How to celebrate your birthday at work: options for treats

If you once celebrated a birthday at work, then you know how difficult it is. Without a fairy godmother, you need to invent, cook, cut, and still have energy left for beauty, receiving gifts, listening to toasts and cleaning up after. And no one canceled their work responsibilities.

How to make you want to celebrate this holiday every day, and not rest for 2 weeks after? The secrets are proper organization and a thoughtful menu!

In this article: birthday menu, ready-made and proven recipes, rules for creating a menu, shopping list. Save this article to your bookmarks, print it out (or rewrite your shopping list) and start bringing it to life by cooking easily, tasty and with pleasure!

How to surprise your work colleagues

In many teams, it is customary to organize a buffet surrounded by colleagues for your birthday. We often spend more time at work than with our household members, so we want this holiday to be unforgettable for ourselves and our colleagues.

Everyone chooses how to celebrate this holiday. But more often than not, the birthday person brings treats to work, and colleagues set up tables in anticipation of pleasant communication at the festive table.

For many, the ritual of “signing up” seems very difficult, one might say, impossible. Especially for those who are doing it for the first time. Practical advice from those who have been surprising their colleagues for many years will help brighten up this favorite holiday.

There are three most popular options for holding this celebration in the office.

Buffet

If the team is large, then it is best to organize a buffet. Treats are on the tables, and event participants come up to the tables and take what they like. Usually this option is preferred in the team where young people work.

Banquet

In this case, all participants in the celebration sit at tables. If it is an anniversary, then it is better to celebrate the event in a restaurant. Most often, the hero of the day orders a separate room and the result is a gala event that differs from ordinary gatherings after work.

Treat

This option is convenient where lunches occur at different times. The birthday boy distributes snacks, candies, fruits to his colleagues, whom he managed to find somewhere, receives congratulations, and this is where the holiday ends.

It is believed that collective events bring colleagues closer together, and it is easier for newcomers to join a new team if they organize their birthday at work.

Official part

If higher management is present, birthday greetings to a female colleague may consist of an official and an unofficial part. The manager is given the first word, after which gifts from the company or a congratulatory address may be presented. Related structures can take part both in the official part and prepare comic skits and practical jokes. The presenter must inquire about their wishes in advance. In the official part, you can give the floor to an accountant, if there is an order to assign a prize, to invited artists, to arrange a photo shoot. On this day, a woman looks especially elegant, she is bathed in compliments and flowers, so inviting a photographer will come in handy.

How to organize an inexpensive but enjoyable holiday?

If you work in a team for a long time and celebrate your birthday every year, then it is better to choose a budget option; your colleagues will understand you. It's summer, so I want to prepare a light summer buffet.

When designing your menu, include quick options. No holiday is complete without a cake. In the heat, you don’t want to stand at the stove, but every birthday person wants to surprise his colleagues with a new dish.

Marshmallow cake without baking

You can prepare a delicate airy cake very quickly. It will turn out inexpensive, but tasty.

Ingredients

• Marshmallow – 0.5 kg
• Strawberries - 300 g
• Heavy cream – 500 ml

Step by step recipe:

1. Wet a knife in warm water and cut the marshmallows into thin slices.
2. Cut the washed and dried strawberries into cubes.
3. Whip the cream to stiff peaks.
4. Place a layer of marshmallows on the bottom of the mold and pour cream over it.
5. Spread the strawberries evenly, arrange the marshmallow rings again, and pour in the cream.
6. Repeat until you run out of ingredients. Top with berries.
7. Keep the cake in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Fast pizza

Pizza has become an integral part of the office meal. To prepare it quickly and tasty, you can buy ready-made dough. And it’s even easier to prepare pizza on lavash crusts.

1. Cut a circle out of lavash, grease with ketchup, sprinkle with grated cheese.
2. Place another circle of pita bread on top, brush with ketchup, add sausage, onions, smoked meats, tomato rings, sprinkle with cheese, bake in the oven until cooked.

A little about tradition

The philosophy is simple: with a buffet on the occasion of your holiday, you, first of all, as the birthday boy, show people respect and care. Even if among them there are unpleasant personalities. It is precisely so that the latter do not have a reason to speak negatively about you, it is necessary to prepare for the festival in advance, but not to harm yourself. Don’t think that treating your colleagues on your birthday with a budget option is shameful. The main thing is the approach.

