HUMBOLDT — Eleven 3-year-olds who attend the Growing Place preschool got a hands-on lesson in decorating cookies at Stacy Cakes, Etc. here Wednesday morning.
Stacy Mueller, who opened a combination bakery, sandwich shop and soda fountain in the old Garvey Drug Store building, 804 Bridge St., Saturday, had freshly rolled and cut sugar cookies laid out for the kids.
Amid the excitement of seeing enough sugar-laced goodies to have them bouncing wall to wall, the youngsters finally settled down enough to line either side of a low table holding the cookie cut-outs. They plastered candy bits and sparkles atop each before Mueller laid them out on a metal cookie sheet and plopped all into an oven.
She also gave the kids opportunity to experience kneading a wad of bread dough.
A couple took bites — “It won’t hurt them,” Mueller assured — and another or two jammed the dough against a wall, just to see if it would stick. Three-year-olds are inventive.
After an hour of simple tutorials from Mueller, the young visitors — rambunctious as any their age would be — traipsed back to their van to ride back to the preschool at the north edge of town.
“Aren’t they cute,” observed Jan Coykendall, who helped with the visit and had as much fun as the kids, making sure each gave her a resounding high-five when they first arrived.
BAKING IS nothing knew for Mueller, who worked at it professionally before moving to Humboldt about four years ago with her family. She embraced opportunities to practice her kitchen magic by baking bread, cakes, cookies and other pastries that became a hit each week at the Thursday-evening Farmers Market in Iola.
She also has done specialty orders, including cakes for weddings, anniversaries and birthdays.
“She’s really good at it,” observed proud granddad Wayne Smith, who also came to Allen County with the family. He was born and raised in Chanute and married a Humboldt girl, Carol Thompson, who is deceased. More recently he married Peg Griffith, long a Humboldt resident and activist.
Wayne and Peg also were on hand to help with the preschool event.
The old soda fountain — a favorite destination for generations of Humboldt youths when the store was Garvey’s — has been restored. In addition to sweets and sandwiches, customers can order sodas, shakes and several drinks to quench their thirsts.
The shop is open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
In addition to refitting the store as an eatery and baker outlet, Stacy and husband Mark remodeled the second floor for living quarters.
