Children have always known that one of the most important elements of going to school is having a great school cook. Recently in Manvel, North Dakota, the students and staff of the Manvel School honored Vicki Lofthus, their school cook. The school honored her on January 19 with a wonderful retirement and appreciation party. After 33 years behind the range, she switched out her apron for a crown and banner that was proudly presented to her for the festivities.

Recently, Jan and I were visiting Grand Forks when we overheard another couple in a restaurant visiting about the wonder of Vicki and the joyful community party that had been given for her years of whisking, stirring, rolling and have a big caring heart for the students of Manvel. Manvel is located just north of Grand Forks, and it sits on the banks of the Turtle River. I write this because Jan and I both had to ponder where Manvel is located!

In my phone visit with her, she mentioned that she was one of the first people that the children saw upon starting their school day. How many of us went to school without having breakfast? When this happened in Marvel and students came to Lofthus, she offered them something to eat. She said “I couldn’t let them start their day being hungry.” Often, she would send crackers with them, and toast was always available. Both were wonderful remedies to take off the hunger edge so that paying attention in class would be easier.

This was probably one of the reasons that part of her party included a jar full of notes from the students. I could feel her smiling when she said “one of the first things I did when I arrived home from the party was to read those notes. They were wonderful; so the next morning I read them all again and that made me feel so happy.”

Vicki had to learn to cook at a young age, because her mother was ill and not able to cook. At age 7, she stood on a chair to be in connection with the stove. Her mother was in the other room giving directions to Vicki on how to prepare the meal. It was this early training that gave her a solid foundation for cooking and also stirred in her the love of cooking and baking.

Prior to cooking at the Manvel School, Vicki worked in a few restaurants thus gaining further experience.

When asked about her favorite meal to prepare for the students, her reply was quick “Turkey tidbits with gravy and hamburger gravy–both served with mashed potatoes.” She was quick to note that mashed potatoes always pleased the students. She stated that the kids do love pizza and that they often asked for her homemade lasagna.

How would you like to make 150 caramel rolls for breakfast? This was standard fair for Vicki when she was preparing for the Honor Roll Breakfast. (I wonder if anyone has thought of this idea on national level!) Caramel rolls could be the essential inspiration for getting better grades. Her task for this baking adventure started at midnight! She explained that she would go over to the school at midnight and get 12 pans of rolls ready for in the morning. She didn’t mind doing this as she only lived two blocks from the school. Burning the midnight oil had another benefit — there was no one around to bother you!

Vicki prefers to cook by herself but quickly added tahat she appreciated all the helped that she had over the years for serving the meals. Another highlight in our conversation was when she stated that “I never had complaints from the top–they were only appreciative and supportive.”

Vicki and her sister, Bertha — from Mekinock, teamed up annually to prepare 800 cutout Christmas cookies for the Christmas concert. Stars, angels, cane canes and so forth all abound on trays for the lunch after the concert. Each cookie was frosted and decorated and Vicki mentioned that the angels were her favorite because they looked beautiful when frosted and dusted with iridescent sugar. She also favored them because their wings often broke off and that meant that she had to eat that one! Who would not appreciate a school cook who goes from casual mashed potatoes to artistic angels with no visible effort!

If you were to visit the Manvel school cafeteria on any Tuesday, you would have been treated to something with chicken–maybe chicken noodle soup or chicken and rice. On Thursday the menu was chili. Vicki favored this pattern because it made planning meals easier and diners could always count on these two constants showing on up Tuesday and Thursday.

Vicki admits that cooking for two now is difficult. One of her favorite meals to prepare at home for she and her husband, Steven, is stew. Her recipe includes a steak that is on sale and cut into pieces covered with pile of vegetables. She lets this cook and simmer until it is tender. When she bakes she takes! She often leaves baked goods with her son, Jeff, and other community members.

Vicki mentioned that serving a good meal in school was important for many students. For some, it was perhaps their main meal of the day. She has affectionate memories of making sugar cookies for the annual summer bike-a-thon. Her summers were also spent in the school kitchen preparing food for migrant school for several years.

In addition to preparing delicious meals, Vicki made many friendships and to this day students and other often greet her with a warm hug. They appreciated how she accommodated them, and she knew that students needed to be shown this valuable life lesson. Vicki’s dedication to her school cooking reminds all of us whatever we do in life–make it good!

Vicki had numerous requests for her recipes, and she has generously shared them. They are available on the Manvel School Facebook page. Featured in this column are Vicki’s “Two-For Bars.” These bars are easy and delicious!

Cream together: 2 eggs and 2 cups of sugar

Add: 2 cups of flour and 2 teaspoons baking soda

Fold in: 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ½ cup chopped nuts

Spread into a greased and floured jellyroll pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Cool and frost with a cream cheese frosting.