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Festive birthday table - what it should be! How many dishes should be on the New Year's table. What dishes should be on the table.

And why is it considered that if guests come to you, then there should not be a centimeter of free space on the table? That it is better for guests not to eat two days before the reception, but to come in clothes with an elastic waistband?

Ulcers, kidney patients and other "... nicknames" should make an appointment with a doctor in advance, because it will still be impossible to resist a galaxy of dishes served?

But, for example, in Europe, everything is completely different. A couple of courses, one appetizer, dessert at the end. And hi. And after all, mind you, no one falls into a hungry swoon at such receptions. Everyone is full, satisfied, and they still have strength left for a high-society conversation.

Meanwhile, try to imagine our hostess' table without six types of salads, two types of hot dishes, mountains of mashed potatoes in the center of the table. And, well, and, of course, without an authentic national dish - "cuts", the recipe of which is passed down in families from generation to generation? Someone has it meat, someone has fish, someone has smoked, mixed, cheese, vegetable, cheese-fruit ... well, you know. It’s also not bad to bake a cake yourself, well, or in extreme cases, some kind of roll, otherwise it turns out to be a big table. A familiar picture?

No, no, I in no way encourage guests to treat guests with a magical combination of melted cheese and brewed tea for the second time. But, my dears, one must also know the measure.

Our poor housewives (I look forward to the cries of “I'm not like that! I'm not like that!”) have been trampling their heels at the stove for two days, preparing for the invasion of guests. A mountain of products is bought, which is rammed from the foot into the refrigerator. The day is planned by the minute, semi-prepared dishes are pre-registered in the queue to visit the oven. Pets, children and husbands know that at such moments it is better not to catch the eye of mom. What about husbands and children! Even plants pretend to be evergreen mummies, so as not to remind the hostess of themselves and not to add to her work.

And when guests arrive, they are greeted by a fresh smiling hostess, and the table strikes the imagination of even a restaurant critic. And no one knows that the hostess had practiced putting on a smile in front of the mirror for two hours and drank 18 cups of coffee so as not to fall asleep right at the table.

My dears, why all this? Will your guests (and you yourself, why not) be dissatisfied if you serve them one instead of five salads? Well, okay, don't throw slippers at me, maybe two. And a hot dish if there is also one? Can you buy a cake at the store? And no potatoes. Okay, okay, I take my words back. Where would you be without potatoes? As my grandfather once said: “What then is there?”

But after all, potatoes can also be cooked in such a way that it will turn from a banal “side dish” into the highlight of the program. See, for example, what trick can be done.

Peel the potatoes, wash and cut into very thin slices. Millimeter 3, not thicker. It can be thinner if you are not lazy to cut. For now, fill the potatoes with water and let them rest.

At this time, in a deep plate, rapidly beat 3 tablespoons of sour cream with three tablespoons of milk. Take sour cream generously, do not regret. And instead of milk, cream will fit perfectly, if you have any. Salt, pepper and your favorite herbs.

Crack two eggs into the sour cream and mix well. Grind a few mushrooms (that's absolutely any mushrooms, even pickled ones will do), mix them into the contents of the plate. Cut the leek into thin rings. Same way. Rush to the oven, turn it on 180 degrees. Upon returning, add a generous handful of grated cheese to the mixture. It can be a little leeward, you will not inform the guests about this, will you?

In a baking dish (oiled, of course), spread a layer of potatoes. On it - a layer of gravy (or sauce - as you like). Again potatoes. Sauce again. And again potatoes ... well, you didn’t peel 4 things, right? The process continues until the completion of raw materials.

Now this pyramid in the oven. Readiness to check with a prick of potatoes with a fork, as well as the goldenness of the top layer. Believe me, this dish takes as much effort as boiling potatoes, but it looks divine, and the taste is not as banal as that of just potatoes.

On the eve of any holiday, something unimaginable always happens in the house. And in this fuss, it is important not to lose sight of anything. That is why the festive table for a birthday should be thought out in advance.

First of all, you need to make a menu for this day, taking into account the invited guests, and also do not forget about the table setting and everything that is required for this. It would be nice to provide small touches that once again emphasize your individuality.

When compiling a menu, it is not at all necessary to overload it with an abundance of all kinds of dishes. Festive table birthday will be good if there are two or three original salad, several hot dishes, while it is better to make a side dish combined, as well as cold meat home cooking. And, of course, the crowning achievement of any housewife is a birthday cake or pie, beautifully designed and spectacularly served.

When decorating for a birthday, do not try to force it with a large number of store-bought finished products. Sausage and canned food will not spice up your celebration. In the arsenal of any hostess there are always several dishes that she succeeds best. And it's worth taking advantage of.

However, if you still have not given up on the idea of ​​using canned food, then turn them into your own dishes with the help of various dressings, eggs, onions, marinades, sauces, herbs and, of course, your imagination.

When preparing a gala dinner, do not try to imitate someone or make a classic holiday table. Birthday is such a celebration that should fully reflect exactly your taste. Of course, we should not forget about the conditions, as well as the company that will gather for your celebration. So, for example, you can limit yourself exclusively, but then they should be presented in a wide variety. The menu of the festive evening in this case will look like this: salads, pates, boiled tongue, aspic, or pork.

