Light holiday ones. How to set the table for a birthday at home inexpensively, quickly and tasty? What should be on hand

Before the onset of this significant date, the heart invariably swells with joy in anticipation of gifts, fun, and friendly meetings. But some people various reasons don't like their birthdays. 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 extreme antiquity, when there were beliefs about a person’s special vulnerability 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 of celebration children's day birth. Prepared for this tasty pie, in which various symbolic objects were hidden, candles were placed on top according to the number of years of the hero of the occasion and, waking up the child at dawn, they 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

IN different countries Such holidays are treated differently. Most people on the planet have a reverent attitude towards 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. 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

Very important point, when after an 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, pastry, personally prepared, is better than any store-bought 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 not too expensive and tasty dishes described in them, but also 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;
• you can offer water drinkers lemonade homemade, fruit drinks, juices, compotes and milk-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.

From boiled chicken, tomatoes, sweet peppers and hard-boiled eggs you can make delicious salad, designing it in the form 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 Those 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.

As always, before the holiday, every housewife begins to be tormented by the question: what to put on the table? It seems like there are a lot of products in stores now. But there is one thing: our wallet does not always have funds for expensive delicacies and delicacies.

And then I remember my grandmother. She was a renowned needlewoman and cook. I could whip up a holiday dinner even with my small pension. And if she did prepare, then from the simplest and most ordinary products she served a luxurious banquet table to the envy of Astoria and Metropol. And she always taught me: our native land produces fruits no worse than those overseas, and you can always surprise your guests with tasty, healthy, and most importantly not expensive treats.

Salad

Let's start with the king of any of our tables - salad. It is similar to the popular herring under a fur coat, but it has a “zest” – pickled mushrooms.

Ingredients:

1 boiled beets – 1 pc.

2 boiled carrots – 1 pc.

3 sour apple – 1 pc.

4 marinated mushrooms – 150 gr

5 herring – 1 pc.

Preparation:

Divide all the ingredients in half and place them in a festive bowl, layer by layer, not forgetting to coat with mayonnaise to your taste.

Ingredients:

1 boiled potato – 2 pcs.

2 boiled chicken – 200 g

3 bows – 1 pc.

4 eggs – 2 pcs.

5 pickled cucumber (large) – 1 pc.

6 boiled beets – 1 pc.

Preparation:

Cut potatoes, chicken, eggs, cucumber into cubes, season with mayonnaise, add scalded onions to them. Place everything in a deep plate. On top - grated beets and decorate with a mesh of mayonnaise.

Snacks

Ingredients:

1 chicken gizzards – 1 kg

2 red onions – 2 pcs.

3 garlic – 2 cloves

4 soy sauce – 3 tbsp. spoons

5 vinegar 9% - 1 tbsp. spoon

Preparation:

Boil the cleaned chicken gizzards for 1.5 hours. Fry the onion cut into half rings together with the stomachs. Add spices, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar. Mix all this deliciousness and put it in a cold place.

There can be many options for filling, whatever is available from the products. I offer 2 options. The form of delivery may vary, try envelopes.

Ingredients:

1 thin pita bread – 1 package

2 canned fish – 1 can

3 grated cheese – 400 gr

4 greens (dill, parsley, cilantro)

Preparation:

First filling: mash canned fish with a fork, mix with cheese, dill

Second filling: mix any cheese with plenty of greens, add spices, a little mayonnaise

Unwrap the thin pita bread, you can cut it into several parts, put your own filling on each sheet, and roll up a small envelope. I like lavash with filling to fry a little on both sides.

From this fish you can make dishes for a whole banquet. I'll add one more recipe.

Ingredients:

1 large fresh frozen herring – 3 pcs.

2 bows – 2 pcs.

3 spices, granulated sugar

4 mustard

6 vegetable oil

Preparation:

Peel the herring and cut into strips, sprinkle with salt, ground pepper, and sugar. We cut the onion into rings and place them tightly in jars in layers: onion - herring - onion and so on until the top. Pour in the sauce: vegetable oil, vinegar and mustard. Close the lid and put it in the refrigerator for several hours.

And, of course, my favorite quick pickled cucumbers. I cook them for any holiday. And no matter how rich the table is set, my cucumbers are the first to be swept away! They will be especially relevant for the Lenten holiday menu.

Ingredients:

1 cucumber – 5-6 pcs.

