low budget lox

So, after my big low budget debut, I had this exciting feeling (enhanced by my mother’s early review) of “we’re gonna be rich!”  So we promptly went out and blew our entertainment budget for the week. Not to say that we were flying to catch 1st row tickets at a Broadway show or anything. For us, a big day out was the bargain matinee of Bruno followed by a 5 pm dinner at our favorite Asian restaurant.

Truly, there was value in the operation, but now, I am left feeling slightly phony as I write this, clinging desperately to the fact that I had cheapo smoked bluefish on my bagel instead of the 12.99/lb smoked salmon lox this morning. I also decided (and was immediately noticed by my husband) that if we were going to “blow it” in one area, that it was appropriate to get right back on the horse and get frugal in another area… normally, I would have bought our bagels out on the way to the dog walk.

If there are bonus points top be earned in the world of pseudo luxury, I hope I get some for smearing an oily gray fish, instead of an oily coral colored one onto my bagel…. I do have to say however, that this is a very good substitute for real lox, and so if nothing else, is a solid, lowbudget gourmet ingredient.

Tags: cheap eats, food, recipes