You can organize a sweet festive table for a birthday. Prepare at least four to five types of cookies, serve sweets, muffins, rolls, preferably homemade, and fruit. Don't forget the appropriate drinks. By the way, a little tip: put a few dishes with cheese on the table different varieties and cut a variety of sandwiches that you decorate in a festive style.

For those who celebrate a round date and want to present everything as solemnly as possible, we offer the following menu:

Smoked herring salad;

Jellied fish roll;

Meat salad with tomatoes;

Veal with mayonnaise;

Fish skewers;

Baked pork with croutons and champignons;

Tongue in breadcrumbs;

Black Eyed Peas with sour cream;

Tomatoes, stuffed with mushrooms;

Birthday cake with strawberries;

Cherries in caramel with ice cream;

Strawberry crunch.

So far, we have only talked about a festive birthday table for adults. However, let's not forget about our children. For them, this day is even more significant. Festive is radically different from that for the older generation.

For students, it looks something like this:

Sandwiches "Domino";

Sandwiches-cakes;

boiled fish under mayonnaise;

Egg baskets with chicken;

. "kebabs" on apples;

Zrazy with an egg;

Chickens in the dough;

Strawberries with ice cream;

sponge cake;

Pie "Surprise";

Apricot milkshake.

As for the kids, it is best for them to choose foods that can be eaten without a knife. The ideal option would be if all the dishes are arranged in the form of fairy-tale characters. For example, you can cook sandwiches "Flowers", stuffed eggs"Gnomiki", salad "Hedgehog of cheese", cookies "Kolobki" and the like.

The most important thing in all this, both for children and adults - good mood, maximum positive and a lot of fun. After all, a birthday is not only a dinner, it is also a great company and positive emotions. And then your holiday will be on top, and the memories of it will remain the most pleasant!

Making a menu for 15 people: recipes and cooking

SNACKS

SALADS

HOT DISHES

GARNISHES

BEVERAGES

DESSERTS

And again a holiday! Home invited Good friends and relatives! A man of commercials 15 ... Again, a luxurious feast is planned, which will abound with delicious and hearty meals. But what? What to cook and what menu to choose if there is a banquet for 15 people? Tired of the standard Olivier, herring under a fur coat and mashed potatoes… I want something original. And at the same time, it is necessary that all dishes are not only tasty, if possible useful, but also beautiful. Therefore, we highlight the basic principles and recipes for a good modern menu:

  • dishes must be tested by experience;
  • quite simple and not very long to prepare;
  • look aesthetically pleasing (be presented beautifully designed);
  • be universal (suitable for both adults and children).

So, let's make an approximate festive menu for 15 people. Consider six sections: appetizers, salads, hot dishes, side dishes, drinks, desserts. Let's start with snacks.

SNACKS

one). 101 canapes

Of course, the point is not to cook 101 pieces of canapés (usually impaled on skewers). It’s just that this recipe is so versatile that for each new feast, you can surprise your guests again and again with one such dish.

The basis for the canapes will be:

  • cracker,
  • baked puff pastry slices,
  • hard cheese;
  • white, black, gray bread, cut into curly slices (for example, triangles, rhombuses, circles - using a glass);
  • toast;
  • ready-made baskets from unleavened dough.

Filling for canapes (can be combined to taste):

  • salted curd, butter, cheese, curd cheese;
  • salted red fish, herring;
  • red, black caviar;
  • shrimp, mussels;
  • ham, boiled pork, boiled meat, sausage;
  • hard cheese;
  • boiled eggs (chicken or quail)

Canape decoration:

  • greens (lettuce, parsley, cilantro, spinach, dill, etc.);
  • slices of lemon, lime, tangerine, kiwi;
  • olives;
  • grape;
  • cherry tomato halves;
  • slices of radish, cucumber;
  • cumin, coriander, sesame seeds;
  • other.

As an option, you can serve small rolls of pita bread to the table. They look just as elegant and appetizing as the usual ones. For example, put cucumber slices, lettuce leaves and salmon slices sprinkled with lemon on a pita leaf smeared with cream cheese. Roll up the roll and refrigerate for an hour. Cut into small pieces before serving.

  1. Cheese roll with pistachios and chicken

Highly tasty dish medium difficulty. It is worth working on it, because the result will certainly delight guests with excellent taste.

Ingredients:

  • 700 g of cheese "Russian";
  • 100 g of peeled pistachios;
  • 400 g of cottage cheese;
  • 1 PC. yellow sweet pepper;
  • 500 g chicken fillet;
  • 4 tbsp canned corn;
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil;
  • 1 tsp curry powder;
  • parsley;
  • salt to taste.

Cooking process:

    1. Grate the cheese on a coarse grater and put it on a baking sheet, on parchment (evenly distribute). Place in preheated to 90 degrees. oven for 10 minutes (until the cheese is completely melted). Take out, let the cheese mass cool;
    2. Pour chicken fillet with hot salted water and cook until tender (about 25 minutes);
    3. Put the paper with the cheese mass on the work surface and roll out with a rolling pin, covering with a second sheet of parchment paper. Form a rectangle;
    4. Chilled boiled chicken fillet cut into strips, season with pepper and curry;
    5. Cut the sweet pepper into cubes, chop the pistachios with a knife;
    6. Mix cottage cheese with pistachios, sweet pepper, parsley and corn. Salt the mass to taste;
    7. Put the prepared filling on the cheese layer, distribute evenly. Roll up the roll and wrap it in food foil. Place in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours;
    8. Cut into slices and arrange beautifully on a dish.

