Pizza, sticky wings and birthday cake? Now that sounds like a celebration!
Hirsch’s is turning 47, and what better way to celebrate than by getting into the kitchen and creating something delicious?
Whether you’re planning a family dinner, having friends over for the weekend or simply feel like trying something new, we’ve put together a three-part celebration menu: Loaded Pizza, Sticky Soy Chicken Wings and a spectacular Blue Velvet Cake to finish it all off.
And while you’re cooking, you might find a few treats for your kitchen too! The Hirsch’s Birthday Sale is filled with incredible deals across cooking appliances, small appliances, kitchen essentials and plenty more.
SHOP THE HIRSCH’S BIRTHDAY SALE
Now, aprons on. It’s time to cook!
🍕 1. Loaded Pizza
The ultimate share-around-the-table dinner
First up, we’re kicking off the birthday feast with pizza.
This Loaded Pizza is packed with meat, colourful vegetables, melted cheese and plenty of flavour. It’s also easy to customise, so everyone can add their favourite toppings.
Serves: Approximately 8
Prep & cooking time: Approximately 40 minutes
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Prepared pizza/bread dough | 450 g |
| Lean beef mince | 115 g |
| Italian-style sausage | 1 small sausage |
| Pepperoni | 15 slices |
| Fresh mushrooms, sliced | 1½ cups |
| Green pepper, chopped | ¼ cup |
| Red pepper, chopped | ¼ cup |
| White onion, chopped | ¼ cup |
| Red onion, chopped | ¼ cup |
| Garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
| Tomato sauce | 1 cup |
| Italian seasoning | 2 tsp |
| Fresh parsley, chopped | 2 tbsp |
| Mozzarella, grated | 1¼ cups |
| Cheddar, grated | ¼ cup |
| Sliced olives | 2 tbsp |
| Cooking oil | 1 tbsp |
| Cornmeal | 2 tsp |
| Garlic powder | ¼ tsp |
| Black pepper | A pinch |
Method
- Prepare your oven. Preheat the oven to approximately 200°C.
- Cook the vegetables. Heat the oil in a frying pan and sauté the mushrooms, peppers and onions until they begin to soften. Add the fresh garlic towards the end and cook briefly until fragrant.
- Cook the meat. Remove the vegetables from the pan and cook the beef mince and sausage until completely cooked through. Drain away any excess fat.
- Prepare the base. Lightly dust your pizza pan with cornmeal. Roll or stretch your dough into a large pizza base and transfer it to the pan.
- Give it a head start. Prick the dough lightly with a fork and bake for around 8–10 minutes, or until it just starts turning golden.
- Make it saucy. Combine the tomato sauce with parsley, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and black pepper. Spread it evenly across the partially baked base.
- Load it up! Add your cooked vegetables, meat mixture, pepperoni and olives.
- Bring on the cheese. Cover everything with mozzarella and cheddar.
- Bake until irresistible. Return your pizza to the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the crust is beautifully golden.
- Slice, serve and watch it disappear!
Make Pizza Night Even Better
Homemade pizza is even more fun when your kitchen is ready for it. From ovens and air fryers to cookware and food-prep appliances, there are plenty of ways to make cooking at home easier.
SHOP COOKING APPLIANCES AT HIRSCH’S – https://www.hirschs.co.za/specials-and-promotions/hirsch-s-birthday-sale?cat=4866
🍗 2. Sticky Soy Chicken Wings
Sweet, sticky and seriously moreish
Next on our birthday menu: wings!
These Sticky Soy Chicken Wings bring together soy, garlic, sesame and a touch of sweetness for that gorgeous sticky coating everyone reaches for.
They’re fantastic as a party snack, but add jasmine rice and a fresh cucumber pickle and you’ve got yourself a complete dinner.
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: Approximately 1 hour
Ingredients – Sticky Wings
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Chicken wings, separated into pieces | 1.2 kg |
| Garlic, minced | 2 large cloves |
| Tomato ketchup | ⅓ cup |
| Soy sauce or tamari | ⅓ cup |
| Sesame oil | 1 tbsp |
| Rice wine vinegar | 1 tbsp |
| Water | ¼ cup |
For the Cucumber Pickle
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rice wine vinegar | 1 tbsp |
| Caster sugar | 1 tbsp |
| Sesame oil | 1 tbsp |
| Fresh ginger, minced | 1 tsp |
| Chilli oil | 1 tbsp, optional |
| Small cucumbers | 2 |
For Serving
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sesame seeds | 1 tsp |
| Spring onion, sliced | 1 |
| Fresh chilli, sliced | Optional |
| Steamed jasmine rice | As needed |
Method
- Start with the pickle. Cut the cucumber into bite-sized pieces and combine it with the vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, ginger and optional chilli oil. Set aside while you prepare the wings.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C, or approximately 180°C for a fan-assisted oven.
