a large piece of loaf and boiled sausage, then you should get rid of such a cliché. You can prepare a variety of sandwiches for the holiday table, any combination of original products.

For example, some make classic sandwiches with sprats, adding kiwi to them, others fry croutons for sandwiches with caviar. There will be a huge variety of options and variations here, the most important thing is to find the correct and understandable recipe, which on the pages of our site, especially in this section, will be simple and easy to do.

If you need recipes for a festive table, then simple recipes with photos from this section, which is entirely dedicated to the festive table setting, will be useful for every housewife. In addition to salads and sandwiches, which were already briefly discussed above, in the section you can find many options for preparing various types of cold and hot appetizers, main courses and desserts. Having looked at how many recipes have been collected on the pages of our website, you will understand that you will definitely not have more culinary creative block before guests arrive.

09.03.2020

How to paint eggs gold: ideas and tutorials

Ingredients: egg

You can paint eggs for Easter in different colors, but recently it has been fashionable to paint them gold. We will be happy to tell you how to do it correctly.

Ingredients:
- eggs.

23.02.2020

Yeralash salad for Easter - with Korean carrots, chicken and kirieshka

Ingredients: carrots, garlic, seasoning, chili pepper, vinegar, salt, sugar, vegetable oil, chicken fillet, onions, canned corn, croutons, black pepper, mayonnaise, greens

The highlight of this salad is the variety of colors thanks to well-chosen ingredients, as well as spicy Korean carrots, which set the tone for the taste and mood of the dish. This is a great option for both everyday life and holidays.

Ingredients:
- 1 large carrot;
- 2 cloves of garlic;
- 1 tsp. seasonings for Korean carrots;
- 2-3 pinches of chili pepper;
- 1 tbsp. vinegar 95;
- salt to taste;
- 0.5-1 tsp. Sahara;
- 2 tbsp. vegetable oil;
- 150 g boiled chicken fillet;
- 1 onion;
- 3-4 tbsp. canned corn;
- 1 handful of rye crackers;
- 1-2 pinches of ground black pepper;
- mayonnaise to taste;
- 1 bunch of fresh herbs.

06.01.2020

Orange slice salad with chicken

Ingredients: potatoes, egg, carrots, onions, vinegar, salt, sugar, chicken, mayonnaise

The delicious Orange Slice salad deserves your attention, first of all, due to its unusual design. Try it, you will probably like it very much!

Ingredients:
- 4 potatoes;
- 3 eggs;
- 2-3 carrots;
- 1 onion;
- 1 tbsp. vinegar;
- 1 pinch of salt;
- 1 pinch of sugar;
- 150 g chicken breast;
- mayonnaise to taste.

29.11.2019

Salad "Maki" with chicken and mushrooms

Ingredients: tomato, champignon, chicken fillet, cheese, vegetable oil, mayonnaise, bay leaf, allspice, onion, salt, pepper, peas, dill, poppy seeds

The “Maki” salad will make a great impression on your guests at the festive table. It contains chicken, mushrooms, cheese, but its main advantage is its spectacular appearance.

Ingredients:
- 2 tomatoes;
- 150 g champignons;
- 1 chicken fillet;
- 150 g cheese;
- 1 tbsp. vegetable oil;
- 2-3 tbsp. mayonnaise;
- 1 bay leaf;
- 2 peas of allspice;
- 0.5 onions;
- salt;
- pepper;
- peas for decoration;
- poppy for decoration;
- dill for decoration.

18.11.2019

Classic Mimosa with canned fish and cheese

Ingredients: canned fish, potatoes, carrots, egg, cheese, green onions, mayonnaise, salt, pepper

Mimosa salad is prepared traditionally with canned fish - this is its distinctive feature. It turns out tasty, satisfying and interesting. So we highly recommend you try it!

Ingredients:
- 80-100 g of canned fish;
- 1 potato;
- 1 carrot;
- 1-2 eggs;
- 70 g hard cheese;
- 15 g green onions;
- 2 tbsp. mayonnaise;
- salt to taste;
- pepper to taste.