3 garlic – 4-5 cloves

Preparation:

Wash the cucumbers; if they are large, cut them into several parts; if they are small, cut them into 2 parts. Place in any dense container - bag, jar - add coarsely chopped garlic, dill and salt well. Close, shake the contents and put in the refrigerator. While you are waiting for guests, shake regularly.

Second course

Let me remind you that today I am offering you inexpensive dishes for your holiday table. And for a hot meal you can prepare tender and juicy liver pancakes.

Ingredients:

1 liver (any, your favorite) – 1 kg

2 bows – 2 pcs.

3 eggs – 2 pcs.

4 flour - 3 tbsp

5 semolina - 3 tbsp

6 carrots – 1 pc.

Preparation:

Pass the liver, onions and carrots through a meat grinder, add eggs, semolina, flour, spices, mix everything thoroughly. Place the minced meat in a heated frying pan with a spoon and fry on both sides. Serve with sour cream

You can prepare original potatoes as a side dish

Ingredients:

1 potato – 6 pcs.

For the sauce:

2 butter – 100 g

3 grated cheese – 5 tablespoons

4 sour cream – 1 tbsp

5 garlic – 3 cloves

6 herbs, spices

Preparation:

Wash the potatoes and boil until tender. Once cool, cut in half lengthwise. Place each slice on a baking sheet and spread with garlic sauce: mixed butter, cheese, sour cream, garlic and herbs. Next you will need to bake it all. Everyone knows their stove, cook over moderate heat for 15 minutes.

Dessert

Let's move on to desserts. For savory baked goods, I offer puff pastries with vegetables. They have a great aromatic taste.

Ingredients:

1 frozen puff pastry – 1 package

2 red onions – 3 pcs.

3 sweet tomatoes – 6 pcs.

4 bell peppers

5 herbs, spices

Preparation:

Fry all the chopped vegetables, herbs, and garlic in vegetable oil and simmer for 5 minutes. Roll out the dough and cut out small squares, place them on a greased baking sheet. Along the perimeter of the squares, slightly retreating from the edge, make shallow cuts. Place the filling in the middle of our boats. Bake for 20 minutes.

And you can serve wonderful unusual cupcakes with tea. Guests will be pleased: healthy, and most importantly, delicious!

Ingredients:

1 peeled pumpkin – 200 g,

2 cereals fine grinding – 100 g

3 peeled nuts – 100 g

4 butter – 150 g

5 sugar – 150 gr

6 eggs – 3 pcs.

7 flour – 150 gr

8 baking powder – 2 teaspoons

Preparation:

Grind the pumpkin on a fine grater and chop the nuts in a blender. Grind the butter with sugar and eggs, add pumpkin, nuts, oatmeal, flour and baking powder. Mix everything thoroughly. Place the dough in small molds, filling them halfway as they will rise twice as much. Bake in an oven preheated to 180 C for 25 minutes. Decorate the finished cupcakes with powdered sugar.

Well, for dessert – fruit.

Ingredients:

1 any fruit

2 skewers or toothpicks

Preparation:

Cut any fruits that are on the store counter at this time of year - apples, pears, raspberries, gooseberries, bananas - into small cubes. Thread onto skewers or toothpicks, alternating colors. It will be bright and original.

So, with a minimal budget, we have prepared 11 dishes for the holiday menu. Even our respected pensioners and students can afford it. Bon appetit!

And what Russian doesn’t love tasty food! Festive feast- favorite entertainment in our country. And although the crisis does not invite special financial recklessness, the holiday is sacred. And for the holiday, how can you not prepare something special from meat to please your man and other meat-eaters!

So, let's begin to surprise and amaze. But let's start with something traditional.

• Pork (neck or shoulder, preferably slightly fatty) – 1 kg;
• garlic - about half a large head;
• salt, black pepper, cinnamon - to taste;
• water – 1 (or a little more) glass;
• egg - 1 piece;
• flour - as much as needed.

Wash the meat, clean it from excess and simply ugly, giving it a pleasant, finished shape.

Carefully wipe off moisture and rub with spices. You can first stuff it with garlic, or season it with finely chopped garlic along with spices.

Wrap the meat in cling film and leave it in the refrigerator overnight.

The next day, prepare the dough from eggs, water and flour as in fried pies: not cool, and not liquid. There should be enough to wrap around a piece of pork. If it’s not enough, do more.

The best side dish for boiled pork is cucumbers or pickled fruits. Don't forget to serve horseradish. The wine is, of course, red.

