Skip to main content

Countdown to Christmas 11 - What to do with Leftover Cake?

I never have this problem - I never have uneaten fruitcake. Having discovered there is quite a large percentage of the world's population who hate fruitcake, I have also discovered so many suggestions of what to do with fruitcake leftover after Christmas, not only leftover cake, but uncut cake! Of the many lists, I think the most popular use for a whole fruitcake is to use it as a doorstop. This image suggests that it might have been preserved, with a coat of lacquer?  
Other popular suggestions are: 
- paper weight
- holder for the Christmas tree 
- boat anchor 
- stand on the cake to change a light bulb 
- book ends in the library 
- weight for a camping tent 
- building material 
- speed bump 
- instead of a jack when changing a car tyre 
- step for gym class 
- ballast for a hot air balloon 
- airliner or caravan wheel blocks 
- target practice 
 My favourite three uses for fruitcake, other than eating it of course, are : 
1. You probably need two cakes, one for each hand as weights while working out at the gym or power walking.  Not a bad idea - hand weights with a built -in snack to maintain energy levels! 

2. Floral arrangements with a fruitcake base? When you think about it, two gifts in one - flowers and cake! Practical too - the cake's texture would allow flowers to be arranged easily and would offer stability. 
3. Now this idea is way out there - When you don;t want to share a bus or train seat with a stranger and you don't feel like making polite conversation, dress up your fruitcake, place it on the seat next to you, and begin an in depth discussion, rather a monologue with your friend, the fruitcake. This is guaranteed to chase other people away or at least they will look strangely at you and give you a wide berth. 
I would love to hear of unusual uses for Christmas fruitcake  - just leave me your ideas in the comments section, please 
Tomorrow - let's have a look at fruitcake inspired fashion. 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Too Precious to Waste

 Stitched tea bags/ old doily "tea lights" - Wilma Simmons  More than a year ago, a decision was made.  The annual exhibition of NCEATA ( Newcastle Creative Embroiderers and Textile Artists) 2015-2016 will have the theme "Mottainai". Mottainai in Japanese refers to more than just physical waste (resources). It is even used to refer to thought patterns that give rise to wasteful action. Grammatically, it can be used in Japanese as an exclamation ("mottainai!") or as an adjective phrase ("it feels mottainai"). There is no plural form. The collection of mottainai things could be called mottainai koto ( もったいない事 ? ). As an exclamation ("mottainai!") it means roughly "what a waste!" or "Don't waste." [2]  A simple English equivalent is the saying "waste not, want not." A more elaborate meaning conveys a sense of value and worthiness and may be translated as "do not destroy (or lay waste to) that

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks ....  The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and  message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or  my husband or from off cuts gifted to us  from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks.   Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt  or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as wrapping str

Wednesday's Child /2

Work in Progress - 3 of the 193 for "Stitched Up"- Wilma Simmons   The work for the "Stitched Up " Project  continues. See the previous "Wednesday Child" post for the background to this art project celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Newcastle Industrial School. I have been documenting the progress of my work, so I thought it might be interesting to share some of the early stages of the "stick dolls" ... Here are some of the beginning steps.. Sticks collected while walking the bushland in my neighbourhood  Drying and getting rid of any insects - oven heat 75 degreesC for approx 1-2 hours.  Trimmed and cut if necessary  Ends sealed with matte sealing solution.  Drying  - solution goes on white but dries clear.  First wrapping - foil to create a body shape  Second wrapping - stretch fabric.  Third wrapping - fabric strips  Some stitching - more stitching and embellishment to come.  Follow thi