  1. Antipasti - puffs with olives

Bring some Italian flair into your festive feast. Antipasti is the Italian name for warming dishes before the main dishes. I mean, just appetizers. This recipe will surprise you with its simplicity, and the dish prepared according to it will delight guests with a piquant, rich taste.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pack of yeast-free puff pastry;
  • 2 jars of pitted black olives (or olives - for an amateur, with them the appetizer is more salty);
  • 200 g of sausages;
  • greens (for decoration).

Attention: to prepare such an appetizer, you will need long wooden skewers. Soak them in water overnight!

Cooking process:

  1. Roll out the dough and carefully cut into strips no more than 1 cm wide.
  2. String olives or olives on a skewer alternately with pieces of sausage;
  3. Take two strips of dough and fasten them at the base of the skewer on the last olive. Carefully wrap the olives and sausage wedges with the dough, crossing the strips as shown.
  4. Fold the cooked skewers on a prepared baking sheet, which is sent to a preheated to 200 degrees. oven for about 15-20 minutes (until baking test strips).

SALADS

  1. diner

Snack salads are very easy to prepare, but no less tasty. This salad will be a great addition to the rest. festive dishes. Served with both olive oil and mayonnaise (optional).

Ingredients:

  • 600 g of ham;
  • 8 pcs. chicken eggs;
  • 4 things. tomato;
  • 600 g of Beijing cabbage;
  • 400 g canned corn;
  • 5-6 tbsp olive oil (can be substituted for mayonnaise if desired)
  • salt, pepper (to taste).

Cooking process:

  1. Boil hard-boiled eggs. Gently grind;
  2. Cut ham into strips;
  3. Chop Chinese cabbage into small pieces;
  4. Wash and cut into slices tomatoes;
  5. cook canned corn, draining water from it;
  6. Mix all the ingredients, salt and pepper the base, season with oil or mayonnaise.

    Salad-cocktail "Glamour"

This salad, first of all, will surprise guests with its serving. And it is served in portions - in wine glasses with beautifully stacked layers. In addition, the dish will please with its exquisite taste, despite a very simple set of ingredients.

Ingredients:

  • 500 g shrimp;
  • 4 things. medium apples;
  • 2-3 pcs. medium carrots;
  • 4 tbsp. l. lemon juice;
  • 2-3 pcs. cucumber;
  • a small bunch of parsley;
  • 7 tbsp light mayonnaise;
  • salt (to taste).

Cooking process:

    1. Boil the peeled shrimp in salted water (no more than 3 minutes). Throw away in a colander. Cool down;
    2. Wash, peel and grate apples, sprinkle them with lemon juice;
    3. Wash cucumbers and carrots, peel and also grate (preferably on a grater for Korean carrots). Alternatively, carrots can be pre-fried on vegetable oil;
    4. Put cucumbers, carrots, apples in layers in bowls or wine glasses. Lubricate all layers with mayonnaise;
    5. Lay the shrimp in the top layer (small ones do not require chopping, large ones can be cut into 3-4 parts);
    6. Decorate the salad with herbs and cool slightly.

  1. Salad "Watermelon slice"

very elegant, hearty salad effectively decorate the festive table. It is based on simple, affordable products. And the main "trick" - in the design. If we are talking about a festive menu for 15 people, it is better to prepare two separate servings of salad - let two bright slices of watermelon flaunt on the table.

Ingredients for 2 individual servings:

For the base:

  • 1 kg chicken fillet;
  • 2 cans of pickled champignons;
  • 2 pcs. medium carrots;
  • 14 pcs. chicken eggs;
  • 600 g of cheese;
  • mayonnaise;
  • salt (to taste).

For decoration (top layer):

  • 3 pcs. cucumber;
  • 5 pieces. tomato;
  • 8-9 olives.

Cooking process:

    1. Cool the chicken boiled in salted water, finely chop;
    2. Eggs and carrots also boil and chop into small cubes;
    3. Cut mushrooms into small pieces;
    4. Cheese grate on a fine grater;
    5. Prepare the salad base by mixing chopped chicken, carrots, eggs, cheese (leave a little grated cheese for decoration). Season the whole mass with mayonnaise and salt to taste;
    6. Put the cooked base on a wide dish, forming an impromptu slice of watermelon;
    7. Finely chop fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.
    8. Garnish the outer side of the slice with cucumbers (in the shape of a crescent), and the inner side with tomatoes. On the tomato part lay out the grains from the chopped olives.

HOT DISHES

  1. mushroom julienne

Preparing the dish is not very difficult and not very long, but it is one of the favorite dishes of most of us. The only inconvenience of its preparation is the need for a sufficient number of cocotte makers (small portion ladles). In our case, these will require 15 pieces.

Ingredients:

  • 900 g of champignons;
  • 900 g chicken fillet:
  • 5 pieces. large bulbs;
  • 750 g sour cream;
  • 450 g of hard cheese;
  • 150 g butter;
  • 6 tbsp flour;
  • vegetable oil (for frying);
  • salt, pepper (to taste).

