Wraps & Rolls

Cindy Wu
Aug 16, 2000

With small children and a dining table suitable for only six, it is no longer possible to have a sit-down dinner party whenever we have friends and family visiting. Self-serve buffet meals became the norm of our entertaining style. Among the dishes that I have served, I found wraps and rolls my favorite, for they are often easier for me to prepare and easier for the guests, tiny or otherwise to eat with their fingers. Let's wrap and roll.

Turkey, Cheese and Lettuce Wraps

Deli style smoked turkey breast, 8 slices
Swiss Cheese, 8 slices
Butter Lettuce, 8 leaves
Yellow mustard, 2 oz

First lay one slice of turkey on a big plate, and then lay the cheese slice on top of the turkey. Last, lay one leaf of lettuce and spread some mustard over it.  Roll layers into a tight cylinder.  Face end edge side down and cut into half at an angle. Repeat to make the other seven rolls. Arrange half rolls around a big platter and serve. Makes 16 half rolls. 

Beef and Asparagus Wraps

8 thin slices of beef, about 3" by 6 ", can use the ready-cut beef for sukiyaki
8 stems of asparagus, tough part of stem removed  
1 tblsp soy sauce
1 tblsp cooking wine

Marinate beef in soy sauce and wine for 10 minutes. Wrap one slice of beef around one asparagus. Repeat to make seven others. Grill or broil at medium high heat about two to three minutes each side, or till beef is just done. Serve warm. Makes 8 servings.

Bacon and Scallion Rolls

15 slices of bacon
8 stems of scallion, cut into two inch sections
6 bamboo sticks  

Spread out one slice of bacon. Roll it lengthwise around 2 or 3 scallion strips. Repeat to make other rolls. Fasten with the bamboo sticks, 2 or 3 rolls on one stick.  Bake at 350 degree Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or till bacon turns brown. Serve warm. Makes 15 rolls.

Bread and Jam rolls

8 slices of soft bread
4-tblsp jam

Trim off the crust part of the bread. Spread 1/2 tblsp of jam evenly onto one slice of bread. Roll it into a cylinder. Repeat to make the other slices. Cut roll in half at an angle. Arrange half-rolls on a platter. Serve with tea for an afternoon tea party. Makes 16 half-roll servings.