HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Since Thursday is this slave's birthday, Master suggested that a post should be made about the ways people celebrate birthdays around the world. Here in the USA we are so used to the same birthday cake with candles. It was interesting to explore the way the rest of the world eats for that day.

 

Like Christmas, much of our birthday traditions come from Germany.

The first children's birthday parties occurred in Germany and were called “Kinderfeste”. They used a sweet, layered cake and they put a large candle in the center of the cake to represent "the light of life." The smoke from blown out candle carries the birthday wishes up to heaven.

In many European and south American countries instead of spanking, they pull on your earlobes, one for each year. There is an old Hungarian blessing that roughly translates to "God bless you, live so long so your ears reach your ankles."

 

The Scandinavian countries like to celebrate with their countries flag!

 

In Denmark the flag is flown outside a window to show that someone who lives there is having a birthday. Presents are placed around the bed while they are sleeping.

In Denmark, if a man is not married by the age of 30 he is called a “Pepper man”(pebersvend) and often gets a peppermill or shaker to mark the day of disgrace! Oh My!

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In Norway birthday parties consist of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and dishes of red gelatin covered with vanilla sauce.

For a Home made vanilla sauce,

½ cup of light brown sugar,

1tbs flour,

a pinch of cinnamon,

a pinch of salt,

1 egg,

2 tablespoons of melted butter,

1 ¼ cups of whole milk

 

Whisk together in a heavy saucepan until smooth. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and the sauce coats the back of a spoon, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. No, it wont be white but it tastes divine! Let it cool before adding to the gelatin, or else it will melt!

Pour sauce over red gelatin cubes when serving.

In Russia

 you might get a pie with the birthday greeting carved into the top crust. The first piece is always given to the birthday child not to the guest.

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In Egypt they have big parties, often with two cakes: one with candles and one plain.

However next door in Saudi Arabia, people do not observe birthdays due to spiritual beliefs.

Hindu children only celebrate their birthdays once they have reached the age 16 years.

The birthday treat in India is a rice pudding (dudh pakh). It often has the spice cardamom and is filled with raisins and pistachios.

Birthday Celebrations in China and many other Asian countries feature long noodles! The noodles symbolize longevity.

Here is a fun recipe slave found that is often a birthday treat.

The name roughly translates into “Ants in a Tree”!

Ingredients
Kosher salt 

1/4 pound cellophane noodles or angel hair pasta
1 pound ground pork
¼ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon Asian (toasted) sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
6 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
4 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon Asian chile paste
2 cups shredded Napa cabbage
2/3 cup chicken stock, preferably homemade
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the noodles and bring back to a boil. Boil for 1 minute for cellophane noodles and 2 to 3 minutes for angel hair pasta. Drain in a colander and rinse under running water. Set aside.

Stir the pork with 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce, the sesame oil, the cornstarch, and ½ of the scallions in a small bowl.

Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat until almost smoking. Add the ginger, garlic, and chile paste. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the pork mixture and cook for 1 minute longer. Stir in the cabbage and the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Cook, stirring, until the cabbage is almost wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.

 

Add the cooked noodles and cook, cutting them slightly with the side of the spatula, until the pork is no longer pink, about 1 minute. Pour in the chicken stock and add the remaining scallions. Season with salt and pepper and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover loosely with foil and simmer until the noodles have absorbed some of the stock, about 3 minutes

In Australia 

 the birthday person often gets “Fairy Bread”. A kind of buttered bread covered with what we call sprinkles. Down under they use the much more enchanting name of "hundreds and thousands"!

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In Canada you just might get ambushed and have your nose greased! The butter is to make you too slippery for bad luck to catch hold of you.

In some Caribbean regions though most notably in Jamaica, a person can expect to have large amounts of flour thrown on them. Lucky ones will be soaked to the skin first, just so the flour really sticks!

However in Puerto Rico, beside getting a crack at a pinata, you might get lucky enough to enjoy a warm Pineapple Quesitos!

 

The Pineapple filling:
1 20oz can Pineapple tidbits in juice, drained
2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons white sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup (8 ounces) low fat cream cheese, room temperaturePastry:
2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water)
Sugar, for sprinkling on the pastry
Confectioners’ (powdered) sugar for dusting the baked pastry

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line two baking trays with parchment paper.

To make filling: In a bowl mix together the cream cheese, sugars and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the drained tidbits

Cut the puff pastry into 4- to 5-inch squares, depending on the size of the puff pastry sheet you have. Put 2 Tbs of filling in middle of each piece of pastry.

Brush egg wash on the points of the pastry. Fold one side over the filling, and then tuck the other point under the pastry, to create a roll.

Tuck the points under the filled pastry, which will puff up high and keep the filling in the center.

Brush with more egg wash and sprinkle generously with sugar.

Bake for about 25 minutes or until crisp.

You may have to rotate the two trays, top to bottom and back to front, to make sure the pastries are baking evenly. They will be light and puffy when they are done. Allow them to cool.

Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

However, if you have problems Fake it! I could not get the puff pastry sheets apart. Well after paying $5.50 for 2 sheets, I was gonna make it work!. I cut it into strips, put the filling in and rolled it up. Brushed with egg-wash and sprinkled with colored sugar and a bit of cinnamon.

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More and more here in the USA we are seeing “smash cakes”. These are just for the tiny kids to play IN. Or for adults to have their face smashed into. Guess slave is just too old to see the fun in that, but what ever you enjoy....!

 

Still around the world, the most recognizable song in any language is “Happy Birthday To You”. This was written by two sisters back in 1893!

And Yes the copyright is still active and royalties must be paid if performed where people are being charged.

However you celebrate your special day, the Master and His slave wish you the very best and many more!

I am so very happy that I have such a great and good Master Indy!

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon