Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Chocolate Applesauce Cake....recipe and photo tip

I don't know about you, but I love cake. I love cake even better when it is tasty and simple. When my in-laws came to visit on New Years Day my mother-in-law brought this delicious cake. I guess you can even say it is healthy because one of the main ingredients is applesauce...you be the judge.

Chocolate Applesauce Cake








Ingredients

2 cups flour
2 TBS cocoa
1 and 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening (we used butter)
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups unsweetened apple sauce
6 oz mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1. sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt

2. cream shortening (butter) and sugar until light and fluffy

3. add eggs one at a time and blend in vanilla

4. add dry ingredients alternating with applesauce

5. pour into a greased 9x13x2 pan

6. sprinkle with chocolate chips and walnuts (I did not add the walnuts)

7. bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes

8. Enjoy

We all loved this cake, kids and adults alike. We topped it off with a little whipped cream. Who doesn't like whipped cream? Thanks Marion for a new favorite.

Okay, my title says recipe and a photo tip. So here comes the photo tip. Jaymi at Live, Love, Travel talks about the use of a reflector and I can't agree more. Although I do not use a purchased reflector for my food shots, most of my shots are taken with a piece of white foam board near by to brighten the shot. This is where my tip comes in...Personally I like most, not all, but most photos just a touch over exposed. I like the brightness and the crisp edge of a brighter photo. How do I do that? Usually, I open a photo in Lightroom and do a quick clean up, crop, adjust lighting, sharpen, etc. If I am not happy with it I move to PSE 9, this is where I brighten up my images. I start with a sharpen/defog from Florabella and then I move on to my most used action, Simple Lighten from Paint The Moon. (I have had this action for a few years and will include the link as soon as I find it...they do have lots of fabulous actions, frames, etc). If I still need a bit more light I may add a texture, which is what I did in the post "Clementines and Roses". With that being said mouse over my images to see my before (Lightroom) and after (PSE) of each shot.

On a side note, I do not usually comment on my likes of dislikes of the photos I post. Why? Because, for now I am just a gal who likes to take pictures, everyday. However, these pictures were screaming for a little sprig of mint. I was hoping someone would drop some off at my door while I was taking these shots today....it was too much to dream that it was Summer and my garden was in bloom.

Thanks for looking!



Live, Love, Travel





post signature


Yum

21 comments:

Kristi {at} Live and Love...Out Loud said...

Oh my goodness, that looks delicious!

Grumpy Grateful Mom said...

I think your pictures look amazing! I could use a piece of that cake. And it's almost healthy. I also liked your white foam tip. My photos need some serious help!

Tricia said...

Mmmm, that looks delicious!

Seeing Each Day said...

This shot is almost too much to take - scrumptious and clever.

Pieni Lintu said...

Looks so delicious and so great shots!!!

Hannah said...

That looks amazing. Love the before and after too. Your W/B is always just perfect :)

Tara said...

YUM, YUM, YUM!! Gorgeous cake and you captured it beautifully. Great tut too!

Jaymi said...

I really love your food photography! And thanks for sharing your process. Your final edit definitely makes a difference in the overall look and feel of your photos. Great job! Thanks for sharing the recipe too!

Ashley Sisk said...

Those look so yummy!

faith ann raider said...

ooooh that looks good!! Thanks so much for linking up :)

rebecca said...

your photos are beautiful and I pinned this yummy recipe! must try ASAP! :) thanks for linking up with the simple things this week.

Gina Kleinworth said...

Oh Tiffany- you always do such a fabulous job. Not only am I drooling over the treat- but then you go & throw in a photo tip. Definitely all the things that make my day for sure! Thank you- I needed a post like this to boost my day.

Lisa said...

Oh! Yummy! Thanks for the tip, it's very interesting as I learn the ins and outs of photographing. I love the brightness too but when I scrolled over the photos the darker ones were good too.

Michelle said...

Beautiful photos...they look good enough to eat! ;) Thanks for the lighting tips.

Serendipityissweet said...

Looks amazing! I bet my kids would love this. Thanks for sharing ;)

Beautiful pics!!

Daenel T. said...

That looks nomtastic! Yum. Great pictures.

deb duty said...

Beautiful and delicious looking!

Angie said...

Yum!

And . . . GORGEOUS food images!!

And . . .

I LOVE Dave Matthews Band and the song you've chosen to play here. :)

Yvonne said...

Great photos ..good looking cake!

Mira Crisp said...

Such beautiful images! I make 30 and I am too celabrating with applesauce cake! :)

Mira
Crisp PhotoWorks

Miggy said...

cake looks SOOO yummy! wish I was a better baker...
I LOVE your table, or is it a floordrop? if so, where did you get it? I'm shopping around for something like it. thanks! =)