- Prepare the wings. Arrange the chicken in a large baking dish. Try to keep the pieces in a single layer so they cook and caramelise evenly.
- Make them sticky. Add the garlic, ketchup, soy sauce, sesame oil and rice wine vinegar. Toss until every piece of chicken is well coated.
- Into the oven! Bake for approximately 1 hour.
- Halfway through cooking, turn the wings and pour the water into the bottom of the baking dish. This helps loosen the sauce and keeps everything beautifully glossy.
- Once cooked through and caramelised, remove the wings from the oven and allow them to rest for around 10 minutes.
- Finish them off with sesame seeds, sliced spring onion and chilli.
- Serve alongside the fresh cucumber pickle and fluffy jasmine rice.
Hirsch’s Kitchen Tip
A reliable oven makes recipes like this wonderfully simple: prepare, pop it in and let the heat do the work.
And with Hirsch’s celebrating 47 years, it might just be the perfect time to give your kitchen an upgrade.
🎂 3. Blue Velvet Birthday Cake
Because every birthday needs cake!
Now for the showstopper.
You can’t celebrate Hirsch’s turning 47 without a birthday cake and naturally, we had to make it BLUE!
Inspired by the gorgeous Blue Velvet Cake from Immaculate Bites, this cake combines soft, moist blue velvet layers with creamy cream cheese frosting.
Cut into it at the table for the big reveal!
Serves: Approximately 10
Prep time: Approximately 30 minutes
Bake time: 25–30 minutes
Plus: Cooling and decorating time
Ingredients – Blue Velvet Cake
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cake flour | 2½ cups / 300 g |
| Salt | ½ tsp |
| Unsweetened cocoa powder | 2 tbsp |
| Unsalted butter, softened | ½ cup / 113 g |
| White sugar | 1½ cups / 300 g |
| Sour cream | ½ cup / 120 g |
| Neutral cooking oil | ¾ cup / 180 ml |
| Large eggs | 3 |
| Buttermilk | ½ cup / 120 ml |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp |
| Vanilla extract | 2 tsp |
| Royal blue food colouring | Approx. 2 tbsp |
| Violet food colouring | Approx. ½ tsp |
| Baking powder | 1 tsp |
| Baking soda | 1 tsp |
| Water | 2 tsp |
Cream Cheese Frosting
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Unsalted butter, softened | 140 g |
| Cream cheese | 285 g |
| Vanilla extract | 1½ tsp |
| Icing sugar | Approximately 720 g |
Method
- Preheat your oven to approximately 177–180°C.
- Grease three 23 cm round cake tins and line the bases with baking paper.
- Prepare your dry ingredients. In a bowl, combine the cake flour, salt and cocoa powder and set aside.
- Get mixing. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar until pale, light and fluffy.
- Mix in the sour cream followed by the oil.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Pour in the buttermilk, vinegar and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Time for the Hirsch’s blue! Add your royal blue food colouring and a small amount of violet colouring. Mix until you’ve achieved a rich blue colour.
- Gradually incorporate your dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Avoid overmixing once everything has come together.
- Combine the baking powder and baking soda with the water, then gently fold this mixture into your cake batter.
- Divide the batter evenly between your three prepared cake tins.
- Give each tin a gentle tap on the counter to release any large air bubbles.
- Bake for approximately 25–30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool in their tins for about 10–15 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
- Let the layers cool completely before decorating. Chilling the layers can make assembling your cake much easier.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat the softened butter, cream cheese and vanilla together until creamy and smooth.
- Gradually add the sifted icing sugar while mixing.
- Continue beating until your frosting is smooth, fluffy and easy to spread.
Assemble Your Birthday Cake
- If necessary, carefully level the tops of your cooled cakes.
- Place the first cake layer onto your serving plate or cake stand.
- Spread a generous layer of cream cheese frosting over the top.
- Add your second cake layer and repeat.
- Finish with your third layer.
- Cover the top and sides with the remaining cream cheese frosting.
- Now have some fun decorating! Add blue cake crumbs, sprinkles, piping or a big 47 on top.
- Add the candles and you’re officially ready to celebrate!
A Little Birthday Baking Upgrade?
From stand mixers and hand mixers to ovens and baking essentials, having the right tools can make whipping up your next celebration cake a whole lot easier.
And what better time to upgrade than during a birthday celebration?
SHOP SMALL APPLIANCES AT HIRSCH’S – https://www.hirschs.co.za/specials-and-promotions/hirsch-s-birthday-sale?cat=4854
