Tuna-Filled Pinwheels

Prep Time: 30 mins	Cook Time: 240 mins	Total Time: 270 mins
Serves: 16 pinwheels

For a creamy rich and zesty appetizer, these tuna and cream cheese-filled pinwheels fit the bill. They are a grand way to begin your entertaining as they can be made ahead and parsley-rolled just before serving.

From: My Great Recipes, 1981

INGREDIENTS

8	slices	bread
8	oz	cream cheese
2	T	lemon juice
6½	oz	chunk light tuna, finely chopped
1	cl	garlic, minced or pressed
2	T	chives
		seasoned salt to taste
		minced parsley
		sliced radishes and zucchini or cucumber rounds

STEPS

1. Remove crusts from bread slices. Roll with rolling pin to flatten slices and make them easy to roll. Set slices on damp tea towel to prevent drying out.
2. Meanwhile, mix together cream cheese and lemon juice until fluffy and well combined. Add tuna, garlic, chives, and seasoned salt, mixing well.
3. Spread mixture on bread slices, covering entire surface. Roll each slice jelly-roll fashion.
4. Place, seamside down, on foil. Wrap tightly and chill in refrigerator or freezer for 2-4 hrs.
5. Remove wrapping. Cut each roll in half. Roll pieces into minced parsley. Serve with sliced radishes and zucchini or cucumber rounds.

TIPS

• For variation, omit the tuna fish, garlic, and lemon juice and substitute parmesan cheese and chopped red or green pepper. Or use chopped ham, chopped green onions, and mustard.

My Notes

This is one of those “High Tea” for the Queen recipes. Can’t you just imagine eating these little swirls of sandwiches in a rose garden in a fascinator?

It’s not quick, in that it has a long chill time, but it is cheap. Sawing a log of chilled fish is not something that immediately comes to mind when you think of making appetizers.

But it is an interesting example of how mid century cooking of applying techniques from one sector of cooking to a different one. This one applies jelly rolls or Swiss rolls to appetizer cooking. It’s an example of a surprising amount of creativity when given a new technical innovation — in this case, quick refrigeration.

What else can we make jelly rolls out of? I’d love to see a roll of cornbread and salsa, honestly. Jelly rolls for everyone!