Thirteen Dishes Our Editors Demand for a Homemade Birthday Feast Celebration
Sometimes, the finest birthday present is a homemade meal or a cake prepared from scratch. Some individuals cherish specific dinners or desserts they've celebrated throughout their entire lives. From indulgent cakes to scrumptious side dishes, these are the 15 recipes our editors request on their birthdays year after year.
01of 13## Homemade Ice Cream Cake
"As a child, all I wanted for my birthday was a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. Even as an adult, not much has changed, haha. This homemade ice cream cake surpasses anything store-bought and is surprisingly straightforward to create." -Alana Al-Hatlani
02of 13## Caramel Pound Cake
"Caramel pound cake is one of the most celebrated Southern desserts, but perfecting it takes practice. My mom makes it best, so I ask her to make it every year." -Josh Miller
03of 13## Scratch-Made Mashed Potatoes
"The rule in our household was that on your birthday, you got to request what was for dinner. For me, it was always a home-cooked meal with prime rib, mashed potatoes, and green beans on the menu." - Cameron Beall
04of 13## Pan-Seared Flank Steak with Herb Sauce
"A flank steak might be simple enough for an average weeknight meal, but when served with creamy mashed potatoes, it becomes birthday-worthy." -Cameron Beall
05of 13## Classic Fried Okra
"I'm born in June, so the best gift I could ask for is all the fresh summer produce. I have a soft spot for fried okra over Carolina Gold rice." - Betsy Watson
06of 13## Heirloom Tomato Tart
"My birthday falls around the start of tomato season, and the best way to celebrate is with a tomato tart. This recipe takes more work than the one my dad used to make, but it's worth the extra effort. The Parmesan-Buttermilk Crust elevates this simple staple." -Katherine Polcari
07of 13## Our Best Biscuits
"My great-uncle Gene always made biscuits when I visited him, and fresh-from-the-oven biscuits still feel like a special occasion. I can't think of a better way to start my birthday than with buttery homemade layers." - Brennan Long
08of 13## Chocolate Tart
"My birthday falls around Thanksgiving, so I don't always get (or want) a celebratory cake. Instead, I look forward to a slice of really good pie—and not your basic pumpkin or apple. This year, I made the chocolate tart and fell in love with its gooey, brownie-like filling." - Lisa Cericola
09of 13## Strawberry Mojito
"Everything feels more celebratory when you've got a festive drink to toast with. Since my birthday is on St. Patrick's Day, I always look forward to having a cocktail or two. I adore this recipe because it features strawberries, which have generally just come into season, and my favorite spirit—rum!" - Tara McCay
10of 13## Traditional Lasagna
"For me, the intensity that lasagna demands is what makes it special. I've been requesting it for my birthday for as long as I can remember." - Meghan Overdeep
11of 13## French 75
"Since I'm the chef in our house, we usually dine out on my birthday. However, while I'm getting ready for our dinner reservations, I love sipping on a celebratory French 75!" - Ivy Odom
12of 13## Beef Bourguignon
"My godmother used to make Beef Bourguignon for me growing up, and I connect it with the crisp fall weather around my birthday in Virginia. I love the seasoned sirloin beef, rich wine sauce, plump mushrooms, and the unmistakable tang of mustard. It's the perfect birthday meal, in my opinion, and it always makes me and everyone I'm eating with feel special." - Catherine Jessee
13of 13## Coconut Cream Pie
"On my birthday, I always request a slice of coconut cream pie, but not just any. The best coconut cream pie in the world is pastry chef Dolester Miles' coconut pecan pie with vanilla bean custard, which you can find at Chez Fonfon or Bottega Café in Birmingham." - Mary Shannon Hodes
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Based on the provided text and additional recipes, here are two sentences that contain the given words:
- For their birthdays, many individuals request their favorite SouthernLiving Recipes, such as the Homemade Ice Cream Cake or Caramel Pound Cake.
- If you're looking for Holidays Occasions ideas, consider making a Scratch-Made Mashed Potatoes or a Classic Fried Okra recipe from SouthernLiving's collection of Food and Recipes.
