christmas cake 'workout'

[janeyo]

If you want a really good arm workout to tone those bingo wings for christmas, then I really recommend wrestling with brown paper and string and wrapping up cakes for the oven

Worn out now.

I've got a loaf tin and 4 ramekins all wrapped upin the oven... OH won't be best pleased when he wants some brown parcel paper!

[Rhona]

If you want a really good arm workout to tone those bingo wings for christmas, then I really recommend wrestling with brown paper and string and wrapping up cakes for the oven

Worn out now.

I've got a loaf tin and 4 ramekins all wrapped upin the oven... OH won't be best pleased when he wants some brown parcel paper!

Can I also recommend the "rolling pasta dough" workout? You end up with with pumped upper arms, about 4000 ravioli, not enough space in the freezer, and wrists that thrum painfully.

Can I ALSO recommend buying a rolling pin, instead of continually using an empty bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, and then moaning about your thrumming wrists?

[Headfry]

kneading the bread and whisking reluctant cream gets me!
ok... so why is it that when making pastry and you have to rub in the fat....why does it hurt my hands so much....it's big pain (makes me want to cry sometimes) - as in I have to stop and walk round kitchen till pain gets out of my hands. It's kind of in my wrist area, like sort of cramp but not quite.....If I press my wrist on edge of bowl quite hard it helps to ease it a little- what is all that about????
Its got so bad I might need to get a small processor.

[TPeers]

Ummm... I would guess at athritis Headfry. I get something similar in my thumbs and index fingers, to the extent that I loose the power to grip anything for days at a time.

Some people swear by reducing your caffine intake you can reduce the problem - take my caffine and I just swear!

[Brengirl]

Oh dear, the gains and pains of daily chores. Tell me about them. In a weak moment I offered to make the wedding cake for my grandaughter. She didn't give me much notice, just a month. I have not slept for a month lol. I have the groundwork prepared that was easy. Now comes the tricky bit. I have 60 small cakes to ice as bricks (cupcakes) plus the cutting cake on the top. The big day is in a week so it is now or never to make the fondant and buttercream and that's where I came in....have you ever made your own fondant icing without losing the use of hands, arms and back. I ache all over and still have so much more to do. Talk about fools rush in where...........
btw I am Bren (a newbie) do hope you don't mind me joining in.

[TPeers]

Nice to meet you Bren! Yes I have made my own fondant - oww!!!!!!!

[bobleponge]

Some people swear by reducing your caffine intake you can reduce the problem - take my caffine and I just swear!

You are SOOO my kind of person!!!

Brengirl, nobody minds you joining in, tis encouraged round these parts, welcome to the vine.

[TPeers]

So Bob.... I've got a nice mid-roast Arabica, fancy a brew?

[bobleponge]

I'm on my way, warm pain au chocolats in the car

[SarzWix]

Bren, it sounds like you need to visit the Squires Ktchen website I did a 3 tier wedding cake for my SiL a few years ago and I would have permanently lost my marbles if I hadn't bought in a) fondant icing and b) Royal Icing powder (just add water). Squires Kitchen

Headfry - your wrist/fingers thing sounds like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it's mendable if you talk to the doc., but in the meantime, try using an ordinary electric mixer for rubbing in (the sort with 2 beaters), works just as well as a food processor

*says with smug look on face* I have marvellous upper arm strength from heaving myself round on crutches for 7 or so months

[bramble]

Hi Bren and welcome.
Don't wer grandmothers bring a lot of work on ourselves but I bet you will be so proud on your grandaughters wedding day when you see her cutting the cake.
Enjoy the day.

[janeyo]

She won't be allowed to cut it after all that effort!
lol

[Headfry]

Sarzwix, yes I have an electric whisk but never thought I could use it to rub in fats! thanks so much for that!
Carpal Tunnel ? I will ask Doc next time I visit.

[OllieMartin]

Can I also recommend the "rolling pasta dough" workout? You end up with with pumped upper arms, about 4000 ravioli, not enough space in the freezer, and wrists that thrum painfully.

Can I ALSO recommend buying a rolling pin, instead of continually using an empty bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, and then moaning about your thrumming wrists?

Thrum? Is that a new word?
I like it!

[SarzWix]

Sarzwix, yes I have an electric whisk but never thought I could use it to rub in fats! thanks so much for that!
Carpal Tunnel ? I will ask Doc next time I visit.

Yeah, it does the rubbing-in bit really well (but not so great at mixing in the water unless you have dough hooks).