What do 2 BP principals have in common?

Since the grilling season is upon us, The Times decided to contact our two Blooming Prairie School District principals who have declared a shared interest in grilling and cooking.

The Times recently interviewed Blooming Prairie High School Principal John Worke and Blooming Prairie Elementary School Principal Jacob Schwarz and visited about food.

The principals' food interests are revealed in two separate stories. Both are linked, not only by their educational responsibilities, but by food.

Find out what foods they like to prepare and learn what foods they like to eat.

BON APPETIT!

Big Part of Life

"There's nothing better than a perfectly grilled steak," says Principal John Worke.

Just the thought of putting a nice piece of meat on the grill activates Worke's taste buds and makes him forget for just a moment, the sound of a school bell ringing and sounding a change in classes.

Worke, a BPHS graduate, said food serves as a stress reliever for him. "It's a weekend away for me," he added.

Sharing recipes

Worke and BP Elementary Principal Jacob Schwarz have many shared interests and food is the main one. "We often call one another up and share a new recipe we recently tried," Worke said.

Worke picked up his interest in food preparation from his mother, Eleanor. She worked many years preparing food at the BP Servicemen's Club. "She always got me involved in planning holiday meals," Worke said.

"Food has always been part of my life and it's due to my mom sharing her cooking talents," he says.

After stoking up the barbecue grill, Worke said he throws on hamburgers, hot dogs and brats. Pork tenderloins and steaks are also his choices for food gratification. Worke also loves grilled vegetables.

The barbecue grills are in active use the year round at the Worke residence in Blooming Prairie, said Worke. He recently purchased a Blackstone skillet grill upon the recommendation of fellow grilling enthusiast, Mr. Schwarz.

"The grill is great for fixing bacon pieces and hash browns," Worke says.

An interest in cooking/grilling began with Worke when he was in the upper elementary grades.

Worke said that he cooks for just Mary and him when the kids are away. He acknowledged that Schwarz' interests may be totally different because he cooks for a family of six. "We share photos of some of our creations," Worke confessed.

The keto diet

Cooking has changed for Worke because he has chosen to follow the keto diet. This diet emphasizes low sugar, low carbohydrates and lots of protein. He started the diet 1½ years ago and has lost 30 pounds during that time.

Since Schwarz is not on the keto diet, Worke shares some of his keto recipes. He says he has found a keto pizza crust that is outstanding.

The ingredients call for two cups of Mozzarella cheese and one cup of almond flour. Worke then adds a low sugar, low carb pizza sauce. Other ingredients may then include olives, onions, sausage, bacon and pepperoni.

"Jake and I bounce recipes off one another. He makes a heart attack macaroni and cheese,” Worke said.

Worke said going on the keto diet requires a change in mentality.

With this diet, he says he eats no bread and consumes very little sugar. No pasta is allowed. "That was part of my life," he admits.

"I can eat lots of dry roasted peanuts and also lots of fruits: raspberries, blackberries and blueberries."

Worke has learned how to make low carb tortilla chips. Sometimes, he adds cinnamon sugar and whipped cream. "Ooooh yummy," Schwarz comments when talking on the cell phone with Worke.

Family Meals

Worke is responsible for preparing the family's Thanksgiving meal.

It includes the customary mashed potatoes, turkey and ham. His Thanksgiving meal also includes escalloped corn (with noodles) and the famous John Worke sauerkraut, drizzled with bacon grease.

Thanksgiving is Worke's favorite holiday meal, he said. At Christmas, he often features prime rib. "On Easter, we go to a buffet," he said.

Worke's heritage is Norwegian and Bohemian. Jokingly, Worke said his parents never got along because of their strong, opposing heritages.

Schwarz and Worke not only share ideas and photos, they share restaurant ideas and share prices of foods.

Worke follows a couple of cooking shows with his favorite being The Kitchen. He also likes watching Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

The Worke family members all have gotten into cooking. He said Mary focuses on desserts.

