Cooking when so oppressively hot is not on the agenda. Lox and bagel can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner and is taken to next level by simply mixing fresh herbs with cream cheese. Quick and easy, filling and delicious and no standing over a hot stove, win win!! Here’s how to make it:

Lox and bagel with herbed cream cheese

8 oz softened cream cheese

big handful chopped fresh dill

2 tbs snipped chives

1 tsp lemon zest

smoked salmon

pickled red onion and radish

Your choice bagels sliced in half

Chop dill, snip chives and zest lemon. Mix with softened cream cheese. Give that bagel a nice thick shmear and load it with smoked salmon, some onion and radish. Enjoy.

Pickled onion and radish

1/2 c white wine vinegar

1/2 c water

salt to taste (I like to use Saltverk birch smoked sea salt)

1 small red onion and 6 radish sliced

approximately 2 tsp red or black whole peppercorns

place onions, radish, peppercorns in jar, mix the vinegar, water and salt and pour over. Shake to make sure the onions and radish are covered. Let sit in the refrigerator for an hour or make it ahead of time, refrigerate overnight.

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