One 8-ounce package cream cheese, cold
5 or 6 slices smoked salmon (about 5 ounces)
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
About 25 small round slices (about 2-inch diameter) pumpernickel or other dark bread or rice crackers or Ritz crackers
Place the cream cheese on a 12-inch square of plastic wrap.
Cover it with another 12-inch square and, with your hands, spread the cream cheese out to form a square approximately 8 by 8 inches.
Peel off and discard the top piece of plastic wrap and arrange the salmon on the cheese.
Sprinkle the pepper evenly over the salmon.
Lifting up the plastic wrap, roll the cream cheese up tightly, enclosing the salmon (don't let the plastic get rolled up inside).
Use the plastic wrap to help tighten the roll; it should measure about 9 inches long by 1½ inches.
Seal it well in the plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 1½ to 2 hours.
Remove the partially frozen roll from the plastic wrap and, using a sharp thin-bladed knife, cut it into ½-inch-wide slices.
Place the slices on the bread rounds.
Work quickly while the cream cheese is still cold, so it doesn't stick too much to your fingers or to the knife.
If it gets sticky, return it to the freezer for a few minutes to harden.
Arrange the hors d'oeuvres on a large serving plate and serve cold.
Servings
Makes about 25 hors d'oeuvres
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Per Serving (1 roll-up on pumpernickel round) - Calories: 78; Total Fat: 5g (Saturated Fat: 2.5g); Cholesterol: 16mg; Sodium: 185mg; Total Carbohydrates: 5g (Dietary Fiber: 0.5g, Sugars: 0.5g); Protein: 3g; Calories from Fat: 45 (58%)
*Nutrition information is provided as a general estimate only. Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients, and is based on available nutrient data. Variations may occur based on ingredient brands and preparation methods.