Roll out the dough quite thin, wrap the pork in it, and pinch the edges. Now we wrap everything together in foil (the foil should not be close to the meat) and place it in the oven at 200 degrees. You know your oven better, think about whether you need to pour a little water into the pan or the meat won’t burn anyway?

Bake for 40 minutes, then reduce the temperature by 10 degrees and bake for another hour, adding water if necessary.

It is better to cool the meat in foil, then remove the foil and baked dough (it does not need to be served, but some people like to eat it) and leave it to rest for several hours in the refrigerator. Can be prepared for boiled pork.

Buzhenina is a traditional dish for. But boiled pork will be appropriate on any holiday table and is eaten with appetite and gratitude by everyone, young and old, who gets it. Please your parents with boiled pork.

Meat in French

Let's try to slightly reduce the calorie content of this amazing dish, killer for almost any figure.

• Meat (take pork without fat) – 1 kg;
• onion - a couple of medium-sized onions, maybe smaller;
• oyster mushrooms – 400 grams, you can take a standard package;
• hard cheese (take low-fat cheese) - to taste, who likes it - 300 grams, who doesn’t - and 100 is enough;
• mayonnaise – homemade or regular, don’t use light mayonnaise – it contains only GMOs;
• salt, pepper - to taste.

Wash the oyster mushrooms, cut them not too finely, and chop the onion finely.

In a frying pan with a small amount of oil, fry the oyster mushrooms and onions a little for 7-10 minutes, no need to fry.

Cut the meat across the grain into pieces about a centimeter thick, cover with cling film and lightly beat.

Place the pieces on a baking sheet lightly greased with fat or vegetable oil. If you like salty and peppery, it's time to make your meat that way. But don’t get carried away - the cheese and mayonnaise will be salty.

The dish is fatty, so it is better to serve it with fresh tomatoes or herbs. We wash it down with dry red wine, of course. And whoever doesn’t like it, let him drink water: washing it down with semi-sweet stuff is not for the faint of heart.

Lubricate each piece generously with mayonnaise, place the onion-mushroom mixture on it, and sprinkle (more or less generously) with grated cheese on top.

Bake for 40 minutes in the oven at 180-190 degrees. If the cheese is not browned, increase the temperature to 250 degrees for 2-4 minutes, but do not overcook the meat!

Perhaps another variation on the theme of meat traditions is pork ribs. Let's cook them with vegetables.

• Pork ribs – 1 kg;
• potatoes – 4-5 pieces;
• carrots – 1 medium;
• frozen broccoli, or cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts, or a mixture - two handfuls;
• green beans - a couple of handfuls;
• frozen peas - a handful;
• young corn - 1-2 cobs;
• mustard, ketchup, vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons each;
• salt, mixture of peppers, oregano, paprika - to taste; You can add cumin or rosemary, but this is not for everyone.

Wash the ribs thoroughly and cut into portions.

Mix ketchup, mustard, oil, spices and rub the ribs with this marinade. Cover with film and place in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.

We will peel the potatoes and cut them into slices, the carrots into slices, the Brussels sprouts into halves, and we will separate other types of cabbage into small inflorescences. If your beans are not frozen, but fresh, cut them into pieces 3-4 centimeters long. Cut the corn cobs crosswise into slices up to a centimeter thick.

Serve hot, no additional side dish needed. You can serve sour cream or yogurt with chopped herbs as a sauce.

Place all the vegetables in a saucepan with a little oil, add water and simmer for about 7 minutes. If you can’t live without onions, add a little, but it’s fine without them.

Place the vegetables in the pan, place the ribs on them and pour in the remaining marinade.

We will bake at a temperature of 200 degrees for 40 minutes under the lid, and then another 10 minutes without the lid. Ribs vary widely, so be sure to check for doneness.

This dish is good if you don’t know exactly how many guests there will be and how hungry they will be.

And here are a couple more similar dishes from the series “Darling, I’ll be there in half an hour, and there are about ten other people with me.” Joke. In general, when “there is no time, but you need meat.”

If you really don’t have time, then “pork with eggplant”, but “chicken with eggplant” is not the same at all. Although, everything is individual.

• So, meat – 1 kg;
• eggplants – 3-4 pieces;
• onion - a pair of heads;
• garlic – 1 medium head;
• vegetable oil for stewing - quite a lot;
• salt - to taste.

Wash the meat well, dry it, cut it across the grain into small pieces. You can cover with cling film and beat it a little.

Then salt it and rub it with garlic, passed through a garlic press, cover it with cling film and let it stand.

