Maybe “ghetto” is a bad choice of words. “Ghetto” was originally a term that referred to the portion of Venice that Jews were compelled to live during the Middle Ages.  Lox, of course, is slices of cured salmon served with cream cheese and bagels that is a staple of an Ashkenazi Jewish diet.  Lox also is used to refer to smoked salmon, though this is technically incorrect; lox refers to cured, unsmoked salmon in the strictest sense. But, since this is my dear Jewish mother’s recipe, and she used “lox” to refer to smoked salmon, and Mom always knew best, this is what I am calling it. Mom loved smoked salmon with cream cheese and bagels, but we were too poor to afford the expensive smoked salmon when I was a kid, so this was her ingenious substitute.

• 1 – 15 1/2 oz. can pink salmon, bones and skin picked out (unless you like these)
• 2 packages cream cheese, softened
• 1-2 tsp. liquid smoke

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and spread on toasted bagels.

Here are some additional ingredients that I have added over the years, which I think enhance the experience:

• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 1 tbsp. minced capers
• 1/2 c. grated or finely diced red onion OR diced green onion
• 2 tbsp. minced fresh or 1 tbsp. dried parsley
• salt and black pepper (freshly ground) to taste

Of course,  if you want to make a non-ghetto version, use a small fillet of natural smoked salmon.

Es gezunterhayt! (Yiddish for “bon appétit”)