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How to set the table deliciously for a birthday. Festive table


Evening. You relax after a working day on your favorite sofa with a TV remote control and a cup of aromatic tea.

Tink-tink! Guests have arrived! With a cake and a good mood. Holiday? Of course, a holiday! After all, only the closest friends come this way. Those for whom the most important thing is communication with you, and not an ideal feast according to all the rules, but some a treat on " hastily» still need it.

Each hostess has a different understanding "Quick recipe"... Someone barely has time to unfold a dried piece of cheese, and some sorceresses manage to cook a mixed hodgepodge while the guests wash their hands.

The call to use what you have in your refrigerator can also be interpreted in different ways. Why do I need a quick recipe for making a salad, which includes quinoa (such a cereal), rice vinegar, sesame oil and chilled king prawns? If the latter appear in my refrigerator, then they certainly will not wait for random guests.

I did in some way "Reminder sheet" those snacks that can be prepared in a few minutes while listening to the latest news from friends. There is no point in describing these quick recipes in detail - they are too simple and familiar to any adult.

Guests on the doorstep: quick meal recipes

At the end of the article I will do a list of products with a long shelf life, which simply must be in the refrigerator when an unexpected guest crosses the threshold of your home.

So. Here is my "reminder"
(click on the links, a lot will open quick recipes:-)):

1. You can eat anything with melted cheese. When guests are on the doorstep, recipes quick meals remember with great difficulty, so hot sandwiches are a real salvation for such an occasion. The only constant ingredient is cheese, so some hard grade in an impermeable casing (like "Olterman") with a shelf life of up to 8 months, you must always have it. On bread of any freshness, put pieces of boiled chicken or meat, slices of sausages or sausages, tomato slices or just ketchup, thin rings of onions or pickles. You can use dill parsley for beauty. Three cheese on top, and put in the microwave for a minute and a half.

Cheese can be eaten in its original form.

2. "Dinner in Italian". Perhaps this is the leader among quick recipes and the rest of humanity. A pack of quality spaghetti and a factory twist with vegetable gravy. Do not overcook the pasta, do not overheat the gravy. Sprinkle with fresh herbs. Everything! Beautiful plates, tablecloths, napkin candles. Glasses of red wine. Oh…

3. “Russian vodka, black bread herring”. It is also an option. Herring can be found in iron cans. Let it lie in the bins for such a case. You can and lightly salted trout on fresh oil put. Or red caviar. During a leisurely conversation, young potatoes will quickly cook. And if you have a piece of lightly salted salmon in the fridge ...

4. "Scrambled eggs in the morning, scrambled eggs in the afternoon, scrambled eggs at night"... At this point, the fantasy will play out. You can just halve boiled eggs put a few eggs, you can mix the yolks with cod liver. Omelet with herbs, tomatoes and onions, cheese, ham, green beans (or other deep-frozen vegetables), etc. Just fried eggs, after all. The main thing is beautiful, fast and satisfying. Another option - let the omelet become "Envelope" for the cheese, ham and vegetables you have. Here is a photo.

5. Delicious frozen puff pastry. This quick recipe takes some skill. Rehearse once to avoid experimenting with guests. Fillings can be savory or sweet. The dough defrosts very quickly. For example, make small triangles with cheese. 20-25 minutes in the oven and you will have a wonderful one.

6. Shrimp like candy. Having a pack of frozen shrimp in the freezer never hurts. If you don't feel like messing around, just cook with well salted water with spices. And if, after a short boiling, they are fried in tomato-garlic sauce... Guests are always delighted with such a quick recipe.

If your guest is going to come alone, and even in a romantic mood ... Here is a very quick and simple one (this vegetable is now in any vegetable stand, no more exotic than a radish).

7. Quick salads. You will find a huge number of recipes on the Internet, it is difficult to advise something specific. Better decide what exactly you will cook in an emergency. Let them lie in the closet canned fish, crabs or cod liver, mushrooms in own juice, green pea, sweet corn, etc. In fridge - crab sticks, ham, feta cheese, mayonnaise, some vegetables.

Just in case, here's a cheat sheet for you:.

8. Hearty hot dessert. This is my weakness ... Dumplings with cherries with sour cream for tea ... If you had the patience to stick it in advance and freeze it, you are a hero of our time. You can find a decent option in the store. After all, there is nothing inside these dumplings but cherries and sugar.

9. Lavash with filling. Personally, I like the hot option. In sheets Armenian lavash wrap cheese, diced tomatoes and greens. Fry on both sides in a dry frying pan. Someone greases with butter, someone loves crispy pita bread with hot filling. ...