13.11.2019

"Instant" salad of Chinese cabbage, crab sticks and corn

Ingredients: Chinese cabbage, crab stick, canned corn, garlic, hard cheese, croutons, mayonnaise, salt, pepper

The “Instant” salad from Chinese cabbage, crab sticks and corn is prepared so simply and quickly that you can’t even believe it. But the salad turns out to be tasty and appetizing, so it’s suitable for both everyday life and holidays. You will learn how to prepare it from our recipe.

Ingredients:
- 200 g of Chinese cabbage;
- 100 g crab sticks;
- 100 g canned corn;
- 1 clove of garlic;
- 80 g hard cheese;
- 30-40 g of crackers;
- 80 g mayonnaise;
- salt to taste;
- pepper to taste.

03.11.2019

Lacy Baba Easter cake

Ingredients: yolk, cream, flour, orange zest, walnut, candied citrus fruit, vanilla extract, yeast, butter, sugar, salt

The Easter cake Lacy Baba really resembles lace when cut - the dough is so “holey” and tender that such a comparison inevitably comes to mind. Give it a try, these holiday baked goods will surely impress you.

Ingredients:
- 3 yolks;
- 60 ml cream;
- 170 g flour;
- 0.5 ppm orange zest;
- 2 walnuts;
- 10 g candied citrus fruits;
- 1 drop of vanilla extract;
- 1 tsp. incomplete yeast;
- 2 tbsp. butter;
- 30 g sugar;
- 0.2 tsp. salt.

24.10.2019

Easter from frozen fermented baked milk, recipe with photos step by step

Ingredients: Ryazhenka, condensed milk, honey, raisins, candied fruits, dried currants, butter, vanilla sugar, confectionery topping

Easter made from frozen fermented baked milk will surely appeal to all lovers of dairy products. This is a great treat for the Easter table - new and interesting.

Ingredients:
- 1 liter of fermented baked milk;
- 2-3 tbsp. condensed milk;
- 1 tsp. honey;
- 1.5 tbsp. raisins;
- 1 tbsp. l. candied fruits;
- 1 tsp. dried currants;
- 100 g butter;
- 10 g vanilla sugar;
- confectionery powder, glazed nuts for decoration.

20.10.2019

"Pariselle" salad with smoked chicken

Ingredients: smoked chicken, tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn, mayonnaise, salt, pepper

A salad with smoked chicken and vegetables with the beautiful name Parisel will surely please your guests - it is very tasty. And you will appreciate the simplicity and speed of its preparation.

Ingredients:
- 1 smoked chicken leg;
- 2 tomatoes;
- 1 sweet pepper;
- 2 fresh cucumbers;
- 4-5 tbsp. canned corn;
- 2 tbsp. mayonnaise or sour cream;
- salt to taste;
- pepper to taste.

22.09.2019

Kulich in the microwave

Ingredients: flour, egg, kefir, peanut butter, candied fruit, dry jam, honey, sugar, baking powder, butter, salt, lemon juice, confectionery sprinkles, decoration

It’s quite possible to cook Easter cake outside of the oven: you can bake it in the microwave - it’s very simple and relatively quick.
Ingredients:
- 0.5-0.7 cups of flour;
- 1 egg;
- 60 ml of kefir, yogurt or milk;
- 1 tbsp. peanut butter;
- 1 tbsp. candied fruits;
- 1 tbsp. Kyiv dry jam;
- 2 tbsp. honey;
- 2 tbsp. Sahara;
- 1 dessert spoon of baking powder;
- 50 g butter;
- 1 pinch of salt;
- 0.5 tsp. lemon juice;
- confectionery topping;
- decorations.

19.07.2019

An old Easter cake recipe from our grandmothers

Ingredients: yeast, milk, sugar, flour, egg, butter, raisins, dried apricots, vanillin, salt, powdered sugar

If you need an excellent, proven Easter cake recipe, then you can’t find anything better than this - this is how our grandmothers baked Easter cake. Try it, you will definitely be absolutely delighted with the result!

Ingredients:
- 23 grams of fresh yeast;
- 150 ml milk;
- 150 grams of sugar;
- 500 grams of flour;
- 3 eggs;
- 110 g butter;
- 150 grams of raisins;
- 150 grams of dried apricots;
- vanillin;
- salt;
- powdered sugar.

