Handmade Pictures/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Don't spend time making hors d'oeuvres. Smoked salmon (or any other smoked fish) is simple and always appreciated. Put out this dilled cheese alongside and let people make their own nibbles. Make toast out of a baguette or challah, or use supermarket Scottish oatmeal biscuits (don't use black pumpernickel bread as its taste is too strong for the salmon).
You can also make blinis or potato pancakes seeing as it is Hanukkah as well. If you want to serve latkes alongside the smoked salmon or as a side dish, here's the only latke recipe you will ever need.
Servings: 8 servings of salmon and 1 cup of cream cheese
Fennel-dill cream cheese
1 cup deli-style cream cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tbsp chopped dill
1/2 tsp ground fennel seeds
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Smoked salmon
1 1/2 lb (750 g) smoked salmon
1 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup capers
Lemon slices
Method
Whisk together cream cheese, sour cream, dill, ground fennel seeds and salt and pepper until smooth. Pile into a pretty serving bowl.
Lay smoked salmon on a platter. Place red onion and capers around it and garnish with lemon.
Lucy Waverman
Emma Waverman