So today is my birthday, and I’m wanting to cook myself something special! I have carte blanch to make a huge mess that my partner will clean, so I’m rearing to throw down. What are your fav celebratory meals? Could be simple, could be complicated, could be expensive, could be cheap af. Just looking for some inspiration. Anything from dino nuggies to beef wellington! Thanks in advance!
I always have shrimp fettuccine alfredo for my birthday. It's kind of a tradition that I picked up from my dad, since he requests the same thing for his birthday.
Happy birthday! I have two options I default to for my birthday. Either a big breakfast for dinner or what I call Nostalgia Dinner. Sliced cucumbers and tomatoes with salt and pepper on the side, four vegetables (always butter or Lima beans, green beans, collard greens, black eyed peas, etc) and a small pork chop.
If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, I think something hearty like a braise would go nicely with the weather. I recently braided some short ribs in stout and some homemade beef stock and it turned out wonderfully. I had it with some simple roasted veg with balsamic condiment drizzled over and mashed potatoes, so that the reduced braising liquid could do double duty as a sort of gravy. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere though, I think a fancy salad would be a good way to beat the heat.
New Haven Pizza. I haven’t had a car since 2020 and, upon reflection, have decided the first thing I’m going to do when I get a new car is drive three hours up to New Haven and get a pizza from Sally’s.
For a home cooked meal, smoked ribs and mac and cheese.
Duck breast, seasoned and cooked skin side down on med low heat until crispy, basting with rhe fat. Risotto with saffron, parmesan & black pepper Roast asparagus with truffle oil.
crusty bread with aïoli
a good table wine, doesn’t have to be expensive but good
dark chocolate ganache over orange, dried cranberries, hazelnuts (“turtles”)
Peking Duck with plum sauce and gua bao is a supremely decadent meal that I love as a treat for just this kind of occasion. Anything with duck and fruit, really. Duck l’Orange, Gaeng Phed Ped Yang (Curried Roast Duck with Pineapples and Tomatoes), Roast Duck with Cherries, I could go on.
I think Peking Duck usually takes the cake as far as special meals go, though, and it’s fun to make with it’s unique technique for separating the skin from the bird and roasting upright for maximum crispy goodness. Gaeng Phed Ped Yang is probably second on the list for me, but the fluffy, soft, wonderful gua bao (which are deceptively easy to make) takes it over the top for me.
Also, you can reserve the bones and fat from any of the recipes for a killer stock and the fat is great to use in any application you’d use schmaltz.
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