Cooking process:

    1. Cut well-washed, dried mushrooms into thin plates and fry in vegetable oil, drain;
    2. Beat the chicken fillet, cut, fry in a pan until half cooked (without the formation of a golden crust);
    3. Finely chopped onion fry until golden brown;
    4. Prepare a sauce of sour cream, flour and butter (mix the mass thoroughly);
    5. Put all the ingredients in a frying pan, pour over the sauce, salt, pepper and simmer over low heat until the liquid evaporates;
    6. Grate cheese on a medium grater;
    7. Arrange the prepared mass in cocotte bowls, cover with cheese chips and send to the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Meatloaf "Two in One"

Excellent meat dish- very filling and tasty. A real gastronomic feast, especially for gourmet meat-eaters.

Ingredients:

  • 1.4 kg of ground beef;
  • 700 g bacon;
  • 1 st. chopped onion;
  • 2/3 cup barbecue sauce (homemade or store bought)
  • 24 pcs. crackers;
  • 2 pcs. chicken eggs;
  • 2 tbsp. l. mustard;
  • 2 tsp chili powder;
  • salt, pepper (to taste).

Cooking process

    1. Prepare minced meat, put finely chopped onions into it;
    2. Season the mass with barbecue sauce to taste;
    3. Add mustard and all seasonings, spices;
    4. Break eggs into the meat mass, add chopped crackers (breadcrumbs or crumbs of a dried loaf). Everything is good, mix thoroughly;

    1. Lay out the slices of bacon, evenly distribute the dressed on them in the center chopped meat. Roll up the bacon slices. Place the resulting roll (or several rolls) on a foil-lined or parchment paper baking sheet (seam down);
    2. Grease the roll prepared for baking again with a little barbecue sauce;
    3. Place the dish in the oven, preheated to 175 degrees. Bake for about an hour;
    4. The finished roll should be allowed to cool slightly, cut into portions.

  1. Poultry (chicken) with oranges oven.

This recipe is versatile. On it you can cook not only chicken, but also another poultry. This dish turns out juicy, fragrant, very tasty. And it looks great on the holiday table.

Ingredients

  • 1 large chicken (or other bird of your choice)
  • 400-500 g oranges (sweet and thin-skinned);
  • 5 tooth garlic;
  • salt, herbs, honey and mustard to taste.

Cooking process:

  1. Grate the prepared chicken carcass with a mixture of seasonings, spices and salt, coat with honey;
  2. Wash the oranges, pour over with boiling water and then with cold water;
  3. Peel the garlic, cut each clove in half lengthwise;

  1. Put the carcass back down on the prepared baking sheet. Make a pocket on the back side (separating the skin from the meat with your hand). Put orange slices in it. Similarly, make a pocket from the bottom of the carcass (from the back) and also chop it with orange slices;
  2. Fill the inner cavity with chopped garlic and oranges;
  3. With culinary twine or a strong thick thread, tie the legs of the bird and overlay the carcass on the outside with the remaining orange slices;
  4. Send the chicken to preheated to 180 degrees. oven, bake for about 2 hours, periodically pouring over the juice that stands out. The finished chicken should have a golden crust, and when pierced, the liquid coming out of it should be transparent.

Note:

Such stuffed bird you can also cook in a baking sleeve. Only then, for the formation of a crust, should the sleeve be slightly opened about 20 minutes before readiness.

GARNISHES

  1. Normandy potatoes

Delicious and, more importantly, very beautiful dish. Such a side dish will dress up a festive feast and will surely please the guests.

Ingredients:

  • 15 large potatoes;
  • 200 g of hard cheese;
  • 5 pieces. egg yolks;
  • 5 tbsp sour cream.

Cooking process:

  1. Bake well-washed potatoes in the oven until cooked (readiness can be checked with a toothpick);
  2. Cut each potato in half lengthwise, scoop out the flesh with a spoon;
  3. Mash the potatoes with a fork, adding sour cream, egg yolks and salt. Mix everything well;
  4. Grate the cheese on a fine grater, add to the potato mass;
  5. Fill the potato halves with the prepared mixture, apply a pattern on top using a confectionery press with the desired nozzle (or simply lay it out beautifully with a fork). Place in preheated to 250 degrees. oven, bake until golden brown.

  1. Rice with nuts and raisins

This side dish goes well with both fish and meat. And it is prepared quite simply and quickly. For 15 small servings you will need:

  • 3 cups of rice;
  • 2 small onions;
  • 5 cloves of garlic;
  • 7 tbsp raisins;
  • 300 almonds or walnuts;
  • 200 g butter (vegetable or butter);
  • greens;
  • salt to taste.

Cooking process

    1. Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a large frying pan or cauldron, fry finely chopped onion on it until transparent, add garlic;
    2. Pour rice, mixing well with the toasted mass. Fry it for a few minutes;
    3. Pour in 6 cups of water, add salt and bring everything to a boil. Reduce the heat, leaving the mass to languish for 20-30 minutes (until all the water is absorbed);
    4. Melt a little butter in a separate frying pan and fry raisins, parsley, chopped nuts on it. Fill the rice with the prepared mixture.

  1. Garlic lasagne "Ajada"

This is a very unconventional type of lasagna, for which the sauce is very important. It is he who gives the dish the necessary piquancy and richness. The dish is quick and easy to prepare, and on the festive table it will be more than appropriate.

