Pinwheels in the Garden
Erin Shier
When asking my family for a recipe that has been passed down through the generations, I got not just one or 2 recipes, but I got a plethora of recipes and traditions that have been passed down through the generations. These recipes and traditions are representative of who we are as a family and symbolize unity among the large family. From something as simple as cutting bacon a certain way to making one of the most glorious cakes, food is a central part of who we are and always brings us together for some of the most memorable events.
One of my personal favorite family recipes was the pinwheel recipe. Aunt Sandra made these for every get together that we ever had. Some of my favorite memories of family get togethers come with the pinwheels attached to them. It didn’t matter if we were having Christmas dinner, Easter mid-afternoon meal, or a summer early lunch, there were always pinwheels there. The science behind these small tortillas stuffed with an assortment of fillers was beyond me and my small brain. Regardless if the sauce on the inside was spicy, sweet, or savory, I made it a point to explore each individual variety. I asked every time our large family gathered who made them and how they were made, but the magic was kept secret.
It was at a mid-summer family gathering at Uncle John’s house that I was sure I was going to find out who made my favorite treat. I was running through the yard with my sister and cousin as my Nana had called out for us to come inside for the meal that we were all anxiously awaiting. We were eagerly exploring Uncle John’s property so we could familiarize ourselves with the location for our epic hide-and-seek game that happened at every family gathering between the boys and the girls. We girls were determined to win again this year. The fact that we won was due in part to the fact that the three of us were older than the three boys, therefore making us smarter, but it was also due to the fact that we were still taller and could climb the trees better. As we were running to the door, I stopped in my tracks because I had just laid eyes on the mother of all climbing trees. A tree so easily climbable that I was sure I would be able to get higher than I ever could, but that had to wait because I knew what delicious flavors were scheduled to engulf my taste buds.
For once, I was sure I had caught the magician behind the mysteriously delicious pinwheels, but Aunt Sandra refused to say otherwise. She just told me to run off and play with my new dolls that she had got my sister, cousin, and me for Christmas the previous year. When the Christmas presents evolved from dolls to makeup and jewelry, and the destinations of our family reunions changed from family houses to the larger community centers, Aunt Sandra revealed her sorcery. All that was inside the pinwheels was what she happened to have in her refrigerator the evening before the family festivities. This explained the large variety and why I rarely had the same flavor twice. However, once Aunt Sandra had caught on that I cherished the sweet pink pinwheels, she made them more frequently. She also made it a priority to point them out to me to make sure that I got my fair share before they were devoured by the rest of the family.
These pinwheels were as constant as the family. Always there. And they were as sweet as the family. Always enjoyable. One of the other tasty treats that runs in the family is a tasty pecan cake that Granny made. When talking to my Nana, she recalled her mother as “ALWAYS wearing an apron - sometimes it was the smock kind, sometimes one with a bib, sometimes just a waste apron -- but almost all of them were handmade.” Granny was one to make things with care and love, and what she made was treated as such. My Nana recalled that at the end of a meal at one family gathering in the 1950's, the cake was passed around the table and the cake plate was never set down until the whole cake was gone!
The genuine care and love that was put into each item that she made was seen and felt by all. My Aunt Sara also remembered the pecan cake that Granny made. Aunt Sara remembered with joy how Granny would use almost a whole quart of fresh pecans that came from the pecan trees in the yard. Because Granny had her own pecan trees, she made it a point to make pecan cake at any time of the year. The pecan cake was cherished and beloved by all who consumed it. Aunt Sara made it a point to also remember how Granddad would churn homemade peach ice cream during the summers to go along with the cake. Granddad also used fresh product for his ice cream. It was a way of life for the both of them. Granny and Granddad using fresh fruit and pecans for their various desserts is a staple that has been passed down the generations. Nana learned to use fresh fruits and vegetables from her mother. My mom learned to use fresh fruits and vegetables. And using fresh fruits and vegetables has become a way of life for me as well. In my personal cooking, I strive for the fresh tastes that come from the use of vegetables and fruits that are picked daily from the vine.
Pecan Cake was also always made with what Granny called a Seven Minute Icing. And just as you guessed it, Seven Minute Icing was also made fresh each and every time that the cake was made. However, the ironic thing about Pecan Cake is that it is best when it is served the day after it is made. It is made with fresh ingredients yet it is served a day late.
Pink Pinwheels
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- Largest plain tortillas that you find
- Strawberry cream cheese
- Thinly sliced fruit:
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Kiwi
- Lay a tortilla out flat and spread on a layer of the cream cheese.
- Lay the thinly sliced fruit on top of the cream cheese
- Roll up the tortilla tightly and slice in 1 inch slices