Before this significant date, the heart invariably freezes with joy in anticipation of gifts, fun, friendly meetings. But for some reason, some people do not like their birthdays. Someone because they are at least a year old, but they are getting older. And some, especially frugal subjects, intensively calculate how much it will cost a gala dinner, and their mood spoils from the announcement of the estimate. Life is such that everyone is periodically forced to save. But this is not a reason to deprive yourself of holidays. Therefore, we will try to answer the question: how to inexpensively set a table for a birthday?
Where does tradition come from?
When did people start celebrating birthdays? There are two versions. According to the first, the tradition was based on Roman ceremonies held in honor of the gods. Pagans set up plentiful tables, sounded congratulations, gave various gifts. This hypothesis is more modern. And the second version says that the roots of 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 were doubled on such dates. Therefore, the ancient people made offerings to appease the spirits so that they would not harm the newborn.
Name Day Flies-Tsokotuhi
Birthdays gradually turned to personalities, 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.
Greeks and Egyptians often and pathetically celebrated the birth dates of the gods, as well as the pharaohs and kings. Sometimes, on the occasion of the birth of the pharaoh, prisoners were released from prisons. In ordinary families, it was practiced to celebrate only the birthday of the head of the family.
At first, the position of Christianity in this matter was extremely harsh: life was given to man for the atonement of sins, and therefore he was not happy. Later, the church softened somewhat and allowed christening with name-days. But the Soviet system was against name day and, figuratively speaking, trampled tradition with his iron boot. Even the famous birthday fly was ordered to be removed from the works of old Korney.
By the way, in Russia, name-days were very popular: they baked a loaf, brewed tasty beer, made cakes and sang songs. Of course, peasant holidays were much more modest than the royal ones: sometimes, for the amount spent on the day of the crowned person’s name, several chic palaces could be built.
Surprise cake
It is clear that ordinary people always dreamed of setting a delicious and inexpensive birthday table. But what a celebration without a cake? Few people know where this indispensable attribute of birthdays came to us from. If you dig a little deeper, it is believed that the idea itself came again from pagan times, when sacred altars were lit in pitch darkness in honor of the ancient gods.
But the Germans introduced the tradition. They created a common ritual for celebrating a children's birthday. To do this, they prepared a delicious cake in which various iconic objects were hidden, candles were put upstairs according to the number of years of the hero of the occasion, and, waking the child from dawn, they sang him good songs. It is noteworthy that the pie was not eaten until evening, until the whole family gathered at the table. The child was supposed to make something cherished and blow out the candles at a time. It’s familiar, right?
Jam Day: Their Morals
In different countries, such holidays are treated differently. A reverent attitude among the majority of the inhabitants of the planet to anniversaries. But some nationalities mark just odd or non-circular dates. Traditions are also different: in Italy, an indispensable dish on the birthday party table will be spaghetti (for a long time), and in Latin America they always break a piñata with gifts loaded in it.
The British, who have lived to 80 years or more, personally congratulate her Royal Majesty. But the most unlucky birthday people live in Japan: instead of children, they congratulate their parents, and gifts are generally accepted only after the age of 60.
Household Desk Rules
If the mistress-birthday girl still decided to gather close people under her hospitable roof, but wants to compare needs with opportunities, then there is a way out.
To set a table for a birthday at home is inexpensive, very tasty, and even so that it looks presentable - an absolutely feasible task. To do this, you must follow the simplest rules:
- The menu must be thought out in advance. It’s nice to dig into cookbooks, look through magazines. You need to pay attention to the ingredients: it is cheaper to buy seasonal products, so the menu is selected accordingly. If the hostess wants to set the table for a birthday at home inexpensively, recipes with photos are especially welcome, because you can immediately see how the dishes on the table will look.
- Accurately calculate the number of guests (given, of course, and a few uninvited guests). You can cook hot portioned, but in this case the birthday girl will not have rest. It’s better to make a common dish with a margin.
- First courses on the birthday menu, as a rule, are not included. Exceptions are exotic gourmet soups.
- If a traditional celebration is planned, then it is quite possible to set a table for a birthday at home inexpensively. Recipes for budget dishes can be found in any source to your taste. But the cold and hot appetizers, main course (meat or fish), salads and dessert must be included in the holiday menu .
Alcoholic beverages are also an important attribute of the festive table, as they increase the degree of mood, forgive the pun.
