Cooking in the West

Youth rodeo season is in high gear right now, and moms like Jenny Proue Gilbert are pounding down the road with their families and their horses in a horse trailer with living quarters gaining points and making memories in towns from Cohagen to Harlowton and beyond. Some of my fondest memories happened in youth rodeo arenas, so I loved this poem by Jenny about rodeo moms that I have to share this week.

Jenny and her husband, Denver, have two kids, Molly (16) and Brody (12). They run cattle on the Bar Diamond Ranch just north of Billings, Montana. Denver is also a farm/ranch real estate broker, and Jenny launched Go Rope in 2014, inspired by her dad, Don Proue, who suffered a brain injury while team roping in 2008. Jenny had originally hoped to inspire a few to never take their abilities to Go Rope (or pursue any passion) for granted. The company grew with over 80,000 social media followers and a winter store at Rancho Rio in Wickenburg, AZ. She explained, “Denver and I are most proud of our kids and love watching them play basketball and rodeo. The “Rodeo Mom” poem came from knowing so many great rodeo moms over the years and understanding all the hats they have to wear—most of which go unnoticed.”

“Rodeo Mom”

Written by Jenny Gilbert

Copyright 2023

God knew He would need someone

Someone to saddle horses, wrap steers, hold goats, and set barrels

Someone to run chutes, rake boxes, and take off ropes

Someone to hook up the trailer, pack the cooler, reserve the stalls, and handle the entries

Someone to sit in the bleachers and bask in the hot summer sun for hours on end

Someone to hose off muddy jeans and boots and hang them to dry in the trailer

Someone to recognize the signs of a colicky horse and hit a vein with banamine

Someone to teach them how to win with humility and how to lose with grace and composure

Someone to share in the thrill of their success and the agony of their defeatSomeone to teach them to love the animal first, the sport second, and to always be grateful for the opportunity to compete

Someone tough as nails, with a heart of gold, and an unconditional love for their family and this lifestyle

So God made a rodeo Mom.

Jenny was too busy as a rodeo mom to send me any recipes, but I am sure she would want me to run a recipe from her brother, Brandon Proue, who had the misfortune of becoming my teaching partner at Big Timber Elementary. I can’t take credit for acquiring his recipe though, because I have a hunch it came from his good friend, Jason Grebe of Melstone, Montana, as retaliation for a recipe of Jason’s that I ran long ago. Apparently, there is no statute of limitations on vendettas among friends, and apparently I don’t adequately research the origins of “readers’ contributions”?

Brandon Proue’s Cream Puffs:

2 pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix

2 C. heavy cream

1 C. milk

1/2 C. butter

1 C. water

1/4 t. salt

1 C. flour

4 large eggs

Mix pudding, cream, and milk well, and refrigerate until set. Bring water and butter to a rolling boil. Stir in flour and salt until the mixture forms a ball. Using a wooden spoon or stand mixture, beat eggs into the mixture one at a time. Drop by tablespoon onto a greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Bake for 25 minutes at 425 degrees. When the shells are cool, split them and fill with pudding. Top with chocolate cream puffs with chocolate frosting if desired. (You can also fill the cream puffs with whipped cream and dust tops with powdered sugar as an alternative.)

Jason Grebe’s Quiche:

6 large eggs

1 1/2 C. heavy cream

prepared pie crust

1 1/2 C. ham, bacon, shrimp, or sausage

2 C. shredded Cheddar cheese

Alpine Touch to taste

Optional add-ins such as sauteed spinach or mushrooms

Whisk eggs and cream together. Add seasoning and other ingredients. Pour into pie or quiche pan. Cover crust edges with a pie shield. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour. Test after 45 minutes and then every 5 minutes with a knife inserted in the center. If it comes out clean, the quiche is done.