I’ve raved about sheet pan suppers, but it’s time to give them another shout-out for the new year. This efficient cooking method is especially great if you’re like me — time-strapped but determined to make sit-down family meals every day.In a recent class on sheet-pan dinners by Debra McVicker, we made five dinners in three hours in her home kitchen, where she holds Chef’s Table Cooking Classes.Here are her basic concepts:• Use protein that is good roasted or broiled, not cuts that should be braised, such as pork shoulder, lamb shanks or short ribs.• To keep seasoning at a minimum, toss with oil, salt and pepper. Premium Food trends in 2019: Around Colorado Springs, food halls and veggie fine dining look to be hot Teresa Farney • Don’t overcrowd the pan, or the food will steam rather than brown.• Cut vegetables into small sizes that will cook at about the same rate.• Cube sweet potatoes before placing them on … [Read more...] about 9 tips from Colorado Springs cooking instructor on making easy sheet pan suppers, including eggplant parmesan
Over easy colorado springs
Dirty job: crime scene cleanup in Colorado Springs
It’s probably nobody’s childhood dream to clean up crime scenes for a living.But for those who find themselves with an unexpected emotional debacle and potentially infectious mess on their hands, it's certainly a good thing some of us choose to veer down that particular career path.“Every night we pray to help others,” said Donnie Lamirande, co-founder and co-owner of Rocky Mountain Biohazard. “We’re here for a purpose. We believe this job was given to us as a godsend. By no means was it a dream job.”She and her husband Randel Lamirande got into the crime scene cleanup business five years ago when they decided to stop working for others, and take their careers into their own hands. As they investigated all manner of franchises, biohazard cleanup kept showing up. They started out with a franchise but have since gone out on their own.“I thought it was gross,” said Donnie. “And there was no way I was doing that. I thought is that … [Read more...] about Dirty job: crime scene cleanup in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs teen lured to his death by girl after his money, family says
Lured to his death by a girl he thought he was meeting for a date after boasting about having lots of money, Luis Starkey Chavez’s killing last month is a cautionary tale for teenagers who reveal too much to the wrong person online, the victim’s family says.Chavez, 17, was shot and killed Nov. 5 on Deerfield Hills Road in southeast Colorado Springs. Two 16-year-olds, a boy and a girl, have been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in his killing.The suspects’ names have not been released because of their ages and, as yet, they haven’t been charged as adults. While police have released few details about the killing — and nothing about the motive — Chavez’s older sister, mother and other relatives recently met with investigators to be updated on the case. 1 dead, 3 wounded in east Colorado Springs shooting late Friday“Literally, Luis was perfect all the way around, his only flaw is he boasted a little bit,” said his sister, … [Read more...] about Colorado Springs teen lured to his death by girl after his money, family says
Longtime Colorado Springs religious leaders discuss overcoming divisiveness
Colorado became known nationally as the “hate state” in 1992 after 53.4 percent of voters approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting claims of discrimination based on sexual orientation.A heated debate on gay rights ensued, with Colorado Springs labeled as “ground zero.” The idea for what evolved into Amendment 2 originated here, in the state’s second-largest city, among conservative Christians, who opposed a proposal from Colorado Springs’ Human Relations Commission to add sexual orientation to the list of criteria that people could use in filing lawsuits alleging illegal discrimination, including jobs, housing and public accommodations.It was a divisive, rancorous time that split family and friends, community groups and particularly churches and believers of differing faiths. The taboo about discussing neither politics nor religion at the dinner table might not have started then, but it could have.It was a period, in short, not unlike the … [Read more...] about Longtime Colorado Springs religious leaders discuss overcoming divisiveness
Family: Colorado Springs teen lured to his death by girl after his money
Lured to his death by a girl he thought he was meeting for a date after telling her he had lots of money, Luis Starkey Chavez's killing last month is a cautionary tale for teenagers who reveal too much to the wrong person online, the victim's family says.Chavez, 17, was shot and killed Nov. 5 on Deerfield Hills Road in southeast Colorado Springs. Two 16-year-olds, a boy and a girl, have been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in his killing. The suspects' names have not been released because of their ages and, as yet, they haven't been charged as adults. While police have released few details about the killing —and nothing about the motive — Chavez's older sister and mother recently met with investigators to be updated on the case."Literally, Luis was perfect all the way around, his only flaw is he boasted a little bit," said his sister, Rebecca Pietsch. "He worked hard. He worked full time. So when he got his paycheck, he'd be quick to kind of flaunt it … [Read more...] about Family: Colorado Springs teen lured to his death by girl after his money