Ingredients:

  • 3 packs of lasagna;
  • 300 ml of olive oil;
  • 200 g butter;
  • 300 g of Parmesan cheese;
  • 500 g walnuts;
  • 9 cloves of garlic;
  • 300 g breadcrumbs.

Cooking process:

  1. Drop the nuts in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain the water, peel the nuts and chop, mixing with garlic and breadcrumbs(should be a coarse paste)
  2. Add olive oil while continuing to whip the mass. You should get a homogeneous sauce. Add salt and pepper to it to taste;
  3. Boil the lasagne sheets in water until half cooked (do not drain the water). Prepare baking dishes by greasing them with butter (at least two forms will be required for this amount of dish). Put a sheet of lasagna, pour a little sauce on it, season with butter and sprinkle with grated parmesan. Repeat the process with all of the lasagne sheets. Top layer - sauce and parmesan;
  4. Along the perimeter of the puff mass on a baking sheet, pour water from pasta cooking (a small amount);
  5. Send to the oven for 15 minutes.

BEVERAGES

  1. homemade lemonade

A fresh, tasty and absolutely not harmful (unlike store-bought counterparts) drink will harmoniously complement the picture of festive dishes. And it's easy to prepare!

Ingredients:

  • 3 liters of sparkling water;
  • 2 glasses of plain water;
  • 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 10 lemons)
  • 2 cups of sugar.

Cooking process:

    1. Pour all the sugar into a saucepan with water, heat the mixture over low heat, stirring it until completely dissolved. granulated sugar. Cool the syrup;
    2. Prepared lemon juice add to syrup, strain liquid;
    3. Add soda before serving. Its quantity should be adjusted to your taste.

  1. Ginger drink.

With this drink you wish your guests good health. And you will be very pleased with those who are worried about their figure - after all, ginger is one of the first in the list of products for weight loss! And what a useful spice! Ginger contains 1-3% essential oils and many amino acids, minerals, vitamins.

Ingredients:

4 tbsp grated ginger;

1 PC. lemon;

4 tbsp honey.

Cooking process:

  • Boil water with chopped lemon zest in a saucepan;
  • Grate ginger on a fine grater and add to the prepared syrup;
  • Cool the drink a little, flavor with honey and lemon juice.
  • If desired, the taste can be adjusted by adding more sugar.

  1. Non-alcoholic mulled wine with apples

Multi-component drink with unforgettable taste. And also a powerful anti-cold remedy. Mulled wine is especially relevant in the cold season. Take the time and effort to prepare it and your guests will be very grateful to you!

Ingredients:

  • 6 art. grape juice;
  • 1 st. water;
  • 1 PC. Apple;
  • 4 tbsp lemon peel;
  • 4 tbsp orange peel;
  • 1 tsp cloves;
  • 2 tsp cinnamon;
  • 8 pcs. black peppercorns;
  • 4 tbsp raisins;
  • ginger, cardamom, sugar (to taste).

Cooking process:

  1. Pour water and juice into the pan, put it to languish over low heat;
  2. Add lemon and orange zest, raisins;
  3. Peel the apple and cut into small cubes. Pour into a liquid base;
  4. Season the drink with spices: allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom. Stir and wait until the mulled wine is well heated. But! Do not bring to a boil! (it is important);
  5. Turn off the fire, and cover the drink with a lid for infusion. Leave for 5 minutes.

DESSERTS

  1. Cake "Rahat"

Needless to say, this cake is delicious! You just have to try it!

Ingredients:

  • 6 pcs. egg whites;
  • 385 g of granulated sugar;
  • 300 g of peanuts;
  • 3 tbsp flour or starch;
  • 50 g of water;
  • 2 tbsp condensed milk;
  • 150 g butter;
  • 2-3 tbsp apple jam;
  • 1 tsp cocoa powder;
  • vanillin.

Cooking process:

1. Ignite in a frying pan and peel the nuts from the husk. Grind them in a blender;

  1. It is necessary to separately make three servings of protein-nut paste for three cakes. For one cake take 2 egg whites, beat them into a strong foam, adding a little bit of sugar;
  2. 4 tbsp mix peanuts with 1 tbsp. flour or starch. Gently fold this mixture into the beaten egg whites, mixing from top to bottom;
  3. Put the resulting mass on a baking sheet, level it with a thickness of 5-7 mm (in the form of a circle - an approximate diameter of about 20 cm);
  4. Bake at a temperature of 160 degrees. about 2 hours (you need to make sure that the cake does not dry out, but does not remain wet);
  5. Thus, bake three cakes. It is advisable to let them lie down for 12 hours;
  6. Prepare buttercream. First boil the milk sugar syrup- Pour 85 g of sugar into 50 g of boiling water, after boiling add condensed milk and bring to a boil. Simmer on a low boil for 10 minutes. Cool the syrup;
  7. Beat the butter, after softening it. Add prepared chilled sugar syrup to it in a thin stream, pour in vanillin. You should get an airy, light cream that does not exfoliate.
  8. 1/3 of the cream paint over cocoa;
  9. Assemble the cake: smear the bottom cake with unpainted butter cream, the second cake - apple jam, and the top - chocolate cream.
  10. The sides of the cake can be carefully trimmed (keep in mind that the base is very fragile). And after greasing, sprinkle with nuts. Decorate the top with buttercream.

