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Tuesday 11 October 2011

My Inspiration Has Got Up and GONE!!!

Hi my little bloggy friends.  Where have I been, you might ask yourself.  Well, I have been searching the inner recesses of my tiny little brain, desperately seeking some inspiration for an entertaining blog post!  Did I find anything lurking in those dark corners? I DID NOT!

In desperation, and as it will soon be Halloween and pumpkins are starting to appear in the shops, I thought I would share a recipe with you.  Now my daughters would tell you that if I'm mentioning the word recipe, then things really must be desperate!

PUMPKIN  AND GINGER CUPCAKES

Preparation Time : 10 Minutes.
Cooking Time : 25 Minutes.
Makes : 20

200g/7oz unsalted butter, softened.
175f/6oz unrefined light muscovado sugar.
2 large eggs
85g/3oz stem ginger in syrup
250g/9oz pumpkin, grated
200g/7oz plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
l and a half tsp allspice
1 and a half tsp ground ginger
quarter teaspoon ground clove
quarter teaspoon ground nutmeg

Icing

125g/4 and  a half ounces unsalted butter
A splash of Milk
125g/4 and a half oz full-fat cream cheese
225g/8oz icing sugar

1.  Preheat the oven to 190c/fan 170c/gas mark 5.  Line a muffin tin with cupcake or muffin cases.
Grate or finely chop the ginger.

2. Cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy in appearance.  Beat the eggs in one at a time.  Add the stem ginger and the pumpkin to the mixture and stir until evenly blended.

3.  Sift in the flour, baking powder and the spices.  Fill the cupcake or muffin cases three quarters full with the mixture.

4.  Bake for 25 minutes or until firm to the touch.  Take out of the oven and transfer on to a cooling rack.  When the cakes are nearly cool, start making the icing.

5.  Cream together the butter, splash of milk and cream cheese.  Once blended, add the icing sugar and whisk together till smooth.  If you prefer a thicker icing, add more icing sugar.

6.  Spread some of the icing on top of your cupcakes using a spoon, or fill a piping bag and pipe a pretty swirl.  Top your cupcakes with sliced stem ginger, crystallised ginger, a sprinkling of cinnamon or anything else that you fancy.

These cupcakes are very moist and have a light, almost melt-in-the-mouth texture, and you'll find them difficult to leave alone!  The pumpkin makes them perfect for an autumn treat.

ENJOY!




28 comments:

Chatty Crone said...

I think that was a great post. We are looking for recipes just like that this time of year and they looked delish. I never thought of putting ginger in with the pumpkin cupcakes. Sounds wonderful. Thanks.

sandie

Shady Del Knight said...

Dear Thisisme, whenever you're in doubt about what to present on your blog just show us those legs! (LOL) I love pumpkin pie and this is the season for it. From what I've read pumpkin is good for you. It's the sugar that you body could do without. I hope you are well and that your week is going well. It won't be long before you and your grands are petting Sir Alfred again!

Gawgus things... said...

Oooh, can't wait to sample these when I'm over - not!!!Ha, ha! I'm sure they would come out perfectly :)

PencilGirl said...

Wow! Those look Yummy!! I'm now craving for cake!! :D :D :D
It's been a while since I could check out your blog, and I've missed it.. But I'll be back soon.. :) :)
Hugs!

Pearson Report said...

Dear Thisisme,

As you know, over at my place, I'm forever pressing the pause button and taking little detours en route to posting...you are entitled to not post - and sometimes it's the recipe for posting.

If it's sunny and there are still flowers in the garden, than go...enjoy, have a long relaxing walk and breath in the air - and don't give this little part of your world a second thought - inspiration will come, it always does after a nice long walk.

Hugs and Happy Thoughts are coming your way.
Jenny

PS - those cupcakes look divine!

rainbow said...

I love collecting recipes and giving them a try and this is FUNNY for a Non-Cook. But this is life for me, if I could cook 4 times a year (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Easter) I would be happy. You see I really do LOVE to eat but Burger King, McDonald's and Wendy's get really old after a wile. What is a Non-Cook suppose to do? LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AND EVEN BETTER WEEKEND.

rainbow (Momma Lyn)

Teresa said...

those sound delish! i love pumpkin in just about every dessert form. hehehe!

we all have our dry spells. mine has been quite a while now. so, take your time and the inspiration will hit you.

until then, rest or post good recipes. lol!

Anonymous said...

Yum! They look delish - will definitely have to try this recipe out ... :0)

BB said...

I'm afraid I'm not a fan of pumpkin and ginger at all (I'm being kind). However, I'm sure that these are great for those that do love tastes. I'm a plain old chocolate cake / cupcake kind of gal. Hugs to you my awesome friend!

Southhamsdarling said...

