Ingredients

2 lemons
1/2 cup water
4 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
1 teaspoon (packed) minced fresh dill
1 teaspoon (packed) minced fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely crushed cumin seeds
12 small fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise (about 14 ounces)
3 ounces thinly sliced smoked salmon, cut into 1/2-inch-by-2 1/2-inch strips
1 ounce caviar
Small fresh dill sprigs, for garnish

Directions

1. Using vegetable peeler, remove peel (yellow part only) from lemons. Simmer peel, 1/2 cup water, and 4 teaspoons kosher salt in heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat until salt dissolves. Reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons and peel is tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Transfer peel with liquid to jar. Add lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil. Refrigerate at least 1 day and up to 1 week.
2. Drain peel; mince. Stir crème fraîche, minced dill, cilantro, and 1 tablespoon minced peel in small bowl. Cover and chill at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours.
3. Set rack at lowest position in oven and preheat to 450°F. Brush nonstick baking sheet with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil and cumin in large bowl. Add potatoes; toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange potatoes, cut side down, on baking sheet and roast until tender and cut sides are brown, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly.
4. Arrange potato halves, cut side up, on platter. Top each with 1 teaspoon crème fraîche, 1 salmon strip, and 1/2 teaspoon caviar. Garnish with dill sprigs.

Makes 24 hors d'oeuvres.

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Ingredients

12 small (1 1/2-inch) red boiling potatoes
2 ounces smoked salmon, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped fennel bulb (sometimes called anise)
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
Garnish: fennel fronds or fresh dill sprigs

Directions

1. Cover potatoes with salted water by 1 inch in a large saucepan, then simmer, uncovered, until just tender, about 15 minutes. Drain in a colander and cool.
2. Stir together salmon, fennel bulb, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
3. Halve cooled potatoes and season cut sides with salt and pepper. Arrange, cut sides up, on a platter (if potatoes wobble, cut a thin slice off rounded bottoms), then dot each with 1/2 teaspoon sour cream. Mound salmon on top.

Makes 24 hors d'oeuvres.

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Ingredients

1 lb. dried black-eyed peas
1 smoked ham bone or two hocks
1⁄4 cup canola oil
1⁄2 cup finely chopped cooked ham
1⁄4 tsp. red chile flakes
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 jalapeño, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 rib celery, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
1 lb. collard greens, ribs removed, leaves roughly chopped
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground
black pepper, to taste
5 cups cooked long-grain white rice
Chopped scallions, for garnish

Directions

1. Bring peas, ham bone, and 8 cups water to a boil in a 6-qt. Dutch oven. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, skimming foam occasionally, until peas are tender, about 45 minutes. Drain peas, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid along with ham bone; set aside.
2. Heat oil in a 12-qt. pot over medium-high heat. Add chopped ham, chiles, garlic, jalapeños, carrot, onion, celery, and bay leaf and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add reserved black-eyed peas, ham bone, and reserved cooking liquid, along with collards and 12 cups water.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until collards are tender, about 1 hour. Stir in vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Spoon rice into bowls and ladle soup over rice and add garnish.

Serves 8 to 10.

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