Bagels and Lox
In the Bob and Harriet Smith Family, when we celebrate, it usually means with food and drink. If it’s a big celebration like graduation from college or a 50th wedding anniversary, we go to a high-priced restaurant and if it is just four of us, the bill with tip can be $500. OK, I admit, we usually get a good bottle of wine for a very special occasion.
One of our favorites restaurants here in Cincinnati is Carlos and Johnny’s. Cathy and Rick, Bob and Harriet might go for Cathy’s birthday. We have the seafood appetizer and a steak or salmon filet with desert. It is easily $100 per person and total price of $400, maybe even $500 because we of the good bottle of wine like a Jordan Cabernet or a Morgan Chardonnay. I have to say it is pretty good.
But sometimes when we celebrate, we stay at home and one of our favorite meals is Bagels and Lox. Frankly, it is just as good, even more fun sometimes, and 1/5th the price, maybe even less.
Bagels and Lox is the Jewish brunch at our house. And it has over the years become our favorite and maybe our favorite meal of all.
Ingredients
I prefer to shop at Costco’s because it is great quality food and a much lower price. The only problem is sometimes the size of the packages are too big for just Harriet and me but for a six-person brunch, it’s just fine. If you are not a member of Costco’s, go to Kroger’s.
For the meal, you need
Bagels, 1 ½ per person is good for us.
Lox (Smoked Salmon) about 1/8th pound per person so for six ¾ pound or maybe round up to 1 pound.
Cream Cheese, one packet or 8 oz. container. (Harriet is lactose intolerant so she goes for goat cheese.)
Capers, one jar
Sliced tomatoes, fresh, two is enough
Onions, one
Fresh fruit
Slice of watermelon
Peach
Pineapple sliced
Blue berries one container small
Banana one
Champagne–$20-$22 is our limit. Mumm is what we had yesterday and I don’t know how much it cost because my daughter, Catherine, brought it. Usually $20 per bottle at Costco’s is a good bottle of Champagne.
Sometimes we have Mimosas which is half fresh orange juice and half Champagne. In that case, just get a sparkling wine for $14.
Total cost about $60 including the Champagne.
Preparation
Not much work in the preparation. Opening the lox package can be difficult, and sometimes takes a chain saw and a set of garden shears but usually just a sharp set of scissors from the kitchen will do the job. Once the package is open, just put the lox out on a plate.
Cut the bagels in half and toast in the oven.
Slice up the fruit and mix it in a big bowl.
Slice the tomatoes.
Put everything on the table and you are ready to go.
Building your Bagels and Lox
In our family, my son-in-law, Rick, has earned a gold star for most creative construction. That’s mainly because he invented the idea to spread the cream cheese on his bagel and then put the capers on top of the cream cheese. (I think his gold star is a little over done but what the hell?). Place a small slice of salmon on the cream cheese, add tomato and onion, salt and pepper and eat with your hands one slice at a time. It’s delicious.
The Comraderie
It must be the wine but the great food helps too. We almost always have a good time and to my recollection we have not had a fight while having this meal–ever. Pretty good when you sometimes have teen agers or other potentially hostile participants.
With a cost of $60, it’s only about 12.5 % of what we would pay at Carlos and Johnny’s. That’s less than the tip. And it’s just as good if not better.
Some people may say the salmon, or lox, is raw fish. It’s not; it’s smoked. Even so it’s delicious and once you try it a couple of times, you will be hooked (no pun intended).
Well, this is not like my blogs on defeating ISIS or the Benghazi politics, but it’s a lot more fun. I hope you give it a try and like it as much as we do in the Bob and Harriet Smith Family. Bon Appetite.
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