Saturday, August 6, 2011

Donut Photo Shoot

Hello all!

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I must confess I felt quite uninspired this week. Well, no, that's not true. I felt inspired to try out BrownEyedBaker's Salted Caramel Brownies...which, when attempted by yours truly, were then aptly renamed Disappointing Burnt Butter Brownies >_< . Not good my friends, not good.

To add to my frustrations, I received yet another photo reject from FoodGawker (FG). I have been trying feverishly to get just one of my photos from my posts up on there, unfortunately to no avail. My composition is always too tight or my lighting is off. Rawr I say. I've seen plenty on that site with tighter compositions than mine.

So what is a girl to do? I go and check out some of my favorite baking blogs, and I just start to daydream about having oh, I don't know, 500 followers? Having a whole gallery on FG? Having recipes that other bakers drool over?

Alas, it is not to be. Well, not yet anyway. I know it takes time, but seriously, it can get frustrating. All of you out there who are like me, trying to gain a following either here on Blogger, or with FoodBuzz or FG, with no success, you know what I mean. It gets better though; I think. I hope.

After telling myself to pull it together, I decided that I would do a post that gives me some more practice with my food-styling. Although I am a writer, the photo-taking aspect of blogging is still new for me, which sort of explains the rejections from FG.


So the new motto for me (and my blog) is practice! practice! practice! Failure is not bad; it just means I learned a whole new way not to do something.

And what else should I dedicate an entire photo shoot to but one of my favorite little treats - mini donuts!


There's a recipe via PinchofYum at the end of the post after the photos. Hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoyed decorating and photographing! Enjoy!












Vanilla Mini Donuts with Chocolate Frosting (Slightly adapted from Pinch of Yum)

1 1/4 cups cake flour, sifted
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 beaten egg
1 1/2 tbsp melted butter

1. Sift together cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
2. Add vanilla, buttermilk, egg and melted butter all at once and stir until just combined.
3. Bake 4-6 minutes in Donut Maker. Let cool then dip in Chocolate Frosting.

Chocolate Frosting Via Food.com


1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
4-6 tbsp hot water
4 oz milk chocolate chips

1. Melt butter and chocolate chips in 15 second intervals in microwave.
2. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla.
3. Add enough hot water to achieve smooth consistency.

5 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your struggles as a food blogger. I understand, it is definitly tough sometimes when there is rejection, but you are right...just keep on trying and eventually you will have a success :)

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  2. I feel your pain. I haven't even attempted messing with foodgawker just for lack of wanting to bring myself to that obsessive state of no turning back. I was just thinking about making the same exact brownies.... but I made marshmallows instead lol. I wasn't feeling all the fuss for the brownie. I always think one day I may have more followers maybe I'll frequent the top 9 on foodbuzz like some do almost daily. Maybe one day I'll figure out the lighting in my house and it won't drive me crazy that it always seems to dark and how is one suppose to take a picture of dinner when it's dark! UGH! Your donuts however look yummy and I would eat all of them with coffee and not think twice about all the things that make me crazy. :)

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  3. BTW I've joined your site so there now you have 1 new follower :)

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  4. Sarah Catherine: thanks for the comment and the positive feedback :D

    S.V. Thanks so much for sharing your struggles as well and the follow!! It means alot <3

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  5. SO CUTE. These donuts looks delicious and adorable!

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