  1. Mini charlotte with pear (portioned)

Portion dessert is very convenient for a large company and fits perfectly into the festive menu for 15 people. You can cook exactly 15 servings or with a small margin. The proposed mini-rolls are prepared quite simply, look very elegant, and delight delicate taste. The recipe is for 16 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 15 small pears;
  • 6 art. flour;
  • 12 tablespoons Sahara;
  • 12 pcs. eggs;
  • 200 ml sour cream;
  • 50 g butter;
  • 9 tsp baking powder;
  • 5 tbsp breadcrumbs;
  • powdered sugar for dusting.

Cooking process:

  1. Divide 4 eggs into whites and yolks. Whisk the yolks and the rest of the eggs together with sugar;
  2. Add sour cream to the resulting mass, pour flour with baking powder through a sieve, mix;
  3. Prepare molds - grease with oil and sprinkle with breadcrumbs;
  4. Pour the dough into moulds. Put a pear in each;
  5. Send heated to 180 degrees. oven for 30-40 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar after cooking.

  1. Sweets "Raffaello"

Delicate, elegant sweets will please every guest.

Ingredients:

  • 120 ml of heavy cream;
  • 150 g coconut;
  • 50 almonds;
  • 50 g butter;
  • 2 white chocolate bars;
  • 1 pinch of salt.

Cooking process:

  1. Melt the chocolate poured with cream in a water bath, bring the mixture to a boil;
  2. Cool the resulting mass to room temperature, add 30-45 g of coconut flakes, butter and a pinch of salt. Stir, refrigerate (if the base does not thicken, beat it with a mixer and refrigerate again);
  3. Form sweets by placing an almond in each and rolling on top coconut flakes. Store sweets in the refrigerator.

And, finally, here are some tips that will help you properly organize a festive feast:

Tip #1: When arranging the menu, select different variants dishes - with fish, meat, mushrooms. Thus, you will prevent a situation when one of the guests for some reason does not eat one of the listed products. For example, your girlfriend does not like fish, let her treat herself to meat. And if you fast - invite her to taste mushroom food!

Tip #2: Part of the dishes should be snacks fast food: sandwiches, cutting and more.

Tip #3: It is advisable to have a grocery holiday NC at home. For example, preparations that, in case of a shortage of food at the table, can be quickly obtained and served as a separate dish. It can be stuffed tomatoes, lecho, salads and other preservation.

In fact, the banquet menu and step by step recipes for 15 people presented in the article are tested on their own experience, you can take as an example and make your own version, which, in principle, is not so difficult. Modernity offers an immense variety of recipes! There would be a desire to cook delicious homemade holiday food for your loved ones.

Original post by Galche

Potato as the highlight of the program, or How many dishes should be on the table?

And why is it considered that if guests come to you, then there should not be a centimeter of free space on the table? That it is better for guests not to eat two days before the reception, but to come in clothes with an elastic waistband?

Ulcers, kidney patients and other "... nicknames" should make an appointment with a doctor in advance, because it will still be impossible to resist a galaxy of dishes served?

But, for example, in Europe, everything is completely different. A couple of courses, one appetizer, dessert at the end. And hi. And after all, mind you, no one falls into a hungry swoon at such receptions. Everyone is full, satisfied, and they still have strength left for a high-society conversation.

Meanwhile, try to imagine our hostess' table without six types of salads, two types of hot dishes, mountains of mashed potatoes in the center of the table. And, well, and, of course, without an authentic national dish - "cuts", the recipe of which is passed down in families from generation to generation? Someone has it meat, someone has fish, someone has smoked, mixed, cheese, vegetable, cheese-fruit ... well, you know. It’s also not bad to bake a cake yourself, well, or in extreme cases, some kind of roll, otherwise it turns out to be a big table. A familiar picture?

No, no, I in no way encourage guests to treat guests with a magical combination of melted cheese and brewed tea for the second time. But, my dears, one must also know the measure.

Our poor housewives (I look forward to the cries of “I'm not like that! I'm not like that!”) have been trampling their heels at the stove for two days, preparing for the invasion of guests. A mountain of products is bought, which is rammed from the foot into the refrigerator. The day is planned by the minute, semi-prepared dishes are pre-registered in the queue to visit the oven. Pets, children and husbands know that at such moments it is better not to catch the eye of mom. What about husbands and children! Even plants pretend to be evergreen mummies, so as not to remind the hostess of themselves and not to add to her work.

And when guests arrive, they are greeted by a fresh smiling hostess, and the table strikes the imagination of even a restaurant critic. And no one knows that the hostess had practiced putting on a smile in front of the mirror for two hours and drank 18 cups of coffee so as not to fall asleep right at the table.

My dears, why all this? Will your guests (and you yourself, why not) be dissatisfied if you serve them one instead of five salads? Well, okay, don't throw slippers at me, maybe two. And a hot dish if there is also one? Can you buy a cake at the store? And no potatoes. Okay, okay, I take my words back. Where would you be without potatoes? As my grandfather once said: “What then is there?”

But after all, potatoes can also be cooked in such a way that it will turn from a banal “side dish” into the highlight of the program. See, for example, what trick can be done.

Peel the potatoes, wash and cut into very thin slices. Millimeter 3, not thicker. It can be thinner if you are not lazy to cut. For now, fill the potatoes with water and let them rest.

