COS Town Tidings Issue #24-025

🤣 Today’s Chuckle
🌤 COS Weather - Snow starting late and into Fri AM

📰 Epic Wins: Colorado Springs Economy 📈

📰 Quietly Dismantling: CSU's Stacks 🏭

📰 Vista Ridge Soars: Campus Expansion 🏫

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📆 Local Events - updated daily

Wellness: 🍃 Nourishing the Adrenals

Recipe: 🥘 Chicken Cobbler Recipe-From Scratch

🛍 Local DEALS

What’s a good way to cook alligator?
👉 In a croc pot 🤣

📈 Epic Wins: Colorado Springs Economy   

Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC reflects on economic achievements in 2023, addressing challenges tied to rapid growth, including housing supply and cost issues. Despite facing inflation and workforce challenges, the city became the U.S. Space Command's permanent home, launched economic development campaigns, and closed deals on nine projects, generating 2,200 jobs and $1.3 billion in investments. Leaders emphasize the region's appeal for talent and focus on balancing growth with affordable housing solutions.

🏭 Quietly Dismantling: CSU's Stacks

Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) has embarked on the phased demolition of Martin Drake Power Plant's iconic stacks. Commencing with one stack, the utility ensures meticulous abatement measures to safeguard the environment and neighboring communities. The gradual process aims to minimize dust and noise impact. By the end of March, two stacks are slated for complete removal, with the third, attached to the old main Drake building, to follow later in the year. Additional structures linked to the power plant are scheduled for demolition by the conclusion of 2024, reflecting CSU's commitment to responsible and community-conscious decommissioning.

🏫 Vista Ridge Soars: Campus Expansion 

Vista Ridge High School embarks on a significant expansion project with a new academic wing, focusing on enhancing students' educational experiences. The addition, dedicated to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, aims to accommodate 450 more students across 18 classrooms. Principal Tom Payne envisions a dynamic learning environment preparing students for real-world success, fostering pathways in diverse fields.

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📆Upcoming COS Area Events

• Jan 25th-27th 2-5 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Jan 25th - Feb 25th (Weds-Sundays): Ice Castle @Cripple Creek $21-$27

• Jan 25th, 6:30-8:30 PM: Bright Forest | Upgrade with DIY Candle @Painting With a Twist | Powers Blvd $35-$55

• Jan 25h, 7-9 PM (every Thurs): Trivia Night @Bell Brothers Brewing 114 N Tejon St #100 FREE

• Jan 26th-27th (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 26th, 6:30-9 PM: Roaring 20's MURDER MYSTERY Paint Night! @Painting With A Twist, Downtown $45 (Selling out fast)

• Jan 27th-28th, 9 AM-5PM (27th) & 10 AM-3 PM (28th): Train Expo Colorado @Colorado Springs Event Center, 3960 Palmer Park Blvd $11

• Jan 27th, 1-3 PM: Truffle Tasting @Cole Market, 7830 N Academy Blvd FREE

• Jan 27th, 2 PM: Paper Quilling Butterfly class @Mastiff Studios Makers Market - 2919 W. Colorado Ave $25

• Jan 27th, 7:30 PM: RIP Improv @Millibo Art Theater, 1626 S. Tejon St $15

• Jan 28th, 10 AM - 2 PM (every Sun): Backyard Market at Park Union @108 W Cimarron St FREE

• Feb 3rd, 10:30 AM - Noon: Confections by Charlee Winter Warm Cookie Decorating Class @Library 21c CREATE SPACE, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr $60 (Selling out fast)

• Feb 10th, 10 AM - 2 PM: Winter Fun at Fox Run fundraiser @Fox Run Regional Park, 2110 Stella Dr $5

🍃 Nourishing the Adrenals

Welcome back to our Adrenal Fatigue series! Today, let's uncover the vital connection between nutrition and adrenal health, understanding why what you eat plays a crucial role in supporting your well-being.

🍏 Balanced Nutrition Boosts Resilience:

A well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet provides essential vitamins and minerals that act as building blocks for adrenal function. These nutrients bolster your body's resilience, helping it adapt to stress and maintain optimal performance.

💧 Hydration for Hormonal Harmony:

Proper hydration is fundamental for hormone regulation, a key aspect of adrenal health. Staying well-hydrated ensures that your adrenal glands can function optimally, contributing to a harmonious hormonal balance.

