Colorful and delicious, this is one of my favorite appetizers! And the name, “pinwheels”, brings back warm memories of childhood fun! Pinwheels! Did you have one as a child?  I remember this young girl skipping through the front yard with my arm raised and my pinwheel spinning in the wind.  If you’re too young to remember them, it was a toy made of curved, brightly colored plastic blades, attached to the top of a wooden stick. The curved blades cupped the wind and caused the blades to spin rapidly almost as soon as the wind hit them. The gentlest of breezes would set the pinwheels spinning to display a beautiful array of color!

While these pinwheels don’t catch the wind or spin, they’re still great fun to make … so let’s get busy!

Makes 35-40 Pinwheels

Ingredients:

(2) 8 oz. packages of cream cheese at room temperature
(1) 1 oz. package dry ranch dressing mix
1/2 tsp. black pepper
5 large (burrito-size) flour tortillas
1 red bell pepper, finely diced
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
5 green onions, thinly sliced
1 lb. thinly sliced deli mesquite turkey

Directions:

Chop the peppers and onions and set aside in 3 separate mounds.

In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, and black pepper. Stir with a wooden spoon until totally combined.

Lay out the 5 flour tortillas on your counter and divide the cream cheese mixture equally among the tortillas. Spread the mixture in an even layer all over the surface of each tortilla, making sure to get it all the way to the edge.

Sprinkle the red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and green onions on each tortilla as equally as possible.

Lay the sliced turkey evenly on each tortilla.

Roll the tortillas up nice and tight. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 12 hours.

Before serving, cut them in to 1-inch slices and serve on a platter.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Like the wind that animates a pinwheel, the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of those who love Jesus, nudging us along, constantly encouraging, comforting and empowering us. Scripture, in fact, refers to the Holy Spirit as a strong, driving wind!  “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, the disciples were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8, Acts 2:1-2)

Before Jesus was crucified and resurrected into heaven, he told his disciples (and if you have given your life to Jesus, that would be you):

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said.”  (Acts 14:15-17, 26)

So raise your arms, let the Wind blow, and be a beautiful, powerful representation of Jesus to your world!

— Cheri Henderson