The amazing transformation of pita bread

Before each such event, the question arises: what to bring? You can't do without snacks. Don't try to cook expensive meals. What matters most to your colleagues is communication.

Lavash will again help set the table in an original way. Make a roll from it. Take

• hard cheese,
• garlic,
• mayonnaise,
• sausage,
• greenery,
• Bell pepper.

Grate the cheese on a coarse grater, mix with garlic, add a little mayonnaise, sausage and pepper, cut into small cubes. Place the mixture on pita bread and roll it into a roll. Let the roll soak, then cut into small pieces.

For the roll, you can prepare any filling, for example, crab sticks, eggs, herbs, cheese and mayonnaise.

Original

If you decide to discourage your colleagues, then in this case, you cannot do without the help of professionals. For a team that is accustomed to luxury and gourmet food, the most suitable option is a buffet. It's a buffet, not a buffet.

Snacks for the buffet can be ordered for delivery from a company that specializes in such events. There are several obvious advantages here. Firstly, by not cooking yourself, you will make a strong impression on others. Secondly, the ordered snacks, in addition to their visual appeal, have excellent taste.

This option is suitable for people with a constant lack of time, on an anniversary or on a special occasion of the company.

List of the most popular snacks:

• Bruschetta set. Consists of: salmon, salt-rubbed Italian ham, roast beef, roasted vegetables, and in some cases fresh vegetables are added.

Price: 8 servings – 4000 rub.

• Gourmet set. Snacks for real sybarites and connoisseurs of delicious food. The set consists of: small sandwiches based on toasted garlic bread, topped with chicken pate, beef tenderloin, and baked peppers. Sandwiches based on focaccio with shrimp. Sandwiches with Parmesan, porcini mushroom, several types of cheese. Waffle tube, inside - mousse with ham and pistachios. Warm beef baked in herbs. Small dessert to choose from.

Price: 10 servings – 16,000 rub.

• Mini set. A set of appetizers on skewers - melon pulp and Parma ham; mango with shrimp; pear and walnut; salmon and fresh cucumbers; cheese, avocado and bell pepper.

Price: 15 servings – 7000 rub.

• Set of rolls. Consists of small rolls with chicken, eggplant and zucchini filling.

Price: 15 servings – 5000 rub.

• Spring set. The dessert set consists of: cheese, nuts, dried fruits, grapes, honey. Sliced ​​fruit – pear, kiwi, orange, pineapple, raspberry, blueberry. Dessert – blackberry sauce and fresh blueberries.

Price: 10 servings – 5000 rub.

In addition to the sets stated in the menu, you can order individual ones, based on the preferences of each employee.

What to cook for a birthday snack for work

Usually the office table is set up in such a way that it is difficult to squeeze in a new dish. We suggest preparing small sandwiches that will take up little space.

Crackers with crab stick paste

The first option is with crab stick paste: put a hard-boiled egg, crab sticks, a little cheese and mayonnaise into a blender bowl. Process until a smooth paste forms.

Using a pastry syringe, spread the paste onto unsweetened crackers, crispy croutons or snacks. The top can be decorated with green peas, canned corn and herbs.

Canapes

Today, not a single buffet is complete without canapés. This particular appetizer will help decorate any table, and it’s also pleasant to take – you won’t get your hands dirty, and you don’t need to put extra cutlery on the table.

Classic options

If you are in doubt about the combination of products, then prepare the classics:

• Cheese cube with grapes;
• Marbled cheese and salami topped with olive;
• Red fish, cream cheese on a piece of bread;
• Carbonate, gherkin on toast.

Original recipes

In summer, it is best to serve sweets: canapés with pineapple, orange, cheese or apple, pineapple meat. To surprise your colleagues, prepare the most original canapes:

Products:

• Kiwi – 3 pcs.
• Cottage cheese – 200 g
• Yogurt – 3 tbsp. l.
• Mustard - on the tip of a teaspoon
• Garlic – 2 cloves

Preparation:

1. Chop the garlic. Cut the kiwi into slices.
2. Mash the curd thoroughly with a fork.
3. Mix garlic, mustard and yogurt, combine with cottage cheese.
4. Place the curd mixture on the kiwi mugs and insert skewers.