🥑 Healthy Fats Fuel Hormones:

Incorporating healthy fats, like those found in avocados and nuts, supports hormone production, including those produced by the adrenal glands. These fats are integral for maintaining hormonal harmony.

🌿 Adaptogenic Herbs Enhance Adaptability:

Exploring adaptogenic herbs, such as ashwagandha and rhodiola (which we covered in last week’s wellness series), reveals their potential in helping your body adapt to stressors. These herbs contribute to overall adaptability, a cornerstone of adrenal well-being.

🥗 Diverse Nutrients for Adrenal Support:

Crafting meals with a variety of nutrients ensures that your body receives the diverse elements needed for optimal adrenal health. A balanced plate with lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and colorful vegetables fosters a nutrient-rich environment.

Stay tuned for our conclusion, where we'll unravel actionable steps to address adrenal fatigue and the crucial differences between prevention and recovery. 🌟

*Information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Please consult a health care professional, nothing above should be construed as medical advice.

🥘 Chicken Cobbler Recipe-From Scratch

This easy recipe consists of chunks of chicken and vegetables in a creamy gravy, topped with homemade, buttery, rosemary biscuits. Perfect comfort food made from simple ingredients.

PREP: 30 mins | COOK: 35 mins | TOTAL: 1 hr 5 mins

INGREDIENTS

Biscuit Topping

• 3 cups Flour

• 6 oz Butter unsalted, cold

• 1 teaspoon Baking soda

• 1 teaspoon Salt

• 1 tablespoon Sugar

• 1 tablespoon Rosemary fresh chopped

Chicken and Vegetable Filling

• 2 lbs. Boneless skinless chicken breast

• 2 tablespoon Vegetable oil

• 1 teaspoon Dried thyme

• 2 Bay leaves

• 2 cloves Garlic minced

• 8 oz Carrots large diced

• 6 oz Celery large diced

• 8 oz Yellow onions diced

• 10 oz Frozen peas

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tablespoon Hot sauce Crystal or Tabasco

• 2 tablespoon Better than bullion chicken flavor

• 2 cups water this will make 2 cups chicken stock

• 3 tablespoon Corn starch and ⅓ cup water for the thickening slurry

• ½ cup Half & half

• 2 tablespoon butter unsalted 1 tablespoon to finish the sauce and 1 tablespoon melted to brush on the biscuit topping.

• Pan release spray as needed

• Salt & Pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Mixing the biscuit Topping

1. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, and rosemary in a mixing bowl.

2. Cut the cold butter into small cubes.

3. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles wet sand.

4. Add the cold buttermilk, using your hand to mix. Creating a very wet dough.

5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator.

Cooking the Chicken and Vegetable Filling

1. Using a kitchen scale weigh the vegetables including the frozen peas. Cut the carrots and celery into large dice sized pieces.

2. Cut the onions into medium dice sized pieces, peel and mince the garlic.

3. Cut the chicken into medium chunks.

4. In the large saucepan heat the vegetable oil, when heated carefully add the chicken.

5. Brown the chicken, then add the onion, carrots, and celery and season with salt and pepper.

6. Cook together on medium heat for about 3 minutes, then add the dried thyme, bay leaves, and garlic.

7. Add the Better Than Bullion and water and stir to combine.

8. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste and bring to a simmer for about 6 minutes. Then add the frozen peas, return to a simmer.

9. Add the half and half, the hot sauce, and the Worcestershire sauce stir to combine.

10. In a small bowl combine the cornstarch and ⅓ cup of cold water, mix together until smooth.

11. Increase the heat and slowly add the cornstarch mixture stirring to combine. Simmer on medium heat until thickened stirring to prevent sticking. Add a tablespoon of butter to the final sauce stirring to combine.

Building and Baking the Casserole

1. Spray the baking dish with pan release spray, preheat your oven to 375℉

2. Place the finished chicken and vegetable mixture into the prepared baking pan.

3. Remove the biscuit topping from the refrigerator, and carefully scoop it onto the chicken and vegetable mixture.

4. Place the pan in the oven for about 15 minutes, then carefully remove, and brush the top of the biscuit with the melted butter. Return the pan to the oven and finish baking until golden brown, another 20 minutes or so.

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