COS Town Tidings Issue #24-019

🤣 Today’s Chuckle
🌥 COS Weather - 1 day cold snap today

📰 Cold Strikes, Pipes Break: CSU Responds 🥶

📰 Blodgett's Future: Your Voice Matters 🏞️

📰 CSPD: Shielding Little Passengers 👶

🤝 Partner with us - affordable advertising options

📆 Local Events - updated daily

Wellness: 🎉 Celebrate Body Diversity

Recipe: 🍴 Crispy Baked Cauliflower Bites

Where do hamburgers go dancing?
👉 The meat-ball! 🤣

🥶 Cold Strikes, Pipes Break: CSU Responds   

Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) crews have been tackling over a dozen water main breaks caused by sub-zero temperatures. The recent cold snap led to a surge in repairs, with crews addressing 12 breaks in just six days. The most recent break is at the intersection at West Colorado and 21st Street causing it to be closed in both directions.

The soil composition in the Pikes Peak region, coupled with temperature fluctuations, contributes to the stress on underground pipes, leading to breaks. Despite the increased workload, CSU emphasizes that this level of activity is typical during the winter season, accounting for 40% of annual water main breaks. Residents are urged to follow detours and traffic instructions to ensure the safety of CSU crews.

🏞️ Blodgett's Future: Your Voice Matters 

The public comment phase is open until Feb 18th, for the master plan of Blodgett Open Space, led by the Colorado Springs Park and Recreation department. This plan aims to enhance and protect the 384-acre space in the Front Range foothills, ensuring a balance between preserving its ecology and meeting the needs of the community. As part of the process, the department will collaborate with the public to address environmental concerns, enhance recreational opportunities, and foster community engagement. Click on the Online Comment Card at this link, to voice your opinion.

👶 CSPD: Shielding Little Passengers

The Colorado Springs Police Department, in collaboration with Safe Kids Colorado Springs, has introduced the Child Occupant Protection Program (COPP). This initiative aims to enhance child safety in cars by offering free car seat and booster installation checks to parents and caregivers, with the goal of preventing injuries and deaths in motor vehicle crashes. The program addresses the alarming statistic that 80% of car seats are improperly installed. Parents are encouraged to participate, bringing their car seats, manuals, and vehicle manuals to receive guidance from certified technicians.

🤝 Maximize Your Reach, Be Seen 27,431 Times Monthly! Partner with us to connect with our caring community through affordable advertising options that benefits both our valued subscribers and cherished local businesses. 💖

📆Upcoming COS Area Events

• Jan 19th-21st 2-5 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Jan 19th-21st, Fri noon-8 PM, Sat 10 AM-8 PM, Sun 10 AM-6 PM: HOT TUB SWIM & SPA SALE @Norris Penrose Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd FREE

• Jan 19th, 20th (every Fri & Sat in Jan), 3:30 PM: 2.5-Hour Cocktails & Canapés Walking Tour @1 N Tejon St. $79 per person Must be 21+

• Jan 19th, 8-11 PM: 90'S KARAOKE PAINT AND SING-ALONG @Brush Crazy, 4416 Austin Bluffs $20

• Jan 20th, 11 AM-12:30 PM: Winter Bear Cutout | Bottomless Mimosas Incl! @Painting With A Twist, Downtown $45

• Jan 20th & 27th, 2 PM: Quilling Rainbow Mandala class @Mastiff Studios Makers Market - 2919 W. Colorado Ave $25

• Jan 21st, 10 AM - 2 PM (every Sun): Backyard Market at Park Union @108 W Cimarron St FREE

• Jan 21st, 11:30 AM-4 PM: 1st Indian Harvest Festival @Liberty High School FREE

• Jan 21st, 2-4 PM: Winter Owl Set or Solo | House Pour Included @Painting With a Twist | Powers Blvd $35-$60

🎉 Celebrate Body Diversity

Welcome to the final day of our Emotional Eating Challenge! Today, let's celebrate body diversity and embrace your unique blueprint, fostering a positive relationship with your body and food.