Modest slicing and luxury roll
Many families adhere to the classic long-standing traditions and set the table with their favorite dishes, which guests know by heart. But this approach has its own benefits: people will never leave hungry and are guaranteed to be satisfied.
Standard cold dishes include meat, cheese and vegetable slices. This classic approach has never failed anyone. The main thing is the variety of varieties in the composition of the slices. Everyone knows that it is with cold appetizers that any feast should begin. 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 eat well so as not to drink on an empty stomach.
For those who want to set the table for a birthday at home inexpensively, Korean snacks are perfect: buy a little of everything (after tasting the dishes) and put them on small tables in the table. Homemade pickles and marinades are also in great demand.
There are express recipes for initiates on how to deliciously and inexpensively set a table for a birthday: cold roll and appetizer with the romantic name "Raffaello". The first is prepared as follows:
- a sheet of thin pita bread is greased with a mixture that includes: mayonnaise, garlic, dill and grated cheese;
- finely chopped ham;
- further actions are repeated;
- roll pita bread in the form of a roll;
- wrap the product in cling film and put in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Serving such an inexpensive, but original dish is necessary, cutting it with a very sharp knife into portioned pieces.
Raffaello appetizer will require the following ingredients:
- crab sticks;
- garlic;
- hard cheese;
- mayonnaise;
- cashews (but in order to save money, you can use a walnut).
A kernel of walnut is rolled into a mixture of cheese, fatty mayonnaise and garlic. Then, a frozen crab stick is rubbed on a fine grater. A
cheese ball falls in grated crab meat with a surprise: the dish is ready. Including with the help of 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 laid out on fresh lettuce leaves.
You can also use seasonal dishes. The budget version of the menu is compiled in the summer. For example, eggplant tongues or fingers. The second option is more expensive, since it contains very little, but meat is included.
Charming hot snacks
The hostess, asking herself the question of how to deliciously and inexpensively set a table for a birthday, should not forget about hot snacks. They follow the cold when everyone gathered at the table and the time has come for the first toasts. They should not be many, and they are prepared shortly before serving. This is a light meal that has a small serving size. An example of such an appetizer can be easy to prepare meat balls:
- traditional, patty meat is made, with the addition of a raw egg;
- the finished layer of dough is rolled out and cut into strips;
- meat balls are wrapped with threads from the dough like a ball;
- the dish is baked in the oven until cooked.
This appetizer looks very presentable.
Now it’s not a problem for a hostess to set a table for her birthday at home inexpensively, recipes simply jump out of magazines, cookbooks, and Internet portals themselves. Here, for example, is a dish similar to julienne, which is cooked ridiculously quickly, but the taste is simply charming. We present the hostesses of champignons in sour cream sauce.
The dish is prepared like this:
- peeled mushrooms are added to carefully sautéed onions and carrots and stewed for about 10 minutes;
- later laid sour cream, seasonings 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 in ceramic pots.
Salads for the date
If you intend to set a 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 do not need to pre-prepare anything, all the components are simply mixed.
Seafood salads may originally look like, especially to the taste of the female half of the guests.
Main serving
A very important moment, when after an artistic exclamation: “Fedya! Game! ”On the table appears, for example, a baked appetizing duck stuffed with dried apricots and apples. But the question was, how inexpensive is it to set the table for a birthday, what does the game have to do with it? So it’s not necessary to bake the duck, the same can be done with chicken. You can not use the whole bird, but its legs or wings. If you pickle them well, and even roll them in honey, you get a great dish with a delicious crispy crust.
In general, before planning the main course, you need to ask yourself what your guests like more: meat or fish? Only then can you prepare the coveted main course. Of course, fish is several times more trouble than meat, but stuffed carp or pike will be truly festive and will be remembered for a long time by guests. It’s good to bring chops, cutlets, medallions or steaks to the festive table. One thing is for sure - the meat must be present on the table.
Garnish for main dishes is to choose potatoes in any form: mashed potatoes, fries, fried, boiled with herbs.
What about compote?
To set the table for a cheap birthday, recipes are not all that the hostess needs. Drinks are also important. Of course, you can not do without compotes, juices, carbonated drinks, maybe even pear. What about alcohol? It is important to consider that not everyone drinks strong alcohol, so champagne, as well as other wines, are an obligatory attribute on the festive table.
