Salmon Tea Sandwiches

Tea Sandwiches are great for a tea party, luch party or even a poker party.  These sandwiches are from Ina Garten and can be made in advance.  They are so versatile that you should make them for your next gathering.  Makes 32 Sanwichees.

Ingredients:

Herb butter:

1/2 pound unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon minced scallions (white and green parts)

1 tablespoon minced fresh dill

1 tablespoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Sandwiches:

1 loaf dense 7-grain or health bread

8 slices smoked salmon

For the herb butter, combine all the butter ingredients in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat until mixed, but do not whip.

For the sandwiches, have the store slice the bread lengthwise on a meat slicer into 1/4-inch-thick slices. (If that isn't possible, you can slice it crosswise with a very sharp knife.)

Lay out 8 slices of bread and spread them all with a thin layer of herb butter.

Place smoked salmon on 4 of the slices.

Top with the other 4 slices of bread, butter side down.

Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and wrap with plastic. Refrigerate until the butter is very cold.

Place the sandwiches on a cutting board. With a very sharp knife, cut off the crusts, cut each large sandwich in half crosswise, and then cut each half diagonally twice to make a total of 8 small triangles. (If the bread was cut crosswise, follow the assembly directions, then cut off the crusts and cut diagonally, twice, to make 4 small triangles.)

Serve chilled.