Smorgastrata Recipes

Steps:

• For the avocado chicken layer: Add the buttermilk, lime juice and avocados to a bowl. Mash the avocado until everything is combined. Fold in the chicken, bacon, chives and scallions. Season with salt and set aside.
• For the pimento cheese layer: Add the Cheddar, mayonnaise and pimento to a bowl and stir to thoroughly combine. Set aside.
• For the ham salad layer: Add the ham, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, pickles, celery, scallions, onion, jalapeno and some salt and pepper to a bowl. Stir to combine and set aside.
• For the ranch frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or using an electric hand mixer, mix the cream cheese until the cubes have combined. Add the buttermilk, white wine vinegar, garlic and grated onion and stir to combine.
• To assemble: Add desired layers between each bread layer. Spread a crumb coat of the ranch frosting to seal the cake, then add another layer of frosting to cover the cake. Decorate as desired with various toppings.

Steps:

• Mix sour cream, lemon zest and juice in a medium bowl. Combine eggs, dill, onion and capers (if using) in another medium bowl. Stir in half of the sour cream mixture.
• Add trout, celery, parsley, caraway seeds (if using) and pepper to the remaining sour cream mixture.
• To assemble sandwiches: Divide the egg mixture among 4 slices of bread. Top with bread, then spread with the trout mixture. Top with the remaining bread. Cut each sandwich in half and serve.

Steps:

• Make each filling individually, stirring ingredients together until combined well. Season each filling with salt and pepper. You should have three separate bowls of filling; one egg, one cream cheese, one herb, and one bowl for the topping.
• Stack 4 bread slices together and with a serrated knife trim crusts from bread. Stack and trim remaining 36 bread slices in same manner.
• On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper arrange 8 bread slices side by side in 2 rows of 4 slices each to form a rectangle. Top rectangle with half of egg salad filling, spreading evenly, and cover with 8 more bread slices in same manner, pressing gently on top and sides to form an even layer.
• Top second layer of bread with half of salmon filling, spreading evenly, and cover with 8 bread slices in same manner to form an even layer.
• Top third layer of bread with all of cream cheese filling, spreading evenly, and cover with 8 bread slices in same manner to form an even layer.
• Make layers with remaining salmon filling, remaining 8 bread slices, and remaining egg salad filling in same manner, ending with egg salad. Chill torte, covered with plastic wrap, at least 12 hours and up to 2 days.
• Make topping:.
• In a bowl stir together herbs until combined well.
• Trim sides of torte and sprinkle topping over egg salad layer.
• Serve torte cut into small pieces. Makes 20 half-sandwiches or 40 bite-size quarters.