31.05.2019

Easter cake from Anastasia Skripkina

Ingredients: milk, egg, butter, yeast, sugar, vanilla sugar, honey, flour, salt, nuts, raisins, candied fruit, dried black currants, nutmeg, lemon zest

Easter cakes are an integral attribute of any Easter feast. There are many different recipes for their preparation, and we invite you to try one of them - tested by Anastasia Skripkina.

Ingredients:
- 120 ml milk;
- 1 egg;
- 50 grams of butter;
- 12 grams of yeast;
- 30 grams of sugar;
- 10 grams of vanilla sugar;
- 1 tbsp. honey;
- 250 grams of flour;
- 1 pinch of salt;
- 10 grams of nuts;
- 20 grams of raisins;
- 20 grams of candied fruits;
- 20 grams of dried black currants;
- 0.5 tsp. nutmeg;
- 0.5 tsp. lemon zest.

20.04.2019

Layered Mimosa salad with butter and cheese

Ingredients: canned food, egg, onion, cheese, butter, mayonnaise, dill

Even a novice housewife can prepare mimosa salad, especially if she has our detailed master class at hand. This is a very tasty and appetizing salad that all guests will certainly enjoy.

Ingredients:
- 100 grams of canned fish;
- 2 hard-boiled eggs;
- 0.3 small purple onion;
- 20 grams of butter;
- 50 grams of hard cheese;
- mayonnaise;
- dill for decoration.

05.04.2019

Arugula salad with shrimp and cherry tomatoes

Ingredients: arugula, shrimp, tomato, cheese, garlic, nuts, sauce, lemon juice, oil, honey

I bring to your attention a recipe for a very tasty and healthy arugula salad with shrimp and cherry tomatoes. The recipe is very simple and quick.

Ingredients:

- 1 bunch of arugula,
- 15-17 shrimps,
- 10 pieces of cherry tomatoes,
- 30 grams of hard cheese,
- 1 clove of garlic,
- 25 grams of pine nuts,
- 2 tbsp. soy sauce,
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice,
- 3 tbsp. olive oil,
- 1 tsp. honey

07.03.2019

Salad "Pearl"

Ingredients: salmon, egg, cheese, dill, turmeric, orange, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, caviar, olive, dill

Salad "Pearl" is a very tasty fish salad that I often prepare for the holiday table. The recipe is quite simple.

Ingredients:

- 200 grams of salmon or salmon;
- 2 eggs;
- 50 grams of cheese;
- 20 grams of dill;
- half tsp turmeric;
- 1 orange;
- 120 grams of mayonnaise;
- salt;
- black pepper;
- 30 grams of red salmon caviar;
- 30 grams of olives;
- 1 quail egg;
- a sprig of dill.

Preparing a festive menu for a birthday requires a lot of effort from the hostess. After all, you want to surprise your guests with new dishes, tastes and forms and at the same time try not to make a hole in the family budget. ›

The bright holiday of Easter is approaching. On this day (and throughout the entire holiday week), we want to surprise our family and friends with a rich, lush festive table. Some people use time-tested recipes, while others scour the Internet in search of unusual or even exotic dishes. Maybe our recipes will suit you? ›

Time flies quickly, and every year we get older and older. Every year we are faced with the same question. Should you celebrate your birthday? If we celebrate, who should we invite, where should we celebrate and what should we cook? If you invite friends to a cafe or restaurant, then there will be no problems with cooking. But if you decide to celebrate your birthday at home, in the country or somewhere in nature, then the problem of creating a menu will become especially acute. ›

In order to create a holiday menu, you don’t have to spend incredible amounts of money. Dishes made from affordable products, prepared with creativity and some “zest”, will delight your guests and will not pose a threat to your family budget. ›

The morning of a holiday should be special. It is the morning that can give you and your dear men a great mood for the whole day. The brunch menu we offer you is simple, but you should worry about the ingredients for it in advance. ›

Creating a menu for any holiday table is a long and difficult task. And if we are talking about New Year’s Eve, which smoothly turns into morning, the task becomes much more complicated. No, of course, you can simply prepare a whole table of proven dishes or, conversely, try to capture the imagination of your guests by creating something exquisite or exotic, but all your work can go to waste if you miss some important points. ›

This year, Chinese New Year is celebrated on January 23rd. It has become a good tradition for some of our compatriots to celebrate this joyful holiday. What should the table be like for this Chinese New Year? Dragons have an excellent appetite, so during the holiday you will have to forget about all diets, and also... ›