10. For the most helpless. It also happens that guests are on the doorstep, recipes for quick dishes cause panic or a sharp attack of laziness. Hang the phones of trusted suppliers of pizza, sushi and Ossetian pies... Not always fast and tasty, but guests will not stay hungry.

Now the promised list of quick recipe foods.

Grab one of the above at the store, and the "guest on the doorstep" situation will no longer scare you.

  • Juices, mineral water with gas, good white and red wine, liqueurs.
  • Canned vegetables (corn, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, olives).
  • Ketchup, mayonnaise, ready-made spaghetti seasoning.
  • Frozen shrimps, crab sticks, vegetable mixes deep-frozen, dumplings, puff pastry.
  • A jar of caviar (even pollock), canned fish.
  • Cheese in cardboard or plastic packaging, a small whole head of cheese.
  • Ice cream in a large package.
  • A beautiful tablecloth, wine glasses, bright napkins, candles.
Banquet for a thousand rubles

If you are planning to celebrate something and money is tight - this post is for you.

Today, on a very modest budget, we managed to prepare six different dishes.

1. Chicken breast kebabs.

2. Squid salad in tartlets

3. Stuffed chicken legs

4. Fish in beer batter

5. Pancakes, stuffed with chicken and cheese

6. Sandwiches

So how can you cook festive table for 10-20 people at the rate of 1000-1200 rubles.

First, a shopping list.

I bought everything in one place, but if you set yourself a goal to reduce the purchase amount, then it might be worth going to specialized stores.

plus to it:

20 tartlets for 6 rubles - 120 rubles.

0.5 l milk, skewers, garlic, adjika, chili sauce.

So let's get started.

Cut 5 chicken breasts. Separate the fillets from the bones.

Cut into 100 pieces (each breast into 20 pieces respectively).

Peel two onions (I have a white onion). Grind on a coarse grater.

Using the same grater, remove the zest from the lemon and squeeze out all the juice.

Add spices, a teaspoon of salt, two tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Stir and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

Remove the skin from three legs with a stocking.

Separate the meat from the bones and cut into small pieces.

Pour the remaining bones from the legs and breast with water, salt and cook over low heat.

When the bones are well cooked, cool them. Then remove the remaining chicken from the bones. There will be enough of it.

Lettuce peppers are of two types. Two large red peppers, and 5 small green peppers.

Rinse the red pepper, cut in half and remove the seeds and stalk.

Finely chop half of the pepper at once.

With the other three halves, do this: cut the even pulp in large pieces, often chop the rest finely as at the very beginning.

Set aside the coarse pieces of pepper (25 pieces). And add small pieces to chopped meat from the legs.

Adyghe cheese. Separate 1/3 and set aside separately. Cut the remaining 2/3 into small cubes.

Mix together finely chopped chicken legs, Adyghe cheese, red salad pepper. Add one raw egg and a teaspoon of salt. Stir well.

Stuff the legs with the resulting filling, seal the holes with toothpicks.

Transfer the legs to a saucepan, pour cold water, lightly salt. Cook over low heat after boiling for another 40-45 minutes. Then cool it down.

Remove the toothpicks from the finished, cooled chicken legs and cut them into slices.

Cut the fish fillet into thin cubes. Add 2 teaspoons of ready-made adjika and stir gently.

Refrigerate the fish.

Knead the dough: half a liter of milk, two cups of water, salt, sugar, a pinch of baking soda, 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and a pound of flour.

Fry 20 crêpes.

By the way, the best device for turning pancakes in a pan is a Chinese stick. Try it!

From hard cheese also separate 1/3. Save most of it for the salad.

Smaller piece of hard cheese and leftover piece Adyghe cheese chop on a grater.

Add finely chopped green onions(2-3 feathers).

Chop boiled chicken meat (with bones) with a knife.

Transfer to a bowl of cheese. Add a teaspoon of chili sauce.

Stir the filling.

Stuff the pancakes and roll.

Slice each pancake in half, diagonally.

I cooked "for export" so I packed everything at once in containers or under plastic wrap.

For the salad:

Cut green salad peppers into strips and steam with a little water.

Peel and boil the squid. Cut into strips. Add 2/3 of coarse grated hard cheese, 2-3 cloves of garlic passed through a press, finely chopped green onions, steamed salad peppers.

Season with mayonnaise and stir.

Then fill the tartlets with this salad. But just before serving.

String the pickled chicken breast onto 20 wooden skewers, 5 pieces for each skewer.

Place on a wire rack and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Not more. Do not expect the chicken to brown - otherwise dry the kebabs.

