January 2026

INGREDIENTS 1 whole chicken (about 3 pounds) 6 chicken wings 6 chicken legs or thighs 6 cloves of garlic 4 shallots 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns 1 carrot 3 to 4 quarts of water Kosher salt to taste Freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 avocados, peeled, seeded, and sliced lengthwise into eighths 2 jalapeño peppers, stemmed, seeded, and minced ¼ cup of oil 6 corn tortillas cut into thin strips 2 cups of grated Monterey Jack cheese 1 lime cut into sixths ½ bunch of cilantro, stemmed for garnish DIRECTIONS In a large, heavy, deep pan, place the washed chicken and chicken pieces. Add the garlic, shallots, peppercorns, carrot, and water.

When cold days settle into West Texas, our instincts usually turn toward hearty meals or a warm bowl of soup. Among our readers, opinions tend to split; some enjoy soup yearround, while others reserve it for gloomy, chilly days. I fall into the latter camp. One soup, however, wins every time: the Tortilla Soup at Reata Restaurant. It has been a Far West Texas staple since the 1990s, when local rancher Al Micallef opened the iconic Texas Ranch Steakhouse. Reata’s vision blends cowboy culture and cuisine with the rich flavors of Old Mexico and beyond. If you haven’t enjoyed it recently, stop in for a cup—and don’t forget to pick up one of Reata’s famous recipe books to bring that West Texas flavor home.

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FIGHTIN’ BUCK BASKETBALL January 23: Anthony vs Alpine | JV: 6:30 p.m. • V: 8 p.m. January 27: Alpine @ Kermit | JV: 5 p.m. • V: 8 p.m. January 30: OPEN LADY BUCK BASKETBALL January 23: Anthony vs Alpine | V: 6:30 p.m. January 27: Alpine @ Kermit | JV: 5 p.m. • V: 6:30 p.m. January 30: Alpine @ Buena Vista | JV: 5 p.m.

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The AHS Powerlifters traveled to Fort Stockton this past weekend to compete in both the girls’ and boys’ powerlifting competitions. Both teams brought home some hardware for Alpine, with the boys’ team earning three first-place finishes in their weight divisions.

Alpine Avalanche Photos from the Alpine Avalanche Archives at Archives of the Big Bend, Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library and Portal of Texas. .

Dear Neil, Can I dig and divide my purpleheart bed before it starts growing this spring? Purpleheart is a true perennial in almost all of Texas. That’s surprising when you consider it’s a sister to the tender types of wandering Jews.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 502 E. Lockhart Ave.

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