We were under strict instructions not to be late to kindy yesterday. This, of course, meant something would inevitably go wrong. So I shouldn’t have been surprised that, just as we were about to walk out the door, the Little Sister called out “Mummy, hurt”.
She was not, in fact, hurt. She was covered in her own excrement from the bottom down. A poonami had struck – weren't these the exclusive territory of infants? They should be, because a torrent of milk-fed poo is unquestionably preferable to what was now soaking the Little Sister’s trousers.
When we eventually made it to the Big Sister’s kindy obstacle-a-thon, the kids completed their laps of the obstacle course and sat down to a bring-a-plate morning tea. We’d been told that the normal healthy-eating-policy didn't apply; so as long as we weren't likely to kill the poor anaphylactic possum with eggs or tree nuts, we’d been given free rein.
The Big Sister and I had spent the previous afternoon making jam roly poly from a recipe that Sue - a thoughtful reader - emailed me for the time-worn tucker series. Sue thinks the recipe is from The Commonsense Cookery Book 1, a text-book that she used at high school in 1980. Sue had read Anne from Domessblissity’s nostalgia for a jam roly poly in the first time-worn tucker post.
Anne said:
You might be able to investigate a recipe for me. Have you ever made a Jam Roly Poly? The only recipes I’ve seen online are for a suet kind of pudding, steamed. My Nanna and Mum used to do a sweet pastry/cake dough, smother it with jam (whatever was going – Nanna made all her own jam) and it would become like toffee when it was baked in the oven on a baking tray.
Jam Roly Poly
Shortcrust Pastry (thermochef version)
200g plain flour
100g butter, cubed
pinch salt
50g iced water
1 cup strawberry jam
1 cup water
¼ cup sugar
1 tbsp butter
To make shortcrust pastry in the thermochef combine plain flour, butter and salt. Process for ten seconds at speed six. Add the water and process at speed six for a further 5 – 6 minutes until a thick dough is formed. Turn out onto a bench and give it a little knead. You’ll need to make two batches for this recipe. You could make this dough in a food processor, following a similar process.
Roll the pastry out to 5cm thickness. Spread with strawberry jam, roll up trying to keep the jam evenly distributed throughout (harder than it sounds) Press the edges together and place into a baking dish. Meanwhile combine water, sugar and butter together in a saucepan, bring to the boil, simmer and reduce by half. Pour the mixture slowly over the roll and bake in a 200-220C oven for 30 minutes. Mine could have done with five minutes more – adjust the time to suit your oven.
I thought a kindy morning tea would be the perfect way to bake this roly poly and get the ticking time bomb of sugary goodness out of our house before my hips exploded. It was an ill considered plan. I have forgotten everything about catering for children. Store-bought chocolate biscuits and fairy bread flew off the table, and the only kid who even looked at the roly poly was the Big Sister. My cunning plan was thwarted and I was forced to returned home with a container full of jammy goodness - BOOM!
There was nothing to do but put the Little Sister to bed and make an accompanying cup of tea. For the record, the result was suitably toffee-like, Anne - I think you’ll like this one.
Big thanks for sending in the recipe, Sue - you're a treasure!
Cwa Beerwah says
That jam roly poly looks yum I would have eaten it 🙂
cookerandalooker says
High praise from the CWA - thanks!
Anne @ Domesblissity says
Oh, that looks fantastic Amanda! Thanks so much for going to the trouble and thank you Sue for suggesting the recipe. It looks exactly like the one Mum and Nanna made (minus the custard and ice cream LOL). I'll be giving that a try. Oh, excrement! Not a day goes by Amanda that i don't hear about it, see it, smell it and sometimes accidently touch it when I'm prising the kid's dirty grundies off the floor. You've done well girlfriend! xx
cookerandalooker says
Glad we've come close to the original Anne. I understand why it was a favourite - icecream and custard could only enhance the jammy goodness, not to mention increase the BOOM! 🙂
SIL says
My grandmother made the best scones. A few years before she passed away I thought I would ask for a recipe and a first hand demo on how to make the family's favourite scones. Well although I eagerly watched Gran whip up yet another great batch there was no real recipe and everything was measured by handfuls and a keen eye - so very hard to replicate 🙂
The best tip I learnt was to have your oven scorching hot!