Pour some of the remaining half a kilogram of flour (about 4 tablespoons) onto a plate for breading.

Pour the rest of the flour into a deep bowl. Add two raw eggs, a teaspoon of salt. Pour in half a liter of light, weak beer.

Whisk the batter well.

From a whole liter bottle of vegetable oil, you should have more than 3/4 left. Pour the oil into a suitable saucepan or saucepan (mine is a wok). And heat to deep fat.

Breaded pieces of fish in flour, then dip in batter and deep-fry.

Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon. I got 40 pieces.

And the last thing is sandwiches.

Hard boil the remaining 5 eggs (out of ten).

Bake the lettuce, cut into large pieces, in the oven.

Two rye loaves, two fresh cucumber and cut almost 400 grams of semi-smoked sausage. You should end up with 25 pieces (slices). Cut each boiled egg into 5 pieces too.

Slices rye loaf grease with butter.

On top of the butter is a slice of cucumber.

Sprigs of parsley - so that they protrude slightly to the side.

Pieces of sausage.

Spread the baked salad peppers on top of the sausage.

Pierce the sandwiches with skewers with pitted olives strung on them.

I cooked from 8 am to 2 pm, slowly, with coffee breaks and chatting on the phone.

Quite often, a situation arises when recipes for quick meals can come in handy. Guests are on the doorstep, and you have a lot of things to do and worries, or you just returned from work. In order to quickly set the table for guests, it is not necessary to cook exotic dishes for hours. You can quickly and inexpensively, and most importantly, deliciously set the festive table, and guests will not even believe that it was prepared almost before their arrival. Or you can simply please your family with simple and tasty dishes for the lazy.

The classic set of the festive table is appetizers, salads, mains and desserts.It is in this sequence that I propose to cook.

Quick quick snacks

Canapes with boiled pork and cucumber

Ingredients:

  • White bread- 10 slices
  • boiled pork - 20 pieces
  • butter - 100 gr.
  • olives - 20 pcs.
  • cucumber, dill for decoration

Cut thinly sliced ​​white bread in half obliquely, spread with butter, lay the boiled pork beautifully. On a skewer, prick an olive, a cucumber and stick into a slice of bread with boiled pork

Canapes with egg and salmon

Ingredients:

  • rye bread - 10 pcs.
  • salmon - 10 pcs.
  • eggs - 5 pcs.
  • butter - 100 gr.
  • ½ lemon
  • Dill, green onions, black or red caviar for garnish

Cut black bread into squares, grease and sprinkle green onions... We put the salmon, sprinkle a little lemon juice... Put half a boiled egg on top. Decorate with dill and caviar.

Mozzarella with ham


Ingredients:

  • smoked ham strips - 150 gr.
  • arugula salad
  • some olive oil and black pepper

Put a leaf of arugula to the mozzarella ball and wrap it in a strip of ham. Water a little on top olive oil and sprinkle with black pepper. Poke the roll with a toothpick and place it on a serving plate.

Tomato appetizer with mozzarella

Ingredients:

  • small balls of mozzarella cheese - 150 gr.
  • cherry tomatoes - 250 gr.
  • fresh basil
  • olive oil - 3 tbsp l.
  • salt and black pepper

Mix olive oil with salt and black pepper. We take the mozzarella balls out of the brine, dry them a little and marinate in olive oil, salt and pepper for 10-15 minutes. Cut a little from the bottom of the tomato for stability. Put a tomato, a ball of cheese and a basil leaf on a toothpick.

Simple tomato snack


The simplest and quick snack for guests. Cut the tomatoes into slices. Chop the garlic and dill finely. Sprinkle a little with lemon juice or vinegar, salt, pepper and sprinkle with garlic and dill.

Classics of the genre - stuffed eggs


A familiar, simple, fast, but always popular dish. Feed all guests with this snack. Boil the eggs, take out the yolk, and then there is freedom for creativity. An incredible number of fillings, I offer only a few:

  • yolk with pickles, mustard and mayonnaise;
  • cheese with yolk and mayonnaise;
  • cod liver and yolk (if you have time, you can fry onions);
  • green peas, yolk and mayonnaise;
  • liver or goose pate with yolk and a drop of brandy;
  • yolk with butter and a piece of salted salmon.

There can be countless fillings, you yourself come up with what is in the refrigerator. The main thing is that the products are combined with each other to taste.

Salads fast

Salads are very popular on our traditional table. Therefore, despite the lack of time, it is worth offering several recipes to the guests. And since we are in a hurry, our salads will be quick and easy to prepare.

