SMOKED SALMON STARTER

My family loves to host. I grew up with a large extended family and gatherings were frequent. It wasn’t uncommon to have kids running through the kitchen and 20 other people chatting and eating in all rooms of the house. My mom was always the ultimate hostess - she had it down to a science. Our family home was ready to throw an event at a moments notice and she often had her staples. Now with a home of my own and a husband who loves to host and feed people as much as I do, I have my own arsenal of easy to prepare menu items. I keep at least two packages of smoked salmon in the freezer on a regular basis. It’s a great no-cook option; it’s not only easy to throw together, it also appeals to eye in the most delectable way.

Ingredients:

1 package smoked salmon

1 lemon

fresh dill (as much as you want)

3 tbl capers

1 shallot, thinly sliced

extra virgin olive oil

freshly ground pepper

Assembly:

Arrange smoked salmon pieces around a platter (I like a round one for this). Drizzle olive oil and squeeze lemon on the salmon. Scatter capers, thinly sliced shallot and fresh dill on top with freshly ground pepper. Serve with fresh baguette, crackers or on its own.