The symbol of the coming year is the Snake, and many housewives prepare a festive dinner based on the taste preferences of the symbol of the year. It is believed that the Snake loves refined and at the same time luxurious dishes. Therefore, all snacks should be prepared in tartlets, served with the usual puff salads in portions or elegantly decorated. It would be appropriate on the holiday table... ›

Have you already chosen a place for a romantic evening, thought through the decorations and surroundings and bought cute gifts? Now is the time to think about the treat. Moreover, it doesn’t matter where the festive breakfast, lunch or dinner takes place, the main thing is not to miss the selection of dishes. ›

Men have the hottest days now - chasing gifts and creating a menu for a romantic breakfast-lunch-dinner (underline as necessary). Moreover, fussing around in the kitchen frightens some representatives of the stronger sex much more than running around the shops! But it is not for nothing that it is believed that men are the best cooks. ›

As you know, the menu for the New Year's table includes appetizers, salads, a main dish, a side dish, various drinks, fruits and, of course, desserts. It is simply impossible to imagine the New Year without them. The main rule of the menu for the New Year's table: food should be varied, tasty and beautiful! ›

And although it is still too early to plan the events of the coming year, it is time to look into the near future and decide how we will celebrate the New Year 2014. Here it is - a wonderful time for making lists and menus for the New Year's table. ›

Quick holiday table

Recently I had to put together a holiday table in a hurry. There was little time to prepare - only 2.5 hours + another 1 hour for a quick run to the store for everything you need. I made it. It turned out very tasty, the guests were satisfied.

I’ll tell you how you can manage your time, have time to assemble the table and not get too tired. And what to whip up for guests.

What should be on hand

• Good knives (a sharp small one and 1 large one are enough for me);
• Cutting board (2 possible);
• Grater (large and small);
• Several bowls for preparing and mixing the dish;
• Spices (which you usually use);
• Apron;
• Dishes for table setting (plates, forks, spoons, glasses, glasses, glasses and utensils for tea and coffee: cups, saucers, plates for cake, teaspoons), napkins, a jug for drinks (for compote, juice), tablecloth.
• Dishes for serving dishes to the table and tablespoons (for laying out salads and other dishes);
• Cooking utensils (pots, pans, kettle).

In addition, clean hand towels, toilet paper, and soap are needed in the house. Perhaps slippers, if you and your guests usually wear them.

I cooked on foreign territory. Therefore, I took with me: an apron, spices (dried basil) and a grater (in case I didn’t have one in the house). If you go to cook in someone else’s house and are not sure whether there are convenient knives there, I advise you to definitely bring your own, proven ones.

What can you buy in the store?

We assume that time is running out. Therefore, complex salads, for which you need to cook and cut a lot of different ingredients or lay them out in a special way, are not suitable for us. You can take them, but only ready-made ones. Yes, I know that ready-made salads are evil, but we have an urgent men's birthday. Here - either everything is from the supermarket kitchen, or we still have time to prepare some of the dishes ourselves, giving the table a homely look.

With our own hands we will only do things that can be prepared quickly. The principle of distribution of forces is as follows:

1. A few homemade quick and easy meals.
2. Some prepared food (1-2 salads, 1 meat). This is to be guaranteed to feed us something if we don’t have time to cook.
3. Snacks - something that will be a tasty addition to dishes or diversify the table, but does not require cooking (sausage, cheese, olives, cherry tomatoes, fruits, candies and other snacks).

I only write what I chose for a specific birthday.for 7-8 people. And you are guided by the situation.

Shopping list

Of the spices, I only had dried basil (for cutlets and cucumbers, but you can do without it). Check if you have salt at home. Otherwise, it must be added to the list.

Ready-made culinary dishes

• Salads with mayonnaise to choose from: – 700-800 g– Olivier (almost a win-win option, most guests love him, that’s what we bought). Herring under a fur coat is also an option; women love it. You can take any other delicious salad that you have already bought here and are confident in its quality.
• Baked/fried meat: – piece by piece, by the number of guests. We took the meat in French style. Can be replaced or supplemented with chicken thighs or legs (oven-baked or grilled). Choose something traditional, beautiful and fresh.
• Vegetable salads – 400 g(not all of them will be). Instead of vegetable salads, we bought 300-400 g of marinated champignons with onions. Options: cabbage salad or sauerkraut if you like it spicy: Korean salads (seaweed, mushrooms, pork ears), Georgian cabbage (large pieces in beet juice). Spicy and fresh diversify the taste sensations of guests.

