Cooking in the West

Every day a few minutes after we posted the daily lunch special on Facebook, the phone would ring. Caller ID would announce, "Call from Cole Drug," and we would answer the phone by saying, "Hi, Paul!" He would usually order the special, but we knew if he wasn't impressed with the special, he would order a Rustler roast beef sandwich. We would have it ready at 12:30, because it took him a couple minutes to walk from Cole Drug to the Crazy Peak Boutique. Like clockwork, he came through the door every day at 12:32 p.m. almost always with a ten and a five to pay for lunch and a tip. He never forgot his punch card to earn his tenth lunch free. We can hardly believe he is never calling again at 10:10 a.m. or coming through that door again at two minutes past 12:30 p.m.

Paul read our posts carefully and always knew the answer to our riddles or made comments about the trivia we posted. On Sage Newman day at the Boutique, he surprised us by admitting that he used to ride bareback broncs. His smile brightened every day at our store and at the drugstore down the street.

This is a cautionary tale about a wonderfully kind man who left our community bereft. Paul Ray was the pharmacist at Cole Drug in Big Timber, Montana for the past six years. He was known and loved by everyone as a selfless, sweet gentleman who was working past traditional retirement age primarily because our community needed him.

Paul succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning in his rental north of Reed Point, Montana on December 23, 2022. A generator exhaust pipe that was not secured properly in the bitter cold during a series of record cold days resulted in the build-up of lethal levels of carbon monoxide according to the Sweet Grass County Sheriff's investigation.

The tragic takeaway is that we all need to be aware of the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning and install carbon monoxide detectors in all buildings that will be inhabited by humans or animals. Sadly, Paul's landlords, Angelika and Gary Morton, who attempted to come to his rescue also succumbed to the same fate. So please in memory of Paul, a kind and gentle soul who was beloved and invaluable in our community, buy and install carbon monoxide detectors in all your living spaces.

My winter recipes this week are from a long-time faithful reader, Kathleen Hogue, who at 81 years young ranches with her 92 year old husband in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Thanks for these tried and true recipes from the prairie, Kath!

Black-Eyed Pea Chowder:

1/2 lbs. bacon, diced

2 16 oz. cans diced tomatoes

2 C. celery, chopped

2 16 oz. cans black-eyed peas

1 C. green pepper, chopped

1/2 t. thyme

1 C. onion, chopped

1/4 t. salt

10.5 oz. can beef broth

1/4 t. pepper

Saute bacon with celery, green pepper, and onion. Add all remaining ingredients, and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes before serving.

Florentine Soup:

2 large carrots, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 medium onion, diced

10 oz. bag triple washed spinach

(stemmed and torn in pieces)

1 garlic clove, minced

14 oz. can chicken broth

2 14 oz. cans vegetable broth

28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 C. apple juice

2 bay leaves

1/2 green bell pepper

1/8 t. ground cloves

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

1/2 C. uncooked couscous

Combine all ingredients and cook on high for 4 hours or low all day in a crock pot until vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves. Stir couscous into the hot soup and cook covered on high for 30 minutes before serving.

Tex-Mex Stew:

2 lbs. hamburger

14 oz can. pinto beans

14 oz. can shoepeg corn

28 oz. crushed tomatoes

14 oz. diced tomatoes

1 large onion, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

2 minced garlic cloves

1 C. hot picante sauce

2 T. olive oil

2 t. ground cumin

1 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

Brown burger. Place in a 5 quart slow cooker with all of the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with crusty bread.