At this time, in a deep plate, rapidly beat 3 tablespoons of sour cream with three tablespoons of milk. Take sour cream generously, do not regret. And instead of milk, cream will fit perfectly, if you have any. Salt, pepper and your favorite herbs.

Crack two eggs into the sour cream and mix well. Grind a few mushrooms (that's absolutely any mushrooms, even pickled ones will do), mix them into the contents of the plate. Cut the leek into thin rings. Same way. Rush to the oven, turn it on 180 degrees. Upon returning, add a generous handful of grated cheese to the mixture. It can be a little leeward, you will not inform the guests about this, will you?

In a baking dish (oiled, of course), spread a layer of potatoes. On it - a layer of gravy (or sauce - as you like). Again potatoes. Sauce again. And again potatoes ... well, you didn’t peel 4 things, right? The process continues until the completion of raw materials.

Now this pyramid in the oven. Readiness to check with a prick of potatoes with a fork, as well as the goldenness of the top layer. Believe me, this dish takes as much effort as boiling potatoes, but it looks divine, and the taste is not as banal as that of just potatoes.

Hostess - glory!

Birthday is a long-awaited and special holiday for every person. On this day, I want to gather all my close friends and relatives at one table and spend the evening in a warm atmosphere. As soon as such plans appear in my head, the need to draw up the right menu immediately arises. What should be the festive table for a birthday? This question confuses many, forcing them to look for alternative options for the celebration, excluding the feast. In fact, everything is quite easy if you think over the dishes in advance.

How to correctly calculate the number of dishes

First you need to decide how many guests you have to feed and how generous your table will be. First courses for banquets are usually not used, with the exception of some exotic oriental soups. However, even in this case, they are more problems than good. Stop for appetizers, entrees and dessert.

If you are not planning a large-scale celebration, you can completely get by with an exclusively sweet table. To date, there are many excellent pastry shops offering cakes and pastries for every taste. You can go the other way, completely eliminating the dessert from the menu. In this case, you will have to pay more attention to the main dish.

Depending on the number of guests, calculate the volume of future treats. The easiest way is not to make a mistake when serving dishes in portions, as in a restaurant. The only negative is that you have to pretty much run around the guests until everything is in place. If this does not suit you, act the old fashioned way - cook dishes with a margin. Remember: it's better to have something left than to have everyone sit at an empty table.

Planning a holiday menu

In some families and companies, it is customary to cook, if not the same, then very similar dishes from year to year. Whether this is good or bad, one can argue endlessly. Nevertheless, you will definitely know that everyone will leave full and satisfied, and guests will not faint from the sight of exotic treats. So, the standard menu for all occasions of solemn feasts:

1. Appetizers and salads for birthday

Snacks are prepared quickly, do not require special investments and are always in demand on the table. Offer your guests a wide variety of treats and prepare light meals for all tastes.

Mandatory set

Prepare a separate plate for a meat appetizer, thinly slice sausage, ham, boiled pork or any other similar ingredients. Do the same with cheese and vegetables. At the same time, the more types of this or that product you use, the richer and more festive your table will look.

Korean cuisine

At every vegetable market, you can easily find a kiosk with Korean snacks. They favorably decorate the feast and dilute its usual filling. Be sure to take Korean carrot, cabbage, pork ears, soybeans and any other delicacies you like. Divide everything into small bowls.

Pickles

Search your pantries for pickles, tomatoes, zucchini, etc. Such snacks will not remain untouched.

Salads on the table - simple and tasty

Salads will not only help to feed the guests, but also, with due diligence, will make the table brighter. Do not forget that food should be not only tasty, but also beautiful!

You can use the good old "Olivier", a salad with crab sticks and "Caesar". However, "Herring under a fur coat" also has not been canceled. For those who do not like the fishy taste of Shuba, cook the Bride. The recipe is almost identical, but will suit even the most whimsical gourmets.

Very easy to prepare salad with ham and pineapple. Buy already diced canned pineapple. Cut ham, boiled eggs and hard cheese (also in cubes) to them yourself. Add crackers (you can from a pack) and season with mayonnaise.

You can surprise guests with "sea" salads - shrimp, mussels and squid are perfect, as well as salted fish. Seafood goes well with vegetables, eggs and hard cheese. As a dressing, use low-fat mayonnaise, sour cream or olive oil.

Vegetable salads like vinaigrette make a light snack and are sure to please vegetarians. And for the vinaigrette in the company, prepare "Spring" and "Greek". For the first, use all the greens that come to hand: dill, parsley, sorrel, green onion. Add to them boiled egg and radish, season with sour cream. "Greek" is an improved model of the well-known cucumber and tomato salad. Cheese, olives and sunflower oil are added to it.

2. Main course

To begin with, you should think about what your guests like more - meat or fish. Please note that the dish has a decent appearance. Try to give it a beautiful shape, bake to an appetizing golden crust and additionally decorate.

Without meat during the feast, it will be bad, so be sure to cook at least one main course with this ingredient. The easiest way to deal with chicken. Can be baked appetizing legs and wings or put the sirloin on the chops.

Beef and pork will take longer, but steaks or cutlets are great for holiday menu. As a delicacy, you can cook duck with apples or veal medallions.