Chatty - Thank you! I love ginger with anything really. If you do try making them, it will be interesting to see what you think.

Shady - I think my legs will be staying hidden again for the next few years. Hee Hee! You're right, it is the sugar that's the problem, but I am so easily tempted I'm afraid. No willpower, that's my problem! Yes, I am really looking forward to the family coming home again.

Gawgus - oh, very funny! Eleanor and I will just have to eat them all ourselves then!!

PencilGirl - yes, they do look scrummy, don't they?! Please do not worry about visiting me. Just pop over as and when you can!

Pearson Report - you're right of course. I should just turn off from the blogging and I'm sure inspiration will pop along when I least expect it. Trouble is, I start to panic if I haven't posted for a few days!

rainbow - that's funny, because I'm just the same. I collect all these wonderful recipes, and I'm a non cook as well! :( I shall be trying these out though. Blessings to you and your family.

Teresa - thank you! Yes, I must not start worrying about not posting for a little while. I think when you do that, your mind really does go a complete blank! Well, my mind is usually a complete blank anyway! LOL!

Shirl - hi there. Lovely to see you! You'll have to let me know what you think of them!

Southhamsdarling said...

Bouncin'Barb - hee hee! I'll have to have a lovely double chocolate cake all baked and ready for you when you visit then! Hugs.

SkippyMom said...

If my family didn't get up to hijinks I wouldn't have anything to write about. heehee - but recipes are always good, especially ones that look as delicious as these. How seasonal!

I [we] have to make something for the band kids this weekend and I think these might be a pretty good idea. Thanks This!

Southhamsdarling said...

Skippy - hi there. Yes, your family give you lots of content for your blog, don't they?! Hee Hee! Yes, I thought it was a very seasonal recipe and that's why I posted it.

Anonymous said...

These cupcakes looks delicious! Thank you for sharing that recipe :-) I like ginger.
Hope you're having a good evening over there!
Hugs x

Rebecca said...

YUM!! these sound amazing will have to try them

Belle said...

I love pumpkin anything! They look delicious. I just bought a pumpkin pie for hubby today!

Sush said...

I had to laugh at the mention of your daughters knowing you were desperate if you use the word recipe! Too funny and sounds like it could have come from my kids regards to moi! The recipe does sound divine and may be one of the first ones I use in the new oven.

if i really use the thing...

Whatever the inspiration it was a lovely posting and I have that problem off and on myself...
Hugs~

Southhamsdarling said...

Eva - the recipe does sound good, doesn't it, and I love cupcakes! Just catching up with my blog reading and listening to my lovely relaxing CD!! x

Becca - thank you. Hope you like them if you give the recipe a go.

Belle - I love pumpkin as well, including pumpkin soup. Hope hubby enjoys his pumpkin pie!! Hugs .

Sush - Glad it made you smile. I'm not really a cooking person (!). You'll have no excuses once you have your lovely new oven!! Hugs.

Shelly said...

You still have a terrific post! That recipe looks very tasty. I think I might give it a whirl this weekend- thanks for sharing!

Southhamsdarling said...

Shelly - thank you! Hope they turn out alright!

Desiree said...

Yum, yum, yum! One complaint! I think it's very unfair to give us just a picture and not a taste...don't tell me I am meant to bake them myself! I'm far too idle for that!

Southhamsdarling said...

Desiree - your comment did make me smile! I'll bake one specially for you if you pop over for a visit! Hugs x

orchid0324 said...

Hi, Dear lady.
Sure looks SO DELICIOUS♬♬♬
I wish I could be invited for your English tea-time someday.

Oh, you always makes us enjoy with your wonderful inspiration, my lady♪ I am sorry but I SO loved your phrase "I have been searching the inner recesses of my tiny little brain," Lovely expression for me, thank you very much.
Big hugs to you, Orchid*

Southhamsdarling said...

Orchid - hallo my dear little friend. Always lovely to see you here and to read your lovely, sweet comments. I'm glad you liked that phrase that I used. Hee Hee!! Do hope that all is well with you and hubby. Hugs and blessings from West to East!

Darlene said...

These cupcakes look so delicious...especially that creamy icing on top! There must be something in the air. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who feels like my inspiration has up and left!

Southhamsdarling said...

Darlene - yes, those cupcakes certainly do look scrummy. Yes, sometimes it is hard to come up with a topic for blog posts, isn't it?! Oh well, we'll just have to keep on trying!

Empty Nester said...

Oh my, these look delightful! I love pumpkin and autumn and CUPCAKES!!! And ICING!!! LOL

Southhamsdarling said...

Empty Nester - Hi Pam. Those cupcakes do look rather scrummy,don't they - BUT, no good for you! You don't want to undo all that hard work. Hee Hee!