Habits Change

"It's interesting how your eating habits can change," Worke remarks. He says he eats no apples or bananas and watches which vegetables he can have.

"Food is not the center of life like it used to be," Worke acknowledges.

"Well, it's time to turn the steak," Worke says to himself as he 

walks the halls of Blooming Prairie High School.

John Worke’s Sauerkraut Soup

This recipe was handed down by Worke's grandmother to his mother and then to John.

Sauerkraut Soup

            •          Cover a pork roast with water and boil it all day

            •          Skim off foam periodically

            •          Strain pork juice water and return to pan – remove pork roast

            •          Add our sauerkraut along with flour/milk mixture with shaker to thicken

            •          Get it to boiling point then add 1 scrambled egg/person, usually 5 or 6

            •          Trim roast shred/cut into pieces add to soup – simmer

            •          Serve over boiled baby red potatoes with a dab of butter

Schwarz: Food brings us together

Blooming Prairie Elementary Principal Jacob Schwarz has a simple philosophy of life.

"I like to eat," says Schwarz.

When he is not meeting with his students in the classroom, Schwarz is thinking about what he can fix for supper for his wife Pam and his children, Claire, Andrew, Joseph and Elaine.

Schwarz has served the Blooming Prairie School District the past three years as its elementary principal.

During his breaks (if he gets any), Schwarz may dial up Blooming Prairie High School Principal John Worke and share with him a new recipe he has tried.

Schwarz and Worke love to compare notes on new recipes, pricing of food and new barbecue equipment. It was Schwarz who talked Worke and associate principal Ali Mach into buying a new type of grill, the Blackstone skillet.

Special food days

Schwarz's interest in cooking is further enhanced when his school has special food days. Potlucks are organized at least once a week. Special food days in the past have included "Appy Easter," "Souper Bowl" and "St. Patrick's Day."

"I'm more of a cooker and griller,” says Schwarz, adding he has several grills and skillets.

He says he loves to try new recipes given to him by family and friends. Throwing a compliment toward Worke, Schwarz said, "Try John Worke's dynamite, home-made sauerkraut."

Proud to be a full-blooded German, Schwarz grew up on a farm near Preston. His family farmed "a couple thousand acres" and had beef cows. His wife Pam is three quarters Norwegian, thus he does like lefse. Lutefisk? "Oh no," says Schwarz.

Without any hesitation, Schwarz says his mother is his mentor. He said he developed a fondness for the basics from his mother Debbie. "She is an unsung hero in my books," said Schwarz, flashing a wide smile.

"I like to eat but it has to be good food," Schwarz. He puts that label on beef roast, mashed potatoes, hamburger and hot dishes. Schwarz says he has a wok and loves to prepare vegetables.

Even though Schwarz and Worke touch base about new cooking ideas, their preferences are wide ranged. Worke follows the keto diet and Schwarz is more family food directed. "I try to cook for the family," he says.

Practices self discipline

Cooking has enabled Schwarz to practice some self discipline. "I try to keep up my figure, though," he laughs.

"I like salty type foods including pickles and Mr. Worke's sauerkraut. He also likes to grill brats, burgers and chicken legs.

Schwarz said his comfort level is reached when he sits down to eat some juicy sweet corn and a tasty pork burger.

Schwarz started a new tradition this past spring by getting into maple syruping. It has become a family tradition, he says. He taps trees on his hobby farm.

With help from his mom, Schwarz said he learned how to prepare a good meal. He also pays compliments to area food stores, including Geneva Meats, Nick's of Hayward and Steve's Meats of Ellendale.

A stress reliever

Schwarz agrees with Worke in saying that cooking and grilling are stress relievers.

In addition to liking to cook and grill, Schwarz loves his job, which allows him to work closely with staff and students.

A major role Schwarz feels he has is to make students better students and to help teachers become better teachers. He also is striving to become a better cook/griller.

What's for supper?