Whip up salad


Ingredients:

  • cucumber - 2 pcs.
  • chicken eggs - 2 pcs.
  • semi-smoked sausage or ham - 100 gr.
  • canned peas - 100 gr.
  • cheese - 50 gr.
  • mayonnaise

Boil the eggs. While the eggs are boiling and cooling, cut the cucumbers and sausage into strips. Cut the eggs into strips, mix with cucumbers and ham, add green peas and mayonnaise.

Quick and tasty salad "Exotic"


Ingredients:

  • smoked chicken breast - 300 gr.
  • canned pineapples - 250 gr.
  • apple - 2 pcs.
  • mayonnaise
  • salt pepper

Cut the chicken breast, apple into strips. Cut pineapples into cubes. Season with salt, pepper and season with mayonnaise.

Cucumber salad is simple and tasty

Such a salad is prepared in 5 minutes, but in order for the cucumbers to cool down and marinate a little, it will need to be put in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.


Ingredients:

  • cucumbers - 2-3 pcs.
  • sesame seeds - 2 tbsp. l.
  • ¾ glasses rice vinegar(can be replaced with any other)
  • 3 tbsp. l. Sahara

Three grated cucumbers for korean carrots... If there is no such grater, then simply cut into strips.On hot skillet fry the sesame seeds a little until brownish.

Mix vinegar with sugar and simmer for 5 minutes over medium heat. Pour the resulting marinade over the cucumbers and put the salad in the refrigerator as long as you have patience.

Smoked fish and beans salad


Delicious salad that is prepared quickly, and there will be no limit to the surprise of the guests.

Ingredients:

  • cold smoked fish (I have hake) - 1 pc.
  • canned red beans - 250 gr.
  • leeks to taste
  • mayonnaise

We will need fillets for fish, remove bones and skin. Cut the fillet into small pieces. Drain the red beans and add to the fish. Cut the leek into rings. Add mayonnaise and mix.

Fast and tasty hot meals

It is not at all necessary to bother for hours at the stove to prepare the main hot dish for the festive table. There are many quick and easy recipes. Delicious meals can be prepared in just 15 minutes.

For fish lovers, wonderful recipes with red fish, preferably salmon, are suitable.

Salmon in caramel crust

Fast and delicious recipe hot dish, which is suitable both for a festive table and for a quick dinner.

Ingredients:

  • salmon fillet - 1 kg.
  • honey - 3 tbsp. l.
  • apple juice - 1 glass
  • salt, pepper to taste
  • olive oil

For quick cooking, preheat oven to 200° C. Mix 1 cup apple juice from 3 st. l. honey, bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Cut the salmon into portions and place in a baking dish, oiled with olive oil.


Bake the fish in the oven for 10 minutes. Then remove the salmon from the oven, salt, pepper and fry in a pan for 2 minutes on each side until a golden brown glazed crust is formed. Sprinkle with lemon juice when serving.

Salmon in ginger marinade


This dish also cooks very quickly, and ginger gives it a specific taste. Moreover, such a fish steak invariably turns out to be soft and aromatic.

Ingredients:

  • salmon fillet - 1 kg.
  • ginger root - about 3 - 4 cm.
  • sesame seeds - 2 tbsp. l.
  • soy sauce- 2 tbsp. l.
  • sunflower, olive or sesame butter

Cut salmon or other red fish into portions. Peel and grate the ginger root. Mix ginger, soy sauce and olive, sunflower oil(sesame oil is even better). Marinate the fish in this sauce for at least 5 minutes. Dip each bite in sesame seeds. Fry in a hot pan for 3-4minutes on each side.


Korean Instant Pork

15 minutes is enough to cook this delicious meat, which will be a welcome guest on the festive table as well.


Ingredients:

  • pork (preferably soft neck) - 0.5 kg.
  • onions - 2 pcs.
  • garlic - 2 cloves
  • soy sauce - 4 tablespoons l.
  • chili sauce - 2 tsp
  • ginger root - 2 cm
  • green onions - 100 gr.

Cut the pork into portions into thin strips.

Chop the onion into rings, finely chop the garlic. In a pan with the additionolive oil fry the pork over high heat for 2 minutes. Then add the onion and garlic to the pan, reduce the heat and fry for another 5 minutes.

Now add soy sauce, chili sauce, grated ginger and finely chopped green onions to the pan with meat.Close the lid and simmer for another 2 minutes.

Chinese chicken breast with vegetables

And this dish will take even less time, since chicken with soy sauce and ginger cooks instantly, and the output is soft and juicy.