In a good saucepan, heat the chopped onion until it becomes transparent.

For a side dish you need something neutral - boiled potatoes or even rice.

Wash the eggplant and, without peeling it, cut it into cubes (or, if you prefer, into half rings).

Place the meat and eggplants in a saucepan with the onions, add oil and water and simmer over low heat until the meat is cooked.

The dish will turn out to be very spicy and spicy, children will not eat it (and nutritionists would not recommend it to them), but adults will do just fine.

The second festive meat dish from the same opera is pork with mushrooms.

• Pork (shoulder, ham) – 1 kg;
• mushrooms (champignons, oyster mushrooms, forest mushrooms - just not a mixture; different mushrooms have different cooking times) - let's say the same amount, but maybe less.
• onion – 2-3 heads;
• sour cream is quite fatty (at least 20%) - 400 grams or more;
• butter – 50 g;
• vegetable oil – 2 tablespoons;
• salt - to taste;
• if desired - grated cheese, 150 grams.

Wash the mushrooms; if they are wild mushrooms, boil them and cut them into large pieces. Chop the onion.

Place the butter in a frying pan, melt and hold the onion in it until it becomes transparent. It is advisable not to fry!

Wash the pork, dry it, cut it into small pieces.

This dish goes well with mashed potatoes or vegetables, but you can also use rice. Then preferably rice stewed with vegetables: peas, corn and sweet peppers.

Mix the meat, mushrooms and onions into the pan. Mix sour cream with salt and water (the sauce should cover the meat and mushrooms) and pour into the mold. Place in the oven at 180-190 degrees.

If possible, it's best to cook covered for the first 40 minutes, but the sauce tends to run off, so see what works for you.

Then you need to remove the lid, add cheese, if you like, and cook for another 20 minutes until the meat is ready. Offer to cook this dish.

Knuckle with cabbage and other goodies

• Boiled-smoked shank (can be boneless) – a couple; however, look at the size of the knuckle and the number and “quality” of guests: some guests will eat a whole knuckle;
• semi-smoked sausages – 400 grams;
• sauerkraut - about half a kilo;
• fresh cabbage - half a head of small;
• bay leaf, peppercorns, tomato paste;
• vegetable oil – 5 spoons;

Wash the shank thoroughly, scrape it if necessary, and let it cook in a small amount of salted water (just to cover it). There are also peppercorns and bay leaves.

While it cooks (at least an hour), chop fresh cabbage. If the sauerkraut is coarsely chopped, you need to chop it. Kitchen scissors are suitable for this purpose.

Sometimes the cabbage burns. Make sure that this does not happen by stirring it from time to time.

Cut the sausages into small circles, quickly fry them in a saucepan in vegetable oil, add both cabbages there, mix them - and let it all simmer for about 40 minutes.

Now it’s time to take the mold, lay out the cabbage with sausages, and the shank on top of it. And all this - in the oven at a temperature of about 170 degrees.

The only thing missing for this dish is beer. Read what sandwiches to complement your holiday beer table in.

Pork roll

• Pork tenderloin – 1 kg;
• smoked or raw bacon stripes;
• champignons – 800-900 g;
• onion or garlic - to taste;
• parsley or other greens - 1 bunch;
• butter – 50 g;
• cheese – 300 gr.

Clean the champignons, cut them into slices and fry in oil with the addition of chopped onion or garlic. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Wash the parsley, chop it and add it to the mushrooms. Grate the cheese on a fine grater.

Wash the pork, dry it, cut it across the grain. Now cover with cling film and beat it off.

It is better to serve this dish with potato salad or any salad.

Place the chopped pork on the film in one layer to form a layer of meat.

Place the filling and grated cheese on it.

Using film, wrap the roll, wrap it in bacon, and put it in the mold.

Cover with foil and place in the oven at 180 degrees.

Bake for about an hour, check readiness by piercing the roll with a narrow knife.

If the juice is clear, you can remove the foil and bake the roll at 220 degrees until crusty.

And now the dishes that children will appreciate. They are ideal for children's party.

• Pork – 800 gr;
• potatoes - according to the volume of pork;
• mayonnaise - pack;
• garlic - half a head;
• cheese – 300 gr.

Prepare the pork: cut it across the grain, cover it with film and beat it lightly.

Put the pork in a saucepan, add a little water, squeeze out a couple of cloves of garlic, add salt and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes.

The side dish is already included, but it would be nice to add some fresh vegetables.