Understanding Body Diversity:

Each of us has a different body shape and size. Embracing this diversity is a crucial step toward self-acceptance and building a healthy connection with food.

Why It Matters for Emotional Eating:

• Reduced Judgment: Accepting your body's genetic blueprint minimizes judgment, reducing the likelihood of using food to cope with body dissatisfaction.

• Positive Self-Talk: Engaging in positive self-talk about your body focuses on its strengths and capabilities, promoting a more compassionate relationship.

• Increased Resilience: Celebrating your unique blueprint builds resilience against societal pressures and emotional triggers related to body image.

Practical Tip:

Engage in positive self-talk about your body. Focus on its strengths and capabilities rather than just appearance. Celebrate the uniqueness that makes you, you.

Congratulations on completing our Emotional Eating Challenge! May you continue to nourish your body and soul with compassion.

Challenge Reflection:

concluding our Emotional Eating Challenge, take a moment to reflect. Have you implemented any tips from this week? How has this journey impacted your relationship with food and emotions? Your progress is worth celebrating!

🍴 Crispy Baked Cauliflower Bites

These crunchy veggie nuggets are a lighter and healthier alternative to the usual fried chicken wings out there. They are vegan, oven baked, gluten free, quick, and easy!

PREP: 15 mins | COOK: 20 mins | TOTAL: 35 mins

Ingredients

Cauliflower bites

• 1½ lb. cauliflower about 1 medium head, cut or broken into ½ inch bite sized florets

• 1½ cup corn starch 3 Tbsp. set aside for coating, the rest for batter.

• 1½ tsp. blackening spice blend

• ¾ tsp. smoked paprika

• 1¼ cup almond milk or any other milk substitute, unflavored and unsweetened

• ¼ cup oil light vegetable type, pure olive oil, olive oil blend, or any with a high smoke point

• 1 Tbsp. non stick pan coating sprayed to coat evenly

• ¾ tsp. salt granulated or kosher

• 1 pinch sea salt flaky variety, to season to taste

Spiced Honey Drizzle

• 1 cup honey clover, or wildflower

• 2 tsp. sriracha

• 1 tsp. dried chili flakes

• ½ tsp. ginger peeled and finely minced

• ¼ tsp. salt granulated

• 1⅓ Tbsp. tangerine juice fresh squeezed

INSTRUCTIONS

Cauliflower Bites:

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees with sheet pan inside.

2. Toss cauliflower chunks in mixing bowl with 3 Tbsp. of corn starch to coat evenly.

3. In another mixing bowl, combine corn starch, almond milk, blackening spice, smoked paprika, and salt. Use wire whip to incorporate fully.

4. Add cauliflower to batter and coat.

5. Pull sheet pan from the oven and add oil.

6. Arrange battered cauliflower in a single layer, making sure that each piece is separate from one another.

7. Spray the tops of the bites with a little of the pan spray, and place the pan into the oven.

8. Set a timer for 10 minutes.

9. After 10 minutes has elapsed, flip the bites over.

10. Cook for another 10 minutes and remove.

Spicy Honey Drizzle:

1. Combine all ingredients well in a mixing bowl.

Plating/Serving

1. Arrange crispy cauliflower bites onto a small plate.

2. Drizzle the honey sauce over, to taste.

3. Sprinkle sea salt over to taste.

If you OWN a local business and would like to be featured in front of a growing following of Colorado Springs area residents OR if you absolutely LOVE a local business we wanna know!

👇Click an option below:

✅ Own a local Business? Apply to be featured

💓 Love a Local Business? Nominate them

Colorado Springs Town Tidings is Sponsored by:

🙌 We could use your help - did you do this yet?

Will you do us a favor and spread the word? Know somebody who lives in Colorado Springs and would benefit from being kept in the know?

👉Are you a member of Nextdoor? If so, please share the link to our newsletter there too!👈

Please share Colorado Springs Town Tidings with them! Just click the button! 👇👇👇