Ingredients:

  • chicken breast - 1 kg.
  • soy sauce - 50 ml.
  • canned pineapple- 1 bank
  • bell peppers - 2 pcs.
  • onions - 1 pc.
  • sesame seeds - 2 tbsp. l.
  • sugar - 1 tbsp. l.
  • starch - 1 tbsp. l.

Cut the chicken breast into thin strips and pour soy sauce for 5 minutes. Onion cut into rather large pieces and also fill with soy sauce.At this time, cut the canned pineapple into cubes,sweet pepper in stripes.


Put the breast in a preheated pan and fry for 5 minutes in olive oil over high heat. We reduce the heat, add chopped vegetables to the chicken, add a little pineapple juice and simmer for another 5 minutes. At the end, if desired, you can add starch. To prevent lumps from forming, pre-dissolve the starch in a small amount of sauce.

Now that the main courses are ready, you can quickly make a dessert.

Desserts for guests quickly

Tangerines in honey glaze


Very simple and vitamin recipe... We peel the tangerines, put them on a plate and pour liquid honey on top. If the honey has thickened, melt it in a water bath. Sprinkle the tangerines on top with any nuts.

Dessert with mascarpone and cookies


Ingredients:

  • mascarpone cheese - 100 gr.
  • cream - 50 gr.
  • chocolate cookies - 50 gr.
  • fresh or frozen fruits

Whip the cream, mix with the mascarpone. Grind the cookies. Grind fresh fruit with sugar. Pour some of the cookies into glass glasses, put the cheese mass on top, and then the fruits, grated with sugar. Repeat one more time. again a layer of biscuits and curd. Top with grated chocolate, fruit and almond chips.

Hot chocolate


Ingredients:

  • almond milk (can be replaced with regular milk) - 250 ml.
  • dark chocolate - 200 gr.
  • cinnamon - 1 tsp
  • ground ginger - 0.5 tsp
  • nutmeg - a pinch

Pour chopped chocolate into milk. Add cinnamon, ginger, grated nutmeg. Boil, stirring constantly, and cook for 2 minutes. Make sure all the chocolate has melted. Pour hot into small glasses.

So, have you convinced yourself that you can quickly and tasty set the table before the guests arrive? The main thing is to have on hand the right products and recipes.

If you think this article can be useful to your friends and acquaintances, share it on social networks.

Traditionally, a feast is associated with an abundance of snacks and complex exquisite dishes... Times are changing, and the modern pace of life dictates new rules to the hostesses, that is, you want to set the table in a hurry, surprise guests and at the same time save your budget.

This is not about serving semi-finished products as a treat, which you just need to warm up, but about how to spend a minimum of time on cooking delicious dinner and amaze guests with your culinary skills.

Naturally, the first thing to do is to create a menu. Organizational issues are usually resolved in advance, but it also happens that guests come unexpectedly and have to improvise.

However, even in a situation where you have to act decisively, there are several options. First and foremost, every housewife should have a few simple and quick-to-prepare dishes and snacks in stock, so that, as a last resort, quickly navigate.

By the way, more attention should be paid to snacks, because they are the most popular among guests at a festive feast.

The second and important point is table setting. A beautiful new tablecloth, bright cutlery and glasses must be in the house and should be taken out on the occasion.

This does not mean that you need to spend all your savings on expensive china, today there are many alternative options. For example, you can buy “just in case” several plates and salad bowls, made in the same style, and leave them until better times, that is, before the arrival of guests.

The same applies to glasses, they may not be made of crystal, but they should have an attractive appearance.

In addition, you need to take into account the fact that table setting is a whole art. All items must be made in the same style and create a harmonious composition.

So, in order for the preparation for the feast to take a minimum of time, you need to designate several recipes for yourself in advance and purchase festive dishes.

Grocery list

What is needed to prepare a particular dish or the hostess should know herself. That is, she should draw up a menu in advance, if, for example, there is some festive event just around the corner, or in case the guests come suddenly.

When it comes to how to quickly and inexpensively prepare a festive table in a hurry, then the ingredients should be available. For example, when friends or relatives came without warning or informed at the very last moment, then you have to serve treats from what was in the refrigerator.

Therefore, every housewife should always have in stock simple products... Here's a list of what you can whip up:

  • canned fish and vegetables
  • home preservation
  • mayonnaise, sauce, spices
  • seasonal and frozen vegetables and fruits
  • compotes
  • meat, fish or poultry
  • frozen or canned mushrooms

In general, from all of the above list, you can easily prepare a delicious festive one. And if you have the opportunity, time and money to reach the store, then you can buy ready-made salads, convenience foods, desserts and much more.

