The BariGirls Smoked Salmon & Olive Spread Baguette

THE BARIGIRLS SMOKED SALMON AND OLIVE SPREAD ON BAGUETTES

1 Lemon

4 ounces smoked salmon, skin removed, flaked (best if using smoked)

3 ounces low fat cream cheese, room temperature, cut into 3 or 4 chunks

½ cup coarsely chopped green ripe olives, additional olives can be used for garnishment

1 tbsp coarsely chopped capers

16  slices thinly sliced baguette*

1 cucumber sliced rounds

Black pepper to taste

To toast bread, arrange slices on a baking sheet in a single layer, then cook in a 400 degree oven until lightly browned, about 10 minutes, turning halfway through and set aside.

Finely grated zest from lemon.  Halve lemon and squeeze 2 tablespoons of juice.  Combine zest, juice, salmon, cream cheese, chopped olives, and capers in a medium bowl, stirring and mashing to make a spreadable paste.  Add pepper to taste.

Mound about 1 tablespoon of salmon mixture onto each toast or cucumber rounds.  Garnish with olives and serve.

*Bonus Recipe Enhancement Idea:  You can swap the traditional baguette for whole-wheat baguette slices or cucumber rounds to reduce the simple carbohydrates, making the appetizer even healthier!