February 2026

Caldo de Pollo: A recipe for peak comfort season

Body
It’s hard to beat chicken soup anytime, but most definitely in the winter. There’s the old tried and true chicken noodle or chicken and rice that most people are familiar with. And both of those are very satisfying. But if you want true comfort, look no further than Caldo de Pollo. Which translates simply to chicken soup.
Caldo de Pollo Courtesy photo

Rockslides

Body
Send your community events to kara.gerbert@alpineavalanche.com 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
ROCK SLIDES

CALDO DE POLLO

Body
INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons of olive oil ¾ medium white or yellow onion, chopped 2 celery sticks, chopped 4 large carrots, peeled and chopped 2 minced garlic cloves 9 cups of water or chicken broth 19 ounces of canned tomato sauce 2 boneless chicken breasts, plus two boneless chicken thighs for more flavor 2 chicken bouillon cubes or two tablespoons of Better than Bouillon roasted chicken flavor 1 tablespoon of kosher or sea salt, or half that amount if using a finer salt 1 teaspoon of Mexican oregano ¼ cup chopped cilantro 1 corn on the cob, cut into five pieces or pre-cut smaller corn on the cob pieces 2 large potatoes cut into 2-inch cubes 2 medium zucchinis cut into 2-inch cubes Fresh lime and hot sauce for serving DIRECTIONS In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat, then add the onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté until onions begin to soften, about three minutes.

LOOKING BACK

Body
Alpine Avalanche Photos from the Alpine Avalanche Archives at Archives of the Big Bend, Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library and Portal of Texas. .
February 13, 1969

St. Valentine’s Day: Feast of friendship and love

Body
Before Hallmark, before longstemmed roses delivered to your door or your desk, before heart-shaped boxes of chocolates — there was St. Valentine. Actually, there may have been two. The history’s pretty murky, and includes legends about an early Christian priest (or was it a bishop?) martyred for (perhaps?) surreptitiously helping Christians to wed. So uncertain are the details, in fact, that in 1969 the Roman Catholic Church officially discontinued liturgical veneration of St. Valentine, though he’s still on the list of recognized saints.
St. Valentine’s Day: Feast of friendship and love