So, a festive table usually consists of one hot dish, several salads, snacks, cold cuts and fish, dessert and tea. If you clearly think over your actions, then it will take no more than 2 hours to cook everything.

An important secret, if a festive table is being prepared in a hurry and inexpensively for ten people, then you should not cut into a whole basin, you need to calculate portions of about 100-150 grams per person, each dish. Simple calculation and time will save money.

A hot appetizer is traditionally a meat or fish product and a side dish. There are many ways to get everything done quickly. The easiest cooking method that does not require constant attention is baking in the oven or multicooker, in case of emergency. microwave oven.

For example, in the oven you can bake meat or chicken with potatoes in a buttercream. The ingredients are fairly simple and inexpensive, taking about an hour, depending on the power of the kitchen appliance.

To shorten the cooking time, you can cover the container with foil, thus, the products are more juicy and aromatic.

Most quick way Cooking meat or fish with vegetables is microwave baking. So bring the kilogram to readiness chicken legs in a sleeve or special heat-resistant sachets in just 15–20 minutes.

The only drawback of this method is that everyone's favorite crispy crust will not work, but the product will be saturated with salt and spices, and will remain juicy and aromatic.

Salads

Not a single festive meal is complete without. There are so many recipes that choosing two or three with simple and inexpensive ingredients won't be a problem.

But when choosing the right options, you should be guided by a few simple rules. To begin with, these are the ingredients, you should focus on salads, which include simple products, these are vegetables, meat, sausages, egg, canned food.

If you urgently need to cook vegetables, for example, beets, carrots or potatoes, then you can do this in 5 minutes in the oven. To do this, place the ingredients in a plastic bag and make several holes in it for steam to escape.

Then you should set the maximum power and time from 3 to 5 minutes. In the same way, any product can be cooked to readiness, except for liver and eggs.

Dressing will help improve the taste of the salad, make them original and unique. Traditionally salads are greased vegetable oil, mayonnaise or sour cream.

But if there are other tasty and simple seasonings that make the taste of products brighter and more intense. In a salad of fresh vegetables you can add a drop of vinegar and a grated clove of garlic, in meat or fish - mustard or table horseradish.

Soy sauce, ketchup, tomato paste... By the way, the main flavor for any salad is fresh herbs.

Snacks and cuts

The choice of snacks is huge, there are an unlimited number of recipes, which means that it is quite possible to choose tasty, inexpensive and quick ones. Rolls made from Armenian lavash with filling are very popular.

The only drawback is that the appetizer must be infused before serving, otherwise it will be difficult to cut it evenly. As a filling, you can use cheese, mayonnaise, sticks, fish, sausages, vegetables, egg greens.

Quite simple unpretentious snack- these are canapes and sandwiches. You don't need to be a chef or spend hours looking for recipes, you can safely improvise.

For canapes, everything that is currently in the refrigerator is suitable: cheese, feta cheese, smoked sausage, eggs, preferably quail, vegetables, grapes, olives or olives.

It is very important to choose products that taste well with each other, if you cannot make the right choice yourself, it is better to look ready-made recipes... For canapes, toothpicks can be used instead of skewers.

A great option is baguette sandwiches. Such an appetizer is a fairly common phenomenon on festive tables and is in demand among guests, especially if there are children among those invited.

The content itself depends only on the culinary fantasies of the hostess herself. Traditional options, red caviar and butter, but far from budget, processed cheese and fish, sprats and cucumber.

The last snack, preparation of which will not take a lot of time and will not entail extra costs, is stuffed eggs. There are also many filling options, for example, meat or minced fish, cheese, yolk and mayonnaise with garlic and herbs.

In general, you can beautifully decorate an ordinary chicken egg, you just need to show a little imagination.

It is difficult to imagine a festive table without cutting. By the way, cutting sausages, cheeses, vegetables or fish is not time consuming.

Therefore, if there is absolutely no time to cook salads and snacks in large quantities, you should compensate for them with an abundance of various cuts. And so that several varieties of chopped smoked meat on the festive table do not look too "sad", you should arrange the serving in an original way, for example, roll up the slices in the idea of ​​rolls.

desserts

At a birthday party, as a rule, a cake completes the celebration, but its preparation will take quite a long time. Although you can find recipes for cakes without baking, you still have to spend a lot of effort.

An easier, more budget-friendly way to surprise guests delicious dessert after holiday snacks- this is . To prepare it, you will need a little flour, butter, a couple of eggs, a glass of sugar and soda slaked with vinegar.