ps I would most definitely have devoured your Jam Roly Poly
cookerandalooker says
Funny you should mention scones SIL. You make the best scones ever, and I've been meaning to ask if you'd share your recipe on the blog. Maybe I can convince you over a few wines this weekend! 🙂
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
My mum makes caramel dumplings and she is quite honestly the only person in the world I have ever met who cooks this dessert. It is my favourite!!!! She makes it from a handwritten recipe that is about my age (that makes it 40ish years old). Not sure it exists elsewhere. But then again, I have never googled it to find out ...
cookerandalooker says
I love dumplings Leanne - your Mum's recipe sounds delicious!
Lydia C. Lee says
I'm a fan of Jam RolyPoly - but your offering would have made people like me feel bad. At our last one, I got little cup cakes from a shop and everyone had these homemade offerings, and then I found the lady who had got commercial biscuits on a stick and put mine near hers - so the 2 slackers were together 😉
Kim @ Bachelormum Style says
That's a bit disheartening they weren't eat, they look absolutely delicious x
Parental Parody says
Ohhh, I remember Jam Roly Poly! Now I want one, with cream, and a flat white. No wait, with high tea since that involves bubbly. Your talents may have been wasted on kids, but I have no doubt the Kindy teachers were eyeing it off, hoping for leftovers after class!
Lara @ This Charming Mum says
I love that you had a crack at making a jam roly poly - rather than buying the cheap and nasty swiss roll kind of ones at the supermarket. I remember eating homemade roly poly hot with custard. Delicious comfort food that I'd never have nowadays (exploding hips and all that...)
NewLifeOnTheRoad (@NewLifeOnRoad) says
I am so not into cooking...and would be the Mum who purchased something from the Shops the night before!
Good on you for giving the Jam Roly Poly a go 🙂
And gosh those little accidents when walking out the door....so glad we don't have those anymore! Have lots over our time with our five boys!
carmen@musingnmayhem (@Sp3llB1nd3r) says
Yum... going to have to put that one in the Thermomix!
Wheeeeee! x
Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel says
Very Secret Seven! I don't think Jam Roly Poly would be for me as I am roly poly enough for the moment and need to eat lentil salads for a few weeks after this trip but... could I beg you to do a wee masterclass on how you do the marvellous graphics on your photos?? I'd so love to read more, an idiot's guide required for me!
Cooker and a Looker says
I'll send you an email Seana. x
BOYEATSWORLD says
My mum used to make this when I was little. What great memories you've stirred up. 🙂
Cooker and a Looker says
Food brings up lots of memories for me too! 🙂
Housewife in Heels says
More roly poly for you! (If I'd been there, promise I would have had the roly poly). x
Grace says
Oooh, they look wickedly delicious! Yum!
Di Nolan (@DiLishLife) says
I know how disheartening it is to lovingly bake something for a kids party and have they bypass that for the commercial packaged foods. These days I offer to bring a plate for the adults attending the parties instead. Your post made me smile. I managed to dodge the worst of the poosanamis but still have to tackle wet beds and skiddies on an alarmingly regular basis.
cookerandalooker says
Thanks Di - we have our share of wet beds here too. Mercifully the Big Sister seems to be getting the hang of it lately!
Chris says
We have a 'bring a plate' to kindy tomorrow for our Mother's Day Garden Party.... pity I only realised this afternoon. Thought about busting out a slice or pikelets tonight but since reading your post I think I'll just go via the bakery in the morning.
Doc Smith says
I prepare a baked Cinnoma Roll in a very similar fashion and use a Cream Cheese or Sweet Sour Cream Topping after baking. Sadly most younger ones these days (even the 20 Something's) are so accustomed to Processed Sugar treats they do not favore old time baked items.
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
Old baked goodies are the best!