Cooking in the West

Julie Kinsey was one of my teaching colleagues for 25 of the 30 years she taught at Big Timber Grade School. She and her husband Don were known for raising Columbia sheep on their place north of Big Timber, Montana. Julie lost her second battle with cancer on April 25, 2024. She was a good friend, remarkable teacher, and she loved to card, spin, and knit fleeces from their flock into beautiful creations. One of her many community services was knitting soft hats for cancer victims. This is my tribute to Julie Kohnke Kinsey.

Forever in Our Hearts

- by Susan Metcalf

Julie Kohnke was born the eldest child of Louis and Dorothy.

As big sister to Keith and Gary she was destined a leader to be.

She chose to be an educator just like her mom and dad.

And to honor the lifelong passion for learning that she had.

She left Powell for Eastern Montana College to get a degree,

And that was where she met her handsome prince, Don Kinsey.

He asked to borrow a textbook, but instead he stole her heart,

And they began a life adventure until death did she depart.

They headed north to teach in Alaska in a '65 Mustang on the Alcan.

They taught in Anchorage before adventure called, and off they ran

To teach Aleut and Yupik children in Aleknagik and Togiak.

Then Lee and Rachel were born, and for love they dd not lack.

But longing for home brought them back to Big Timber in 1975.

Where they could teach and ranch and watch their children thrive.

Each night with a view of the Crazies they would sleep.

Julie so loved to spin and knit wool from their Columbia sheep.

In her BTGS classroom filled with cheer, Julie taught, year after year

Her heart was kind, her spirit bright, filling her students' eyes with light.

She instilled a love of reading in every child so that they too could find

The keys to learning and creating a world of wonder in each young mind.

Her students knew she loved them and that she really cared.

She guided with a gentle hand in every lesson that she shared.

She taught them to believe their dreams could take flight.

She truly was a sincere and inspirational guiding light.

The year that Julie returned to Alaska to teach was a dreadfully silent year.

We so missed Julie's unmistakable laugh that filled the halls with cheer.

She was a staff leader with fun ideas and positivity that kept morale high.

She hosted the only staff party so fun an ambulance had to stop by.

When Lee married Abby, and Libby came along, it fulfilled her Grandma's heart.

Family meant everything to Julie, and in all their lives she was an integral part.

After 30 years she decided to retire from teaching and focus on community.

She worked tirelessly at the Food Bank, but it was Find A Grave that was her baby.

Every summer she took a trip with her cousins Arlene, Jane, Nancy, and Sue.

They went places like San Francisco and Seattle and drank a lot of wine too.

Covid launched a new level of camaraderie, which was not face to face.

They began Zoom meeting two or three times every week to touch base.

As a cancer survivor, she knitted hats and gave necklaces to the newly diagnosed.

They were inscribed, "Be Strong," and she herself exemplified those words the most.

She loved to play a game of bridge and snuggle with a book.

It is to her lifelong example that we all should look.

Julie taught us all to love and care and to put others first.

Julie taught us how to be dignified when faced with the worst.

Julie showed us how to make a difference and laugh with all our heart.

Julie, forever in our hearts, we must without you this new chapter start.

Julie was also a good cook, so I would like to share her recipe for halibut this week along with a couple easy summer treat recipes.

Julie's Halibut Bake

Cut halibut into bite sized pieces. Pat dry and put into a baking dish.

Mix together:

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 C. mayonnaise

1 C. sour cream

Pour over fish. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Sprinkle 2 C. shredded Cheddar or mozzarella over the top and bake until the cheese is melted.

Three Two One Cake

1 box Angel Food cake mix

1 box cake mix - any flavor

2 T. water

Makes 1 serving.

In a Ziploc bag, combine the two cake mixes together and mix well. For each individual cake serving, take out 3 T. of the cake mix combination and mix it with 2 T. of water in a small microwave-safe container. Microwave on high for 1 minute, and you have your own instant individual little cake! Keep remaining cake mixture stored in the ziploc bag and use whenever you feel like a treat! You can top each cake with a dollop of fat free whipped topping or frosting and/or some fresh fruit. This recipe is called 3, 2, 1 Cake because all you need to remember is 3 tablespoons mix, 2 tablespoons water, 1 minute in the microwave! (Try various flavors of cake mix like carrot, red velvet, pineapple, lemon, orange, etc. Just remember that one of the mixes has to be the angel food mix; the other is your choice. The flavor possibilities are endless!

Lemon Dreams

1/2 C. butter

1/4 C. powdered sugar

1 C. flour

pinch of salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add flour and salt and mix thoroughly. Then line the bottom of an 8X8 inch pan with the mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Do not brown.

Mix:

3 eggs

1 C. sugar

2 T. flour

2 T. fresh lemon juice

Pour this mixture over the hot crust as soon as it is taken from the oven. Bake again 20-25 minutes until completely set. When cool, sprinkle powdered sugar over top and cut into small squares.