Lox Tea Sandwiches With Dilled Cream Cheese Food

LOX TEA SANDWICHES WITH DILLED CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cut crusts off of each piece of bread, then cut each piece in half (doesn't matter which way--you pick the shape). Place pieces of bread in single layer on one or two baking sheets, and bake for 10 minutes, or until golden and toasty. Remove bread from oven and cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, whip cream cheese until no lumps remain. Add milk or cream, and continue whipping until soft and "silky". Add dill, lemon juice and seasoning; whip again and adjust any flavorings to your liking.
• TO ASSEMBLE: Spread 1-2 tbsp cream cheese mixture on each piece of toast, then layer a "ribbon" of lox on top. Top lox with a couple/few pieces of chives and it's ready to serve! If preferred, ribbons of red onion and capers could also be used, either on top of the cream cheese or lox--whatever looks best to you.
• (There may be some cream cheese mixture left at the end, depending on how much you use. It's great on breakfast bagels, too!).

CUCUMBER AND LEMONY DILL CREAM CHEESE TEA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, fresh dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• Lay the slices of bread on your work service and distribute the cream cheese evenly among each slice, spreading into a thin layer. Arrange the cucumber slices in rows over 3 slices of the bread. Top with the remaining bread, and cut into quarters so there are 4 pieces from each sandwich. Serve immediately.

LOX AND CREAM CHEESE STUFFED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Using a peeler, create stripes on the outside of the cucumber by peeling along length of cucumber, leaving every other section intact. Cut off ends of cucumber and slice into 1-inch rounds. Using a melon baller, scoop out the seeds and inner flesh from the top 2/3's of each cucumber slice. Do not scoop all of the way through. Set aside. In a bowl, combine equal parts cream cheese and sour cream. Mix in salmon, shallots, lemon juice, salt and pepper, combining thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag with a star 8 tip. Pipe the filling generously into each cucumber section. Garnish with sprig of dill. As an alternative, use red pepper cream cheese.

SMOKED SALMON TEA SANDWICHES WITH DILL CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Spread one teaspoon of butter on one side of each slice of bread.
• Mix the dill into the cream cheese.
• Spread the cream cheese on the buttered sides of bread.
• Layer the salmon on the cream cheese on one slice of bread, and cover with other bread slice.
• Cut the sandwich on the diagonals to create four triangles.