November 2025

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While thinking about Thanksgiving next week and my nontraditional food columns, I reached out to a couple of friends. I asked them to send me a few recipes from their recipe vaults. Phillip Moellering, General Manager of the Gage Hotel and pitmaster at the Brick Vault BBQ, sent me his Cheesy Jalapeno Cornbread Casserole.

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INGREDIANTS DIRECTIONS 1 bag fresh cranberries- rinsed 1 Jalapeno with seeds Chop in a food processor Add one bunch of green onions, chopped by hand 1 cup of sugar Juice from one lime Handful of Cilantro Mix Well.

INGREDIANTS 1 box cornbread mix ½ cup cornmeal 2 tablespoons of sugar 1 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 1 cup sour cream ½ cup melted butter 1 can of creamed corn 1 cup corn kernels- drained 1 yellow onion- finely diced 1 bunch green onions- finely chopped 1 jalapeno- finely diced 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese Black pepper DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 In a large bowl, mix cornbread, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and pepper. In a second bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, and melted butter.

You can learn a lot about someone by what they value. In Luke 14:15-24, Jesus tells the parable, or introspective teaching story about God, of a grand banquet: “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many.

The Permian Basin Area Foundation (PBAF) has announced its recipients for the fall grant cycle. The Foundation awarded $2.3 million to 31 nonprofi t organizations serving West Texas, five of which are right here in the Big Bend.

The West Texas Geology Foundation (WTGF) has named Mrs. Tracy Hyatt, 7th Grade Science and Math teacher at Alpine Middle School, as one of nine recipients of its 2024–2025 Most Outstanding Science Teacher (MOST) Award. The award recognizes exceptional science educators across the Region 18 service area of West Texas. At a ceremony held on Friday at Alpine Middle School, Mrs. Hyatt received a plaque and a $5,000 award in recognition of her exemplary science instruction. WTGF, a nonprofit dedicated to growing the geoscience community in the Permian Basin, orchestrates its annual MOST Awards to honor West Texas teachers who inspire students through passionate and effective science education. Mrs. Hyatt exemplifies these qualities daily in her classroom, where she engages students in hands-on, inquiry-based lessons that mirror the real work of scientists. From phenomenonbased warmups to exploratory labs and engineering challenges, she creates experiences that make science meaningful, rigorous, and exciting. Beyond instruction, Mrs. Hyatt is known for building a positive, inclusive classroom where every student feels known, seen, and valued. Her use of an in-class house system fosters teamwork and a sense of belonging, and her emphasis on building strong relationships helps students grow both academically and personally. She also serves as a mentor to new teachers, develops STEM curriculum, and represents Alpine ISD on multiple leadership committees. Mrs. Hyatt was nominated for her hands-on, inquiry-based approach to teaching, her strong relationships with students, and her leadership throughout Alpine ISD.