Salads are the best snack

No birthday party would be complete without a couple of salads. You can order salads, or it’s better to prepare delicious and simple salads at home. For example, a chicken salad will appeal to everyone.

Chicken salad

It only requires a few ingredients:

• boiled eggs,
• fried champignons,
• boiled chicken fillet, pineapples. Mix all products and season with mayonnaise.

Salad with crab sticks

To make your birthday memorable with delicious dishes, prepare this unusual salad.

Products:

• Boiled eggs – 4 pieces
• cheese (hard) – 300-350 g
• crab sticks – 1 package (240g.)
• crackers – 100 g
• half a lemon
• garlic – 2 cloves
• mayonnaise

1. Chop crab sticks and eggs.
2. Grate the cheese on a coarse grater.
3. Pass the garlic through a crusher.
4. Put croutons in a salad bowl, sprinkle with lemon juice, lay out all the chopped products, and season with mayonnaise.

Fruit salad

In the summer you can prepare a sweet salad: peel apples, pears, tangerines, cut into cubes, add strawberries, season with sweet yogurt. If you want the salad to be even sweeter, add a handful of steamed raisins.

Even in a small office you can creatively set the table. Then you will not just have lunchtime get-togethers, but a real celebration!

Surprise, delight your colleagues and enjoy this happy holiday yourself!

Festive tea party

To celebrate a birthday, you can simply have a tea party. Place light fruit canapés, fruits, and cake on the table. Be sure to include sweets for tea drinking. You can make your own sweets, which will pleasantly surprise your colleagues.

Candies a la Snickers

• Milk (powdered) – 300 g
• Cocoa powder - 2 tbsp. l.
• Butter - 30 g
• Cream (or milk) - 50 ml
• Nuts - 400 g
• Sugar - 1 glass.

Preparation:

1. Mix sugar, cocoa, cream (or milk).
2. Place the mixture on the fire, bring to a boil, stirring continuously, otherwise it will burn.
3. As soon as the mixture begins to boil, remove from heat, add roasted peanuts or other nuts and soft butter.
4. Gradually add dry cream. Stir quickly with a spoon.
5. When you get a thick mass, you will have to knead with your hands.
6. Place cling film on a dish and sprinkle it with dry cream.
7. Make balls from the thick mass, wet your hands with water, and place on a plate.
8. Cover the balls with film and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Main dishes

Meat dishes have always been the main thing, or at least one of the main ones, on the holiday table; below we will present you with some delicious ideas for your birthday.

Baked chop with cheese

We will need:

• pork tenderloin
• tomatoes
• hard cheese

A hot dish plays a special role on the festive table. As such, you can offer your guests meat and cheese. To prepare it, you need to cut the pork tenderloin into pieces 3-4 cm wide, lightly beat it, and then fry it. After this, place slices of tomato on the finished meat and cover with hard cheese. Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the top layer of cheese melts.

Gefilte fish

We need:

• fish
• bread
• milk
• semolina
• eggs
• onion
• greens processed cheese
• mayonnaise
• lemon

Stuffed fish will look quite noble and elegant on the table. It has a special taste and will not leave anyone indifferent. Preparing this dish will require patience and time. The first step is to clean the fish very carefully, without touching or damaging its skin. The head must be cut off and the gills removed. The next step is to separate the fish fillet from the skin. After this, separate the pike meat from the bones and pass through a meat grinder. Mix it with bread soaked in milk. Add semolina, eggs, chopped onions, herbs, processed cheese to the resulting mixture and mix everything until smooth. Stuff the skin with this mixture. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment. For an impressive look, place the head of a fish on the stuffed skin. Grease everything with mayonnaise and wrap in foil. Bake for 1 to 2 hours depending on the weight of the pike. Decorate the finished fish with herbs, lemon and a mayonnaise mesh.

Potato casserole with minced meat

We have to:

• 6 -7 potatoes
• 500 g minced meat
• onion
• 3 - 4 pcs eggs
• hard cheese
• greenery

Cook the potatoes until tender. Make a puree by adding butter and milk, as well as one raw egg. Fry onions and minced meat. Then put it in a baking dish, layer ½ of the mashed potatoes, then minced meat and then mashed potatoes again. Beat 2 eggs and pour over the potatoes, sprinkle with cheese and herbs. Well, put it in the oven for 20 minutes. 200 degrees.