Ginger cupcakes with lemon cream cheese topping...

Yep, I did some baking this weekend and here are some pictures to prove it.

I'm so domesticated!

Prior to adding topping...

With topping.... (notice one is already missing, whoops)

Oh and here is the recipe should anyone want to try making their own version:

Ingredients - Serves: 12

• 75g unsalted butter, softened
• 100g caster sugar
• 125ml treacle
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 150g plain flour
• 1 tablespoon best quality cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 125ml hot milk
• Icing: I made extra of this!
• 25g unsalted butter, softened
• 50g cream cheese, softened
• 80g sifted icing sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract

Preparation method

Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 20 mins | Extra time

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas mark 4. Butter or line a 12-cup muffin tin.
2. Cream 75g butter with the caster sugar. Add the treacle and the egg and egg 
3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and salt. Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in the hot milk. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in the hot milk mixture. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared 
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until slightly springy to the touch. Allow to cool a few minutes in the tin and remove to a rack to cool.
5. To make the icing: Cream the butter and the cream cheese together. Beat in the sifted icing sugar until fluffy. Add the lemon extract and beat. When the fairy cakes are cool, ice the tops with the icing and serve.

Only four degrees of separation, says Facebook

A recent article in One Per Cent indicates that we are only 4 degrees of separation away from any other person raising the question; Has social media made the world a smaller place?

Below is an extract but click the link in the title for the full story.

“We are all a lot closer to Kevin Bacon than we thought.

A few months ago, we reported that a Yahoo team planned to test the six degrees of separation theory on Facebook. Now, Facebook's own data team has beat them to the punch, proving that most Facebook users are only separated by four degrees."

"To test the six degrees theory, the Facebook researchers systematically tested how many friend connections they needed to link any two users. Globally, they found a sharp peak at five hops, meaning that most pairs of Facebook users could be connected through four intermediate people also on Facebook (92 per cent). Paths were even shorter within a single country, typically involving only three other people, even in large countries such as the US."

Some TV shows to watch out for...

Ringer - Watch on line or on Sky Living - 4.5 stars out of 5 from me

I'm loving this series.  I'm currently up to series 1 episode 9 and totally addicted.  There are so many twists and turns in the storyline it's impossible to predict what's going to happen.

The story is based around Bridget, a bit of a loser/drug addict who witnessed a murder and is now on the run from having to give evidence against a mob leader.  Bridget has a twin sister, Siobhan, who she runs to for help.  From here the story unfolds.

The acting is solid, not fantastic (it is Sarah Michelle Gellar after all) and the production is good.

I can definitely recommend watching this (unless you don't want to get into yet another show that you have to watch week in, week out without fail!)

Revenge - Watch on line as only showing in the US on ABC currently - 4.5 stars from me

I only found this series yesterday so I'm only up to series 1 episode 3, however, I'm really enjoying it.  Much like Ringer, the plot is full of twists and turns as the viewer follows the story of Amanda/Emily and her quest for revenge on the residents of New York states, Hamptons after they individually played roles in the downfall of her late father.

I would definitely recommend this show so far.  It's also quite addictive watching.  You have been warned!

More movies I've seen recently...

The Resident - 91 mins - 3 out of 5 stars

Hilary Swank plays an ER doctor who has recently broken up from her long term boyfriend and moves into a "too good to be true" apartment in New York.

It's too good to be true because Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character is a mentalist, and her landlord.

The storyline has a lot of potential but as usual in this kind of movie, the lead female makes endless amounts of stupid decisions and you find yourself rolling your eyes at her stupidity.  For example, when being chased by a psycho do you a) run for nearest exit or b) wedge yourself into the smallest crawl space possible so he can drag you back out by your feet?

This genre just isn't for me I guess.  As good as any movie in the obvious thriller genre can be.

Up in the Air - 109 mins - 3.5 stars from me

It's a George Clooney movie.

Considering one website I came across named this the number 1 movie of 2009, I was expecting it to be a lot better.

The storyline isn't bad, the acting is okay, but all in all I would rate this movie as just above average, at best.

The Change Up - 112 mins - 4 out of 5 stars

This movie is stupid.  I LOVED IT!

Admittedly I have a weak spot for Jason Bateman (I'm yet to see him do anything bad) but I found this film really entertaining.

If you have kids, you can relate.  If you know people who have kids, you can relate.  The storyline is adventurous but it works.  I definitely recommend finding the time to see this movie, even if it's just once it comes out on DVD.

My baby bourgie

It's alive! (and has new leaves!). I'm so proud. First time I've ever taken a cutting of any plant, and it hasn't died!
Even more impressed at the time it has taken to grow new leaves, only around 2 months (if that!)