Desserts require tea or coffee. As a sweet, of course, in the classic version they serve a cake with candles, but how to set a festive birthday table cheap? After all, cakes are quite an expensive pleasure. There is a solution: either bake a cake with your own hands, or purchase cakes, cookies or sweets. By the way, a confectionery product, prepared personally, is better than any purchased product, because the hostess puts her soul into the dish.
Mistresses Secrets
To set a table for a birthday at home is inexpensive, but at the same time make it unforgettable, you need to know the main secret: competent serving and decoration of dishes. You should not spare your time for this.
What is needed for serving and decoration:
- Tablecloth. In the classic version, white, but other color schemes are allowed.
- Tableware. Cutlery and glasses should be polished to a shine. For a solemn occasion, it will be useful to get your best service out of the bins.
- Do not forget about fabric napkins according to the number of guests. They can be beautifully laid out in waves or in the form of figures.
- Garnish dishes with herbs, bright berries, like cranberries, peas, olives. For curly cutting vegetables and fruits there is a special knife, it would be nice to purchase it. If you ask yourself a question: how to set a table for a birthday cheaply, recipes can be very surprising. And not only not too expensive and tasty dishes described in them, but also a presentable appearance. This is because the dish is correctly decorated, because when you look at food, appetite should come.
- You should not conduct a lot of culinary experiments, let everything be familiar, with the exception of one or two dishes.
The festive table should not do without vegetable and fruit variety. If strong alcohol is planned, then take care of a satisfying and plentiful snack.
Little birthday
Many mothers probably think how to set a table for a child’s birthday inexpensively so that he is delighted.
In fact, this is not difficult at all. There are several tips, using which you can make an unforgettable celebration for your child and his friends:
- brightly colored paper utensils - safe and beautiful, and you don’t need to wash anything;
- room decoration with balls, paper garlands;
- small dishes - mainly canapes, salads in bowls, lavash rolls with various fillings, chicken croquettes - children do not really like to overeat, unless, of course, these are sweets;
- home-made lemonade, fruit drinks, juices, fruit drinks and milkshakes can be offered to water-chowders;
- desserts are preferable from cottage cheese;
- salads are best seasoned with sour cream and yogurt.
Everything is suitable for canapes: ham, cheese stars, pepper slices, olives, corn, shrimp. A sweet option is done this way: bananas, grapes, kiwi are chopped onto skewers.
From boiled chicken, tomatoes, sweet peppers and cool eggs, you can make a delicious salad by designing it in the form of a hedgehog with fly agaric on its back. The salad is stacked in layers: sliced ​​chicken → tomatoes → grated eggs → chopped pepper. Each layer is smeared with sour cream and yogurt dressing. Sprinkle the hedgehog with grated carrots, and mark the muzzle with egg white. Eyes and nose are made from olives and prunes, and fly agaric from eggs and tomatoes.
It is important to create a festive atmosphere and provide the opportunity for the baby to actively move.
Alternative ideas
Finally, we can offer several ideas when there is neither time nor the desire to spend time in the kitchen, and the soul requires a holiday. It is possible to set a table for a birthday at home inexpensively and tasty, having acquired ready-made food from cooking or a restaurant. This option is especially suitable for a young, advanced company. You can order pizza, ready-made grilled chicken and salads. Japanese dishes are a little more expensive.
There is also an interesting and modern option - a buffet table. But he obeys certain rules:
- division into disposable servings;
- dishes should be mainly on skewers;
- You can put all kinds of goodies on one large table;
- the main course should be in baskets or make cantaloupes, having previously cut them;
- if chicken legs are served, then the bone is wrapped with a napkin.
Alcoholic beverages must be uncorked, and guests are surely provided with glasses and glasses. But a huge plus will be that the birthday girl does not need to constantly change plates and appliances.
The most interesting option will be a birthday in nature. Happy people born in the summer months know what that means. Picnic, barbecue, barbecue, air and sun - what could be more seductive? But here there are nuances:
- salads with mayonnaise - not recommended dishes on a picnic;
- meat must be marinated in advance;
- should take care of drinking water;
- sandwiches and side dishes can be taken from home.
And what a delicious pilaf at the stake or potatoes baked in ash!
But no matter what the birthday man chooses, the main thing is a festive mood and loved ones nearby.