My name is Lisa Skantz, and I am the creator of Spi-Rolls. My story goes back to the late 1980's when I first started baking a pumpkin roll. I was young (before the husband and three kids), just out of ultrasound school and working my first job at a diagnostic imaging center in Winter Park, Fl. (near Orlando). I had never even tasted a pumpkin roll until one day when our courier, Janet, brought on
e to the office for us all to enjoy. It was one of the best things I had ever tasted! Knowing how we all loved them so, she graciously made copies of the recipe for us all to take. With a new recipe in hand, I was off to grocery store to collect my ingredients and start baking. Well, my first attempt turned out to be a bit of a disaster. The wax paper stuck, the cake cracked, and the powdered sugar was flying. It looked as if a mad scientist had blown up the kitchen! Well, not a scientist, but I was mad and I had decided I was NEVER EVER going to do this AGAIN! I am not sure when it was that I once again donned the apron and went for a second go around. Maybe after some coaxing by Janet and some of her helpful hints. But, I did indeed try again and then again and again. Eventually, they became easier and before I knew it the pumpkin roll became our family tradition. This delicious, airy, spice cake flavored with cinnamon with it's smooth, vanilla, cream cheese filling was the perfect comfort food. Without a doubt, an absolute crowd pleaser that would never disappoint. In the years to follow, the roll was shared with friends, displayed at parties, enjoyed with neighbors and catered with for large church gatherings. It wasn't until almost three years ago, that I was considering ways to supplement my husbands income. I home school our two boys, so working outside the home was not an option. With a grocery bill escalating at a rate comparable to our teens' appetite, I decided to sell some unnecessary home decor items at an indoor community yard sale. I was set up in a spot that was directly across from a lady named Sandy who was selling baked goods. I was amazed to watch the shoppers pass up a lamp for seven dollars only to spend ten dollars on bread and sweet cakes. Clearly, this is where the money was. Sandy and I hit it off immediately, in fact she was my best customer. We talked quite a bit that day about her baked good business and it made me very curious about how well the pumpkin roll would be received at other sales like this. She invited me to come sell with her at a market in Hickory on Thursdays. She said bring some slices of the rolls and lets just see what happens. That is just what I did. After a few sales, and enjoying watching the expressions of those who tasted their first pumpkin roll, I was hooked! I loved selling such a great product. After about six months of making, baking, and selling pumpkin rolls, Sandy suggested I come up with some other flavors. Then the fun really began for me. Some of the very firsts were the chocolate chip mint, strawberry cheesecake, and banana walnut. I could barely wait for Thursdays to come around again for me to reveal my latest creations. Ten pounds (taste testing was mandatory) and a couple months later I had about thirteen new flavors. "Regulars" at the market would be coming to sample the new flavors. No longer did my sign read "Pumpkin Rolls For Sale". A new sign was needed to advertise the colorful, swirly cakes ... and so the name Spi~Rolls was introduced. Funny, I would have never imagined me making so many rolls at a time, especially after that first endeavor. I have, however, thought of Janet on many occasions and would love to tell her how much fun I have had with that recipe she gave me over 25 years ago. I bet she realized when she dropped off that magical bundle of cake, rolled tightly in the saran wrap, that it would bring a smile to many... and we knew when our eye caught sight of it, that it was the beginning of a great day.
-Lisa Skantz