Semi-finished products

• Minced meat (we have delicious pork-beef, pork-chicken and chicken) – 700-800 g.

Canned food

• Pickled cucumbers(gherkins) – 1 jar(not necessarily, we haven’t opened it, and there are so many). You can – pickled tomatoes;
• Mushrooms (salted are tastier than pickled) – 1 jar. We didn’t buy anything, we made do with those from the culinary industry;
• Olives and black olives – 1 jar each;
• Pineapples – 1 jar(480 g). This is for a salad with cheese and garlic.

Vegetables fruits

• Cherry tomatoes (fresh) – 500 g (packaging). Place the whole sprig on the table. They are very good eaten casually, like grapes (you can take both/or grapes for both a salty and a sweet table). Choose those cherries that sit firmly on the branch, they are fresh (those that have fallen off have been standing for a long time).
• Fresh cucumbers – 5-8 pieces(medium size). This is for quick lightly salted cucumbers;
• Potato - 2-2.5 kg(whole plastic bag);
• Lemon – 1 piece;
• Garlic - 1 head;
• Bulb onions - 2 heads(in salad and cutlets);
• Dill - bun.
• Tangerines, grapes, any seasonal fruits and berries. We had 1 kg of tangerines.

Sausage, cheese, minced meat, fish, eggs

• Boiled sausage (doctor’s) – 0,5 small loaf;
• Boyarskaya sausage(type of ham) – 0,5 small loaf;
• Cheese Black Prince(Belarusian) – 250 g. The taste is good, traditional;
• Cheese (some kind of regular cheese, like Russian, in a salad) – 100 g;
• Processed cheese (Friendship or Orbit) – 1 piece;
• Eggs - 1 ten(large);
• Herring in oil – 1 package;

• Mayonnaise (the hostess’s dream turned out to be quite normal) – 1 small package (200 ml);
• Vegetable oil for frying(you only need a little, maybe you have a quarter of a bottle at home).

Beverages

Remember that at a rich table you always want to drink and 1 glass of compote or juice will not be enough for a guest (assume that everyone drinks 2-3 glasses).

• Alcohol: wine, martini, vodka - whatever you like. We have 1 bottle each: white and red wine (dry and semi-sweet), Martini Bianco. We drank a little, but everyone had a choice. Focus on your company.
• Juice - 2-4 liters(orange, grapefruit, apple, multifruit, tomato) - whatever you like. You can use a three-liter jar of homemade compote.
• Mineral water – 2 bottles 1.5 liters each.

• Tea - package. Perhaps coffee (we made do with regular Ahmad tea);
• Sugar - package lump (refined sugar) or 0.5 kg of regular bulk.

Hercules or semolina- it lies right next to it (you will need a couple of handfuls for cutlets). I took a package of rolled oats, then the owners will cook porridge from the leftovers.

Sweet

• Cake - 1 piece(we had 800 g of honey and sour cream, the most common, similar to homemade).
• Candies - 500 g. I bought by weight, 3 types - Gulliver (cool, big), Mishka (good) and some ordinary ones. You can just have a box or do without candy.

Bread

Take everything in slices, remember that we don’t have time.

• Black or custard - 1 loaf/loaf;
• White bread or loaf – 1 piece.

What dishes were on the table (menu)

• Cutlets (cooked) - 12-14 pieces came out (depending on size);
• French-style meat – 7 pieces;
• Olivier salad - a large salad bowl;
• Pineapple salad with cheese and garlic (prepared) – 1 medium salad bowl;
• Stuffed eggs - 2 plates, Jewish salad of processed cheese with garlic (prepared);
• Sliced ​​meats (2 types of sausage and cheese) – 2 plates;
• Olives and black olives;
• Herring with onions;
• Marinated champignons;
• Mashed potatoes). I made it with olive oil; I didn’t have any butter or sour cream or milk at home. It turned out delicious.
• Cherry tomatoes;
• Korean-style tomatoes (prepared in advance).

