Caviar And Blinis - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup buckwheat pancake mix (we like the unsweetened organic one from Whole Foods, but you can use any unsweetened kind and follow the package instructions for all pancake ingredients, using an egg if called for)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg
1 tablespoon melted butter or vegetable oil
2/3 cup milk (any fat content) or water
Black caviar (our favorite is paddlefish)
Creme fraiche
Chives, snipped
Smoked salmon (optional)
Minced red onion (optional)

Preparation

1. Combine the pancake mix with the salt, egg, butter or oil, and milk or water.
2. Lightly brush another tablespoon of melted butter onto a skillet over medium-high heat.
3. When the skillet is hot, spoon the batter into it a tablespoon at a time.
4. Cook the blinis until tiny bubbles appear, about 1 minute, then flip them and fry until golden brown on each side.
5. Transfer the blinis to a platter and serve warm with the caviar, creme fraiche, chives, and smoked salmon and onion (if desired).