And then you’ll need a party recipe. So hold onto this one for that inevitable day.

I am quite fond of pinwheel snackies, but they usually begin, “Soften cream cheese.” That wasn’t a problem until I read Jonathan Safran Foer’s book EATING ANIMALS. Now, using commercially produced dairy makes me squeamish. I eat it out, but don’t use it at home. At home, I’m very particular about the dairy I buy, and we don’t have a lot of choice unless I drive to another, larger town. And our #2 daughter is strictly vegan. So what could I use to hold pinwheel ingredients together, if I couldn’t use cream cheese?

Duh! MASHED POTATOES! The answer struck me with the force of a spud to the head. Here is the general result. Alter quantities to suit yourself.

VEGAN PINWHEELS

• can of crescent rolls
• potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed (some lumps are good)
• raw veg, finely chopped
• seasonings to taste (herbs, spices, peppers)

Unroll the crescent rolls into one sheet. Mix all other ingredients together OR spread still-warm mashed potatoes all over the crescent roll sheet and sprinkle the remaining ingredients evenly over it. Roll up, long side ways, so you have a long thin roll not a short HUGE roll. Cut into rounds. Bake according to crescent roll package directions. NOTE: You may need to cook longer than the directions say because of the filling. IMPORTANT: Serve hot. If they cool down, heat them up in the oven so the bread part is crisp.

I was very happy with the way these turned out. 🙂 They look more festive in person.

WRITING PROMPT: How does your character feel when an important festival or event is over? Relieved? Let down? Energized? Write a scene with each, or a scene with three characters who feel differently.

MA