Cooking time no more than 40 minutes in the oven. In addition, you can add berries, fruits, dried fruits or nuts to the dough. Serve to guests delicious treat can be combined with jam, preserves, honey or condensed milk.

Decorations for salads and desserts

Each housewife can emphasize her individuality and demonstrate her culinary skills with vegetable decorations. It won't take long, but it will certainly delight and surprise guests.

What products can be used to decorate:

  • eggs, chicken or quail
  • cucumbers
  • boiled carrots
  • tomato
  • canned green peas
  • corn
  • olives or olives

It is more advisable to use the same ingredients that are included in the salad for the manufacture of decorative elements, so as not to spoil the taste.

For example, turn a simple vegetable vinaigrette with the help of simple improvised flowers cut from boiled beets and carrots with twig parsley or dill, turn into a real holiday dish... You can arrange other salads in the same way.

Now a little about the technology of making decorative elements for the salad, by the way, such manipulations will not take much time, and will give you an unforgettable mood. So, to collect a flower, you need a sharp small knife and the raw material itself, which should be carefully cut with a thin ribbon in order to subsequently roll it into the bud of an impromptu flower.

Desserts can also be given an original aesthetic look. For example, at the end of a festive feast, it is worth offering guests ice cream, decorated chocolate chips, coconut flakes, pieces of fruit.

How to cut vegetables and decorate dishes - in the video:

What not to do

For starters, it should be noted that you do not need to buy ready-made food in stores, especially salads. Because it is too expensive and the quality of the product is highly questionable.

The same applies to semi-finished products, despite the fact that with the purchase of ready-made frozen dishes, the time for preparing a festive dinner is reduced to a minimum, guests can hardly be surprised and pleased with such a treat.

Particular attention should be paid to the fact that you should not put products on the festive table that quickly deteriorate and lose their attractive appearance. These include jellied meat and aspic, these products will melt quickly.

When drawing up the menu, you need to carefully consider the composition of the dishes, because some recipes are designed only for “amateurs”.

For example, not everyone will like a salad, which includes meat in combination with sweets. This fact must be taken into account and when preparing, try to focus on the preferences of each guest separately.

The last tip - you should not prepare a new dish for the festive table for the first time, it is better to experiment in advance, because the surprise may not succeed and the product will not live up to expectations.

Sample menu

This section presents several simple recipes for a festive table, cooking will not take much time and will help save your budget. Among the ingredients are only products available regardless of the season.

What can you cook tasty and inexpensive for the festive table:

  • Sandwiches with tomato and feta. On thin slices of baguette, place finely chopped tomatoes, seasoned with soft salted cheese and garlic. Parsley, black olives and pitted olives can be used as decoration.
  • Korean carrot salad with boiled chicken breast and bell peppers. All ingredients should be cut into strips and seasoned with mayonnaise. The salad has an amazing spicy taste and will not leave indifferent guests, while the cooking time is no more than 15 minutes.
  • A quick and inexpensive hot meal - rack of pork ribs with potatoes and fried onions in oven-baked pots. Cooking time no more than one hour, preparation up to 15 minutes.
  • A cottage cheese cake for dessert will be the perfect end to a festive feast. It will need 250 g of cottage cheese with a high percentage of fat, 3 chicken eggs, a glass of flour and the same amount of sugar, a teaspoon of soda, a pinch of vanillin, 100 g of softened butter. You can add grated, raisins or nuts to taste. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and bake in the oven until tender, from 20 to 40 minutes.

It should also be remembered that the use of spices, of course in moderation, gives the products different flavor notes. Therefore, it should, if possible, learn to combine correctly food and all kinds of seasonings, because it is they simple dishes able to turn into masterpieces.

In general, there is no limit to women's ingenuity; organizing a festive table quickly and inexpensively is not a problem for a real hostess.

First, a strategic supply of long-term products should always be kept in the house "just in case."

Second, a few simple recipes delicious dishes you must be prepared for the unexpected arrival of guests. And lastly, the content of the table is not so important for the guest as the hospitality and cordiality of the hosts.

Festive table in a hurry

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

I will tell you how you can allocate time, manage to assemble the table and not get very tired. And what to cook for guests in a hurry.

What should be at hand

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

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

I cooked in foreign territory. Therefore, I took with me: an apron, spices (dried basil) and a grater (if not in the house). If you go to cook in someone else's house and are not sure if there are comfortable knives there, I advise you to bring your own, tested ones.

