The similarities to the classic smoked salmon preparation are not a coincidence. Serve this pescatarian pleaser as a great substitute for appetizer meatballs or hamburgers. The key is to cut the salmon into small dice.  Never puree the salmon in a food processor no matter what the recipe says.  Cutting it into small chunks preserves the texture of the fish, and mixing it with the fresh onion and the cream cheese gives it happy little bursts in the mouth.

½ lb salmon, cut into finel dice

¼ c cream cheese, broken into pea-sized chunks

¼ onion, minced

1T dill, chopped

1t capers

¼-1/2c breadcrumbs

Salt and pepper

Hot pepper jelly to serve (optional)

Combine all in a bowl.  Roll into balls of desired size.  Bake in a 350 oven for 20-30 minutes, depending on size, flipping over halfway through. Serve with hot pepper jelly, if desired.