December 2025

Christmas Eve is a night filled with anticipation. Homes glow with lights, families gather, and familiar songs remind us of a story we know by heart, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. For many, Christmas is about remembering that holy night long ago when God came into the world as a child. But the Christian season of Advent invites us to prepare for more than a memory. It calls us to prepare for a promise still unfolding.

INGREDIENTS 3 slices thick-cut bacon 1 cup diced onions 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped garlic 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 slices of white bread 4 ounces evaporated milk 12 ounces ground chuck 8 ounces ground pork sausage 2 tablespoons red wine 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1/2 cup minced green onions, white parts only 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon Emeril’s Original Essence 1 pound spaghetti, cooked, drained, and tossed with olive oil.

HEAD OVER MEALS Few chefs bridge the worlds of Italian comfort food and New Orleans cuisine quite like Chef Emeril Lagasse. His command of the kitchen is undeniable.

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Dear Neil, Regarding waxleaf ligustrums – I read your column today. I hope you will be more grudging in recommending them. Birds spread the seeds to waterways, and the plants crowd out our native species.

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Four players scored in double-figures as the Sul Ross State University men’s basketball team (0-3 Lone Star Conference, 2-6) lost 91-80 to UT Dallas (1-2 LSC, 1-9), Thursday night at the Pete P. Gallego Center.

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She came into the shelter after being found running loose in the city of Alpine in mid-September. She went unclaimed at the shelter, and upon starting her veterinary care, it was discovered that she was positive for heartworm disease. She started treatment immediately and had several months of confinement and restricted activity while undergoing her treatment. She is now heartworm-free and ready for adoption.