Little spirals that vanish between drills
Cream cheese is doing two jobs here. It tastes good and it glues the roll shut, so a kid holding a water bottle in the other hand does not end up with turkey in their lap.
Spread it all the way to the edge, especially the far edge, because that is the seam that has to hold. Then roll it tight, wrap the whole log in plastic, and chill it for thirty minutes before you slice.
Chill it thirty minutes and you get eight neat spirals. Slice it warm and you get eight squashed ovals, because a cold log cuts clean with a serrated knife and a warm one smears.
Ingredients
The batch makes 4 rollups, cut into pinwheels. Plan on about 15 minutes.
- 4 large flour tortillas or lavash
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 12 oz sliced deli turkey
- 4 slices provolone or cheddar
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1/2 cup shredded carrot
How to Make It
- Spread a thin, even layer of cream cheese over each tortilla all the way to the edges.
- Lay turkey and a slice of cheese over the cream cheese.
- Scatter spinach and shredded carrot across the bottom third.
- Roll each tortilla up tight from the filled end into a firm log.
- Slice each log into 6 pinwheels and pack them flat. Chill until you load the cooler.
Pack It Cold and Tidy
Turkey, cheese, and cream cheese all need to stay cold, so these pinwheels ride on ice.
- Set the pinwheels against two ice packs in an insulated bag
- Keep cold food at 40F or below, and do not leave it out longer than 2 hours
- Lay them flat and snug so they hold their spiral shape
What Stays Crisp (and What Gets Soggy)
The cream cheese seals the wrap, which keeps the rollups from drying out or unraveling.
- Spread the cream cheese edge to edge so it glues the roll shut
- Pat the spinach and carrot dry so the tortilla does not get damp
- Pack any dip in a separate cup so the pinwheels stay neat
- Serve with: cucumber spears, a clementine
Parent Tip
Roll the logs tight and chill them whole for 10 minutes before slicing so the pinwheels stay together.
Make it fit tonight
Small changes that make this one fit your night
Ham and cheddar
Kids who push turkey away will eat ham and cheddar without a word.
Pesto over the cream cheese
A thin layer makes them taste like something from a deli case.
A spinach tortilla
The green edge makes the spirals look like something you tried on.
Ranch seasoning in the cream cheese
Half a packet stirred in gives instant flavor with no extra ingredients.
Thin bell pepper strips
Cut them matchstick thin or the roll will not close along the seam.
Plan the next step
Plan the grab-and-go nights
Use the planner to mark the games where finger food beats a full meal.