For many "home" cooks, cooking fish does not seem like the most pleasant pastime, so the fish menu for the holidays is not often chosen. Of course, you will have to spend extra strength and nerves on removing bones, cleaning and cutting. Nonetheless, stuffed pike, baked carp or pike perch in batter will be a real feat on your part and will surely be remembered by everyone present.

Tricks for the lazy:

  • To minimize the time spent in the kitchen, you can use ready-made dishes. To get started, pay attention to the grilled chicken, which can be found in any supermarket. It will look great on the table, and all you have to do is divide the bird into portions.
  • Not the worst option and home delivery of food. Choose from several varieties of pizza and order it right when your guests arrive. It will cost a little more Japanese kitchen. Sushi and rolls are a great option for a holiday. Calculate that everyone has enough of both.

Separately think about the side dish. Of course, it is better to leave various cereals in the daily diet. Potatoes are suitable for the holiday: mashed potatoes, fries, young ones with dill, rice with vegetables will look beautiful.

3. Dessert

As a dessert, it is most common to use a cake. Especially in honor of the birthday it can be decorated with burning candles. But one cake will not be enough for you. Be sure to put vases with sweets or cakes on the table, a large plate of fruit.

Although it is not necessary to go to the store for holiday goodies. After all, a birthday is a great occasion to please friends. homemade cakes. Even the simplest hand-made pie will make an indelible impression, and what can we say about cakes, baskets or a Napoleon cake!

If you have calculated the menu in such a way that everyone is already quite full during the main course, prepare a light and fresh dessert. Suitable for this fruit salad, seasoned with honey or sour cream, panna cotta (cream and vanilla dessert) or any kind of cocktails (you can milk, you can also alcoholic).

4. Drinks

When choosing drinks, consider the preferences of all guests. Having only strong alcohol on the table can put some guests in an awkward position. Make sure you have wine and champagne. Don't forget about soft drinks. Put several types of juice and lemonade on the table, and offer coffee and tea for dessert.

Buffet or self-service delights

If you do not plan to get hung up on constant sitting at the table, but prefer a more active celebration and want to entertain your guests with fun, offer your guests a buffet table.

The main rule to follow: all dishes should be divided into small portions which you can take and eat immediately. Various snacks will be an excellent option: sandwiches on skewers, chopped vegetables and fruits, cheese and meat plates. You can immediately put sweets on the table. It can be eclairs and sweets or any other delicacies. At the same time, setting the table for your birthday will take you much less time, and besides, you don’t have to constantly bring and take away plates.

As for the main dish, here you have to show imagination. Your guests will have to take more food with their hands, otherwise cutlery will be in all corners of the apartment. Baskets with various fillers (meat, fish, mushrooms) can help you out, you can also cook delicious pancakes(It is better to cut them into small, neat pieces). With a strong desire, fit and chicken legs. To do this, wrap the bone beautifully in advance with a napkin.

Put all drinks on the table immediately. Uncork bottles of wine in advance so that guests do not have to waste time looking for a corkscrew. Do not forget to place glasses and saucers in a conspicuous place.

holiday picnic

An excellent option for celebrating is always going out into nature. Especially if you were lucky to be born in the warm season. Hot birthday meals cooked over a fire will be both appropriate and delicious.

Of course, the menu is planned before the trip. Some dishes are best brought ready-made, while others will need blanks:

  1. Marinate your BBQ meat ahead of time. It can be steaks, barbecue or all the same wings. Remember that chicken marinates quickly enough, but pork and beef will have to be prepared almost a day in advance.
  2. Genuine delight among your guests will cause pilaf cooked by you personally. Do not forget to bring a cauldron and plenty of oriental spices with you.
  3. It is better not to take mayonnaise salads with you, or season them immediately before eating, otherwise they may let the juice out and lose half of the taste. As an appetizer, various sandwiches are excellent.
  4. You can cook a side dish at home, or bake potatoes in coals. Meat fried over a fire is quite fatty in itself, so fresh or baked vegetables are best suited for it.
  5. In addition to the standard set of drinks, do not forget to bring more water. With active recreation in nature, everyone will definitely want to drink. In addition, you may need to rinse your hands.

Decoration of the table and dishes to create the right atmosphere

Do not forget that in itself creates a holiday atmosphere. Do not be stingy to get the best tablecloth and expensive service. Grate glasses and cutlery to a shine in advance. Put a beautiful napkin on a plate for each guest. Ideally, use cloth napkins that guests will use to cover their knees while eating. Try to make some of them original figurines. If it doesn't work, just fold it in a wave or a neat square.

Do not forget to add solemnity to your dishes. Even a simple bunch of greens will add appeal to the treats. You can purchase a special knife for curly cutting in advance. Then banal cucumbers and tomatoes will turn into real works of art. In addition, salads can be laid out in any original shape that comes to mind - from a hedgehog to the Eiffel Tower.

Try to create a holiday for yourself first. Even outdoors or in a restaurant. A few balloons and confetti bows are sure to cheer you up and your loved ones.

10 simple tips how to make your holiday tasty and enjoyable:


Setting the table for your birthday on your own may not be the easiest task. But if you approach the solution of the problem with soul and creativity, even the preparation process itself can bring a lot of positive emotions. In addition, this is another reason to show off your culinary skills and hospitality to your friends.