The Tiny Series at String + Salt

After a weekend of foodie fun doing an Instagram takeover for Warragul Farmers Market (you can check out what we got up to over here), we thought we’d continue our gastronomic adventures with a little baking class at String + Salt on Monday morning…

Eleanor perched herself up alongside a few other little chefs to make some cupcakes with the ever patient Natasha, who nailed it when saying better they practice cracking eggs and sifting flour in the String + Salt kitchen than ours! Cooking with Eleanor is generally a battle of wills – mummy trying to walk that blurry line of letting her have enough ‘freedom of expression’ and having some semblance of control and order in the kitchen. Deep breaths and gritted teeth abound. She’s always so eager to help though, and so pleased with herself, bless her little cotton socks.

So, flour was sifted, vanilla added and spatulas enthusiastically stirred our cupcake batter together. Into the oven they went, while mummies and little ladies enjoyed some tea and hot chocolates…

Then obviously came the best part: decorating! Natasha had baked some chocolate cupcakes earlier, which were cooled and ready to get creative with – sprinkles, cachous, violas and butterflies were all a hit. We mixed together some buttercream icing to pipe on too, with the general consensus from the mini-chef’s that it should be coloured ‘greeeeeen’.

Little activities like this I’m trying to make a conscious effort to do with Eleanor lately. Since Harriet was born we haven’t done much in the way of extra-curricular (which is fine) but now Harriet is generally a happy little clam it’s becoming easier. Although on Monday she wasn’t crawling yet and sat happily on a blanket upstairs at String + Salt pulling all manner of things out of mummy’s bag…then guess who came home and started crawling Monday afternoon!

As we’re hurtling towards the kinder years, with a growing Blossom often bouncing off the walls and learning so much so fast, I’ve thought she needs something ‘more’. We used to do swimming lessons, and have recently started gymnastics, a little cooking class was just what the doctor ordered to break up our week. I’m reminded a lot as Eleanor grows that when Harriet is her age I’m not sure I’ll be doing the same sorts of things with her, each child has their place and seasons and all that, ages and stages. I now know I completely took for granted only having one child to get in and out of the car!

I stopped counting how many of those hard boiled lollies Eleanor inhaled! Oh dear. Such a fun morning in one of our favourite local retail spaces, Eleanor came home proud as punch with her cupcakes to share with Daddy, and I think Natasha has inspired me to pipe more icing…and maybe let Eleanor sift the flour and crack the eggs.

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String + Salt are holding a series of children’s cooking classes, The Tiny Series.
You can try your hand (and little hands) at sushi, doughnuts, pikelets, pasta or spring rolls and Malaysian delicious desserts.
Classes are aimed at 3-5 year olds and are $38 each.