A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky to get together one night with a few local food bloggers and a few photographers so that we could all share secrets. We all brought food to set up and photograph, and then when we were done, we ate it all!
It was a great opportunity to meet a handful of food bloggers, since up to this point, I think I’ve only met one or two. It’s amazing how many are around me and I didn’t even know! One of the photographers that was there acted as a food stylist for us, since most of us said that the food styling is the most difficult part. We got to play with some studio lighting, and I was so happy to learn more about my external flash. It was a great night – I learned a lot and loved meeting some great people!
Here are a few pictures of other people’s food that I was able to photograph. And everyone’s food tasted great!
For the event, I made this Streusel Spice Cake. It was a very pretty cake, and I loved how it tasted as well. In fact, I had about half of it left, and my husband was a very happy man. I almost didn’t get anymore because he was trying to keep it all for himself! And it’s made even easier because it uses a boxed cake mix. But it tastes completely homemade!
from Pillsbury Best of the Bakeoff
Serves 16
Cake
1 pkg. pudding-included yellow cake mix
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, softened
5 eggs
1/4 cup coconut
1/4 cup chopped nuts
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted
Filling
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 10-inch tube or 12-cup fluted tube cake pan. In large bowl, combine cake mix, 3/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup margarine and eggs; beat at low speed until moistened. Beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in 1/4 cup coconut and 1/4 cup nuts. With spoon, marble chocolate through batter. Pour half of batter (about 2 cups) into greased and floured pan.
In small bowl, combine all filling ingredients; reserve 1/2 cup filling. Sprinkle remaining filling over batter in pan. Cover with remaining batter; sprinkle with 1/2 cup reserved filling.
Bake at 350°F. for 55 to 70 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool upright in pan 30 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled.
In small bowl, blend all glaze ingredients until smooth, adding enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cake.
Alexis says
Instead of using coconut what else could you use?
Deborah says
@Alexis, I’m not sure if there really is a substitute. You could try just leaving it out, but I’m not sure how it would turn out.
Ingrid says
Love when something so yummy as that is almost as easy as opening a box.
~ingrid
Chocolate Shavings says
That spice looks good!
grace says
semi-homemade and superb streusel spice cake. that's what you've made here. it's splendid. scrumptious. stellar. 🙂
Miss Meat and Potatoes says
Those Pillsbury bake off recipes are hard to beat. This looks delightful!
teresa says
beautiful pictures! i've been really wanting to get together with fellow food bloggers too! the food looks amazing!
The Double Dipped Life says
Sounds like a fun night! I would love to meet other UT bloggers sometime! This cake also looks divine!
Cassie says
That sounds amazing! I don't care if Joe hates coconut, I am totally making this. I'll just eat it all all by myself.
Barbara Bakes says
Such a great picture of your yummy cake! So glad I was finally able to meet you.
Bellini Valli says
I must confess to baking cakes mostly from a box…except for my olive oil cake which never fails me. Your photos turned out amazing by the way.
Barbara says
What a fun day! I would love to learn more about food styling. I am so unimaginative!
Your photos are wonderful! And that streusel cake looks delish.
Pam says
Fabulous presentations! Your photos are excellent!!! It sounds like you had a good time and the cake looks delicious!
SLCFoodie says
I verify that this tasted just as amazing as it looks!
Joanne says
Your get-together sounds like so much fun! I would love to learn more about food photography…I feel like that's my weakest point as a blogger. this cake and all of your photos of it looks amazing. I can see why your husband coveted it.
Holly says
This looks so yummy!:)
The Peppered Pantry~
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
I love streusel and spices. What a gorgeous cake, yummy!
Cheers,
Rosa
Valerie says
What a fun and helpul time together. That cake looks way too good, especially knowing there are nuts and coconut in it.
Maria says
All of the photos are fabulous! It was a fun night. Hopefully we can get together again. Your cake was very delicious, I am glad I was able to have a taste:)