Peel the potatoes and cut them into thin slices (you can even use a potato peeler), place them on top of the meat, squeeze out another clove of garlic, lightly salt them and pour mayonnaise mixed with water so that the potatoes are covered.

Let's cook for another 20 minutes under the lid.

Now squeeze out the rest of the garlic and cover everything with cheese. If the saucepan is suitable for this, put it in the oven for 10 minutes at 220 degrees. If not, keep it covered for 10 minutes over low heat.

Pate

• Minced meat – 1 kg;
• chicken liver 300 gr;
• bread soaked in milk;
• eggs – 3 pcs;
• sweet pepper – 2 pcs, preferably red;
• greens – 1 bunch;
• cauliflower - half a head of large;
• butter – 50 g;
• salt, pepper, onion, garlic - to taste.

We wash the liver, clean it, and put it through a meat grinder.

Mix the minced meat with eggs, liver, bread and eggs in a blender. Cut the pepper into cubes and simmer for about 7 minutes. Add onion and garlic.

Now add chopped herbs, pepper and divided into inflorescences to the minced meat cauliflower, salt and pepper.

Grease the pan with oil, lay out the minced meat, cover with foil and bake in the oven at 180 degrees for 30 minutes. Check for readiness.

Now, if the juice is already clear, remove the foil, grease the surface with butter and return to the oven for 10 minutes.

A light pate can be prepared.

A meat dish, and more than one, will become a favorite at any holiday!

What is the main difference between a regular table and a festive one? Everyone will say: a lot of salads and bright decoration. Let’s also add: some unusual, interesting, “key” hot dish, some kind of “highlight of the program.” Festive hot dishes are an entire art that every housewife should master. When preparing for a holiday, any housewife first thinks about what kind of hot dish she will have for the holiday table, and only then - salads, drinks and all that. It’s advisable to get creative with salads. After all, even the most ordinary salads can sparkle with new colors if you approach them with imagination. The use of new ingredients can change your holiday dish beyond recognition. Recipes for holiday dishes allow you to experiment with products, their combinations and colors. Not only a holiday salad, but also any second dish on the holiday table must be bright. Don’t skimp on unexpected moves, try to combine more ingredients different color. Just look at the illustrations of real holiday dishes! The photos of these masterpieces are mesmerizing! Be sure to take into account the experience of culinary specialists who have already prepared dishes for the holiday table. Recipes with photos of their creations can make your task a lot easier.

Delicious holiday dishes don't have to be festive at all meat dishes. After all, many people do not eat meat at all, or prefer vegetables and fruits. You cannot deprive these guests of the holiday; make them Lenten holiday dishes, the list of which is also quite large. After all, the main thing here is how to formalize and submit it. Carved vegetables and fruits, original boiled egg and carrot roses, beautiful flowers and real mushroom meadows - your imagination can be limitless.

Of course, no one is canceling meat dishes for the holiday table. They need to be given Special attention to try to surprise guests and create a real festive atmosphere. It is the festive meat dishes, together with some special holiday cake, that can become the “highlight of the program”. Birthday dishes require special decoration. Appropriate here beautiful inscriptions, drawings, figures, etc. But the main thing is that they are delicious dishes. You shouldn’t put ordinary snacks on the holiday table. Just as very simple dishes are not suitable for the holiday table. After all, this is a holiday, you need to surprise and delight your guests. Recipes for dishes for the festive table are distinguished by their special taste and special design. Therefore, we advise that when preparing for the holiday, study and prepare those holiday dishes, recipes with photos of which you will find on the website and which you especially like in appearance.

Here are some more “holiday” tips: - take time to decorate the table. It's even very exciting. Guests will appreciate your efforts, and you yourself will be in a great mood. A list of colors of products for decorating dishes will help you:

Red color comes from tomatoes, cranberries, and sweet peppers;

Pink, raspberry – beet, cranberry juice;

Orange - carrots, bell pepper, tomato;

White – rice, egg whites, cottage cheese, sour cream;

Lilac, blue - grated egg white, rice, colored with red cabbage juice;

Burgundy - beets;

Yellow – egg yolks, corn, lemon;

Purple - egg whites tinted with red cabbage or red cabbage itself;

You need to decorate salads just before serving, so that the food does not drip and looks fresh and appetizing;

Try different salads give different colors;

Dishes on the festive table are served in various options and ways. Original - salads on slices of bread, wrapped in pita bread, in portioned baskets.