Where did my infant go?

Baking Aerobics

I got a wild hair last night to do some baking. It has been 18 degrees or colder all week so cabin fever had a great deal to do with my urge to do something constructive. That and the fact that I have to let my Labrador drink water inside the house, thus leaving small ponds everywhere for my bare feet to find...that alone is enough to drive you to look for "outlets" for frustration.

Just the act of baking is not the "wild hair" aspect of my tale, since I bake all the time. No, last night I decided it would be fun to bake cupcakes and banana bread without the use of a hand or my big stand mixer. I was primarily inspired to do this because I had read a little Facebook spam story about the ruggedness of generations past. And being a good rural Southern girl I did not want to be outdone in the ruggedness category, so I grabbed my trusted wooden spoon and got to work.

Actually, for the cupcakes I whipped out the trusted whisk and got to work. It did not take me very long to realize how much I missed my electric mixer, how weak my arms really are, and how I may not be as rugged as I thought.

With the cupcakes in the oven it was time to start the banana bread. With wooden spoon in hand I began to cream the butter and then incorporate the sugar.  By the time I was ready to add the first egg it was time to shake the cramps out of my hand and make a whirlybird motion with my arm to get the blood flowing again. Once I got the eggs beat in and it was time to add the flour, what started out as numbness in my arm/hand became pain.

It gets better... I'm standing at the counter with my 5-year-old and we are frosting cupcakes when I start sweating and wonder why it is so hot in the kitchen.  I look down, see that the oven is on and I scold myself for not turning it off.  Thirty minutes later the oven timer goes off to remind me to check on the banana bread. I open the oven to find it very undone and the oven only slightly warm. Then I remembered that I turned the oven off earlier while in the throws of creating frosting art (and having to vacuum up a bottle of nonpareils that my child thought would be easier to pour if she removed that pesky shaker cap).

Last night I developed a whole new appreciation for my grandmother and the miracle of electric appliances.  I also came face to face with just how out of shape I am, how forgetful I'm becoming, and how I will never again buy nonpareils no matter how decorative or cute.

I'm totally going to count last night as aerobic exercise. That way I don't feel so guilty for turning to the cupcakes for soothing comfort after a long night of baking.