Jam Roly Poly

I have a confession to make. In all of my 21 years of life, I have never, I repeat, NEVER had a Jam Roly Poly (home made or otherwise). Shocking, I know isn't it? I have no idea what it is supposed to look like, or taste like yet after a polite request from Andy (and another poll on facebook) I thought I would give it a blooming good go! So, here it is...a complete challenge and a bit of an experiment!! 

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Ingredients

225g Self Raising Flour
Pinch of Salt
110g Suet (Beef or Vegetable)
7 tbsp Cold Water
400g Jam (Your choice, but I Picked Strawberry)
1 Egg

1. Preheat the oven to 190degreesC. Place some baking paper on a baking tray, ready to dollop your Roly Poly on to once it's ready.

2. Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the suet and mix with your hands so that it is evenly distributed.

3. Spoon in the cold water. Mix using your finger tips. The 'dough' should be of the consistency where it is a little sticky - enough to gather the excess dough off the sides of the bowl, but not too sticky so that you cannot manoeuvre it off you fingers. 

4. Sprinkle a little of the flour onto your work surface and over your rolling pin. Squish the dough into a rough square shape (this makes it easier to roll into an oblong). Roll out the dough until it is about 1cm thick and just short of the size of your baking tray.

5. Meanwhile spoon the jam into a microwaveable bowl and heat for about 30seconds (this makes it easier to spread). 

6. Spread the jam over the dough but leave a 1cm border around the outside.

7. Using your hands, roll the dough into a swiss roll shape. Dollop onto your baking tray. 

8. Beat the egg in a bowl and spread over the top of the Roly Poly to give it a nice golden colour when baked. Place in the oven for 30mins or until firm to the touch and cooked throughout. Serve with custard.

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This was the weirdest taste experience I've ever had. Basically, from what I can tell, a Jam Roly Poly is not a cake, neither is it a sponge, nor biscuit, nor pastry. It's kind of a mix of them all. But, it doesn't really taste of anything at all...it's just stodge. Public consensus kind of tells me that that's what it's meant to taste like!?

Admittedly, I don't think mine turned out like it should have (the jam exploded and the dough in the middle was a little under cooked) but still, it was a bit bland and well, boring to be honest. The best thing about it was the custard!! Not sure I will make it again...even if I had done it perfectly, I'm not sure it's my kind of pud. What do you think? Are you a fan of the Roly Poly?

Bon Appetit!!