Procedure

Stewed cutlets

Boil eggs hard– Boil 9 pieces, the tenth raw one is minced. Place in cold water, bring to a boil, cook for 10-12 minutes. Cool in cold water.

• Prepare minced meat for cutlets: break 1 egg into the minced meat, add rolled oats (1/2 or 2/3 cup), grate a couple of cloves of garlic (fine grater) and 1 onion (coarse grater) into it. Add a pinch of basil. Add salt. Knead. Let it sit while we peel the potatoes - the flakes will swell and absorb excess moisture.
• Lightly salted cucumbers cook and then - peel potatoes(put in water, set to cook 40-50 minutes before guests arrive). Quick preparation of lightly salted cucumbers in slices: wash, cut off the ends. Cut each cucumber in half and cut the rugs into 4 slices. Throw the slices (as they are cut) into a container or jar and add salt on top. Chop a few sprigs of dill and 2-3 cloves of garlic and add to the cucumbers. Close the lid and shake vigorously for 2-3 minutes. Then leave at room temperature until serving (with the lid tightly closed). You can shake them periodically (as soon as you remember them, shake them, they will be better salted).

  

  Lightly salted cucumbers

• Fry the cutlets– heat the oil in a frying pan, form cutlets and fry them on both sides until a small crust appears. Fried - place in a pan with a layer of oil at the bottom. When all the cutlets are in the pan, add 2/3 cup of cool water, cover with a lid (or open it slightly if there is no hole in the lid for steam to escape so that the water gradually evaporates) and simmer over low heat until the cutlet smells (30 minutes) . Be careful not to burn.



Eggs stuffed with salad

Stuff eggs– Peel the hard-boiled eggs and cut them into halves. Remove the yolks and mash them with a fork. Add finely grated: processed cheese and 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped onion (1/2 head). Mix. Season with a small amount of mayonnaise. Stuff the eggs with the resulting salad (1 teaspoon per egg). There is no need to compact them, let them be heaped. I decorated with dill and a piece of sweet pepper (yes, we didn’t buy it, I found it in the owner’s refrigerator, but this is not necessary). 4 eggs fit on a dessert plate (7 halves in a circle + 1 in the center), I had 9 (18 halves), the extra one was somehow squeezed in. Before serving, each plate can be placed in a plastic bag (so that the bag on top does not come into contact with the eggs, let air in there). And put in the refrigerator until serving.

• Slice sausage and cheese. I cut the sausage loaf lengthwise into 2 parts and then cut it into thin semicircles across the loaf. You probably cut the same way. Place the slices on plates, put them in bags and also put them in the refrigerator so that the slices do not spoil or become rotten.
• Make a pineapple salad. Place pineapples in a bowl (pieces or cut rings into pieces), grate cheese (hard, like Russian) into it - a coarse grater, garlic (2 cloves) - a fine grater. Closer to serving, stir and season with mayonnaise.

As you go along, you need to set the table - entrust this to someone at home or run around yourself during breaks between cooking. Set the table, cover with a tablecloth, arrange the plates, lay out napkins (place additional ones in the napkin holder), and forks. Place glasses and glasses. Bring drinks to the table. Place the bread on a plate (cover with a napkin or put it in a bag for now).

• Assemble the table: gradually place all the prepared dishes in salad bowls and plates and transfer them to the table. You can immediately put bowls of olives and black olives (they won’t spoil); pickled cucumbers and tomatoes; Place the herring in the herring bowl, add the onion cut into semicircles (half of the stuffed eggs is left). Just when the cutlets arrive, the potatoes are cooked (drain the water, add salt, add oil, mash). I also cut lemon for tea (I sprinkled the circles with sugar to make it tastier, but whoever likes it). Remove salads and cold cuts from the refrigerator right before guests arrive to prevent them from spoiling.

All! Bon appetit!

A quick holiday table in a hurry.

Eggs can also be stuffed with liverwurst, which can be mashed with a fork along with the yolk. You can add a little mayonnaise to this minced meat and add finely chopped onions (either fresh or fried)

Recipes for dishes prepared for the holiday

A more detailed description of the cooking method with a photo, in case I explained something unclear.

A simple home holiday table - what to cook, how to plan the time, how many products will be needed

Pineapple salad (salted)

A quick tomato appetizer is ready!