What can you buy in the store

We proceed from the fact that time is running out. Therefore, complex salads, for which you need to cook and cut a lot different ingredients or spread it in a special way, they don't suit us. You can take them, but only ready-made. Yes, I know ready-made salads are evil, but we have an urgent male birthday. Here - either everything from the supermarket's cooking, or we still have time to cook some of the dishes ourselves, giving the table a homely look.

With our own hands, we will only do what is prepared quickly. The principle of distribution of forces is as follows:

  1. Several homemade quick and easy meals.
  2. Some ready-made food (1-2 salads, 1 meat). This is to guarantee something to feed, if we don't have time to cook.
  3. Snacks - what will be tasty addition to dishes or diversifies the table, but does not require preparation (sausage, cheese, olives, cherry tomatoes, fruits, sweets and other appetizers).

I only write what I have chosen for a specific birthdayfor 7-8 people... And you are guided by the situation.

Shopping list

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

Cooking ready meals

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

Semi-finished products

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

Canned food

  • Pickled cucumbers(gherkins) - 1 can(not necessarily, we have not discovered, and there are so many). You can - pickled tomatoes;
  • Mushrooms (salted is tastier than pickled) - 1 can... We didn't buy, we got by with those from cooking;
  • Olives and olives – 1 can;
  • Pineapples - 1 can(480 g). This is for the cheese and garlic salad.

Vegetables fruits

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

Sausage, cheese, minced meat, fish, eggs

  • Cooked sausage (doctor's) - 0,5 small loaf;
  • Sausage Boyarskaya(like ham) - 0,5 small loaf;
  • Cheese Black Prince(Belarusian) - 250 g... The taste is good, traditional;
  • Cheese (some kind of ordinary, like Russian, in a salad) - 100 g;
  • Processed cheese (Friendship or Orbit) - 1 piece;
  • Eggs - 1 dozen(large);
  • Herring in oil - 1 package;
  • Mayonnaise (The hostess's dream turned out to be quite normal) - 1 small package (200 ml);
  • Vegetable oil for frying(you need a little, perhaps at home you have a quarter of a bottle).

Beverages

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

  • Alcohol: wine, martini, vodka - whatever you like. We have 1 bottle each: white and red wine (dry and semi-sweet), martini bianco. We drank a little, but everyone had a choice. Focus on your company.
  • Juice - 2-4 liters(orange, grapefruit, apple, multifruit, tomato) - whatever you like. Can - three-liter jar homemade compote.
  • Mineral water - 2 bottles 1.5 liters each.
  • Tea - package... Perhaps coffee (we got by with regular Ahmad tea);
  • Sugar - package lump (refined) or 0.5 kg of ordinary bulk.

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

Sweet

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

Bread

Take everything in slices, remember that we have no time.

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

What dishes were on the table (menu)

  • Cutlets (cooked) - 12-14 pieces came out (depending on size);
  • French meat - 7 pieces;
  • Olivier salad - large salad bowl;
  • Pineapple salad with cheese and garlic (cooked) - 1 medium salad bowl;
  • Stuffed eggs - 2 plates, Jewish cream cheese salad with garlic (cooked);
  • Slicing (2 types of sausage and cheese) - 2 plates;
  • Olives and olives;
  • Herring with onions;
  • Pickled champignons;
  • Mashed potatoes). I did it with olive oil, there was no butter or sour cream at home. It turned out delicious.
  • Cherry tomatoes;
  • Korean-style tomatoes (prepared in advance).

Procedure

    Stewed cutlets

    Hard boil eggs- Cook 9 pieces, the tenth raw - into minced meat. Put in cold water, bring to a boil, cook for 10-12 minutes. Cool in cold water.

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

    Lightly salted cucumbers

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

    • Eggs stuffed with salad

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

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

Along the way, you need to set the table - entrust it to someone from your family or run yourself in between cooking. Put the table, cover with a tablecloth, arrange the plates, lay out the napkins (put additional ones in the napkin holder), forks. Put on glasses and glasses. Transfer drinks to the table. Put the bread on a plate (cover with a napkin or also put it in a bag for now).

  • Build a table: gradually lay out everything ready meals in salad bowls and plates and transfer to the table. You can immediately put bowls of olives and olives (they will not spoil); pickled tomato cucumbers; put the herring in the herring maker, add the onion chopped in semicircles to it (half of stuffed eggs). The cutlets will just reach, the potatoes will be boiled (drain the water, salt, add oil, heat). I also cut a lemon for tea (I sprinkled sugar on the circles to make it tastier, but whoever likes it). Take salads and cold cuts out of the refrigerator right before the arrival of guests so as not to spoil.

Everything! Bon Appetit!

A quick festive table in a hurry.