The 3-Ingredient Snack My Mom Made When I Was ‘Hangry’

The afternoon hours between lunch and dinner can stretch for a long time in the summer—especially when the sun sets later and dinner grill-outs sometimes creep into bedtime hours. As a kid, this time of day was tough. Whether I was playing outside in the heat or keeping cool inside, I’d get so caught up in playing that I’d forget to snack and end up a little too hungry come 3 p.m. or worse, 4 p.m.

Luckily, my mom was a pro and always had something up her sleeve. My fondest memories are of her “turkey roll ups,” which were a simple combination of turkey and cream cheese rolled up into a bite-sized treat. Not only did these little roll-ups tide me over til dinner, but they tasted fresh, cool from the fridge—the perfect summer snack.

The 3-Ingredient Snack My Mom Made When I Was ‘Hangry’

I try not to let myself get so hungry that I become hangry (hungry plus angry) as an adult, but I have to admit that it still happens sometimes. Occasionally I slip up and end up in hangry territory—and I default all too quickly to and it helps me to my toddler-self: prickly, frustrated, and a little confused.

But with a little mustering, I remember how my mom handled me at my worst (aka hangry). After all, she’d always know—before I did, as moms often do—that hunger was often culprit for a bad case of the grumps, and it’s nothing that can’t be fixed without a jolly treat. A simple question of hers would turn my day around. She’d ask, gently as she does, “How about a turkey roll-up?” I’d cheer up at the prospect of its playful cream cheese swirl before it ever reached my plate.

After wholeheartedly affirming her snack suggestion, my mom would whip up this simple, nourishing creation: deli turkey slices smeared with cream cheese and rolled up into a savory spiral. It was creamy, salty, savory, and satisfying. I’d eat them with delight, bits of cream cheese oozing out of the sides. Despite being about 4 years old, my legs swinging below me at the kitchen counter, it felt like an aperitivo-hour delicacy on the Italian countryside every time—and it always tasted delicious.

How to Make Turkey Roll-Ups

The recipe is simple, but it requires a little finesse. The cream cheese spreads best when it’s at room temperature, but you can also opt for the “whipped” variety at the grocery store, which is much easier to spread out of the container. Add some extra toppings to the cream cheese for different flavors or textures, like chopped olives with pimentos, pickles, or even shaved carrots.

• 4 deli turkey slices
• 1/4 cup of cream cheese (about 1 tablespoon per turkey slice)
• 2 tablespoons chopped pickles, olives, or veggies (optional)

Directions

1. Place deli turkey slices on a clean, flat surface. Spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese over each slice, leaving about 1/2-inch along the edge.
2. Sprinkle chopped pickles, olives, or veggies over the cream cheese.
3. Roll up into a spiral; serve cold.