Meet Roz Cooper | Crafty Creator of Cheesecakes, Sourdough, and Dangerously Delicious Treats

We had the good fortune of connecting with Roz Cooper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Roz, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Dangerous Pocket Snacks & Co. may not change the world, but I do hope that it will make an impact in changing someone’s world. I donate 20% of profits to PorchLight, part of the family justice center for Jefferson & Gilpin Counties. They are a one stop service center that helps victims of violence. They provide comprehensive legal, emotional and critical supportive services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, abuse of at-risk individuals, elder abuse, and human trafficking. As a survivor, I know first hand how important it is to have access to these services. One day I hope to open a community kitchen that will help employ survivors and give them a safe place to work that supports their independence.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

For me, food has always been an expression of love and unity. A universal language like music; something that brings people together. I was beyond blessed to have a family that made me feel at home. Who loved me unconditionally and was my community through thick and thin. We would gather in the kitchen to cook and bake everything from scratch and with that so much love, laughter and belonging.

For as long as I can remember cheesecake has been my favorite dessert, but always found it inconsistent. So over 20 years ago I set out on a mission to create the perfect cheesecake. And while I believe perfection does not exist, my recipe may come very close…or at least that is what I am told.

My sourdough adventures were bread (pun intended) from one of my favorite childhood memories. My dad used to go to a local bakery and bring home the freshest, most delicious bread. We would gather together and eat it only to end up spoiling our dinner! I often found local bakeries and the bread just didn’t hit the same, so I started making my own.  In turn, I feel like I channel my dad when I’m baking my bread and all my other sourdough creations like chocolate chip cookies, scones, brownies, pancakes, biscuits, and so much more.

But in all things excellent, there is a back story that is messy, full of mistakes, and thousands of tweaks that pave the road to something worth celebrating.

Family gatherings all changed on October 6, 2017. My son, Skyler Danger, was hit and killed by a car and then a little over three months later my dad died from a rare side effect from his cancer treatment.
I was devastated, paralyzed and never thought I would ever find light in the day again. I found myself drowning in the bottom of a bottle for years. When I finally found my feet again and had dried out, I knew I needed to do something that not only had meaning to me, but paid tribute to my son and dad.
I have always wanted to help people and just wasn’t sure how. I am also a survivor of domestic violence and only survived because of the help from others.
My dad always donated money to help people and Skyler was a silly guy who always shared his snacks with others…and he always had snacks. He cared so much about all living things…I couldn’t even squish a bug without him being upset.

With all of that said, I started Dangerous Pocket Snacks & Co. It was the perfect combination of both my dad and Skyler’s love of food and loving others. I have big dreams to create a community kitchen that employs survivors and partners with PorchLight. I would also like to eventually convert my home into transitional housing and have a mini farm where I could have farm to table food for my community kitchen. I know challenges are part of the package and through hard work, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit to succeed I might just have a chance to help people and create a community where people can feel at home.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

When I was five years old we moved from Denver to Wheat Ridge and I have been here since. In my biased opinion it is the best city in Colorado. It has some of the most amazing people and places you could ask for in a community. Whether you go for a walk around Crown Hill or get lost on the Greenbelt, nature is right out your front door. And for a quick drive there is Red Rocks. You can catch an epic show or challenge yourself to scale the stairs!

For breakfast I would advise Appleridge Cafe, Rupert’s On the Edge, or Joe’s Cafe.

I would stay at home for lunch and eat a good sandwich on some freshly baked sourdough bread and fresh vegetables from my garden.

There are so many good places to eat dinner. But if you wanted some entertainment, Clancy’s Irish Pub offers live keltic music on certain nights and an expansive menu where I have yet to find something I didn’t like! For pizza I highly recommend Edgewater Inn Pizza (also where you can find my tiramisu cheesecake) or Pietra’s. For Mexican food I would recommend Taco Rico, an authentic hole in the wall…the soft chile relleno is where it’s at, but the tacos are nothing to shy away from either.

There are so many coffee shops that I would recommend. Stylus & Crate is great and I recommend the whiskey barrel cold brew and sourdough cheesy scones (also my creation). Bardo’s coffee shop is another I would recommend. Village Roaster has so many options for coffee, but I would make sure I grabbed a bag of their Costa Rica to make some cold brew!

If you visited in August, the Carnation Festival is full of fun and live entertainment as well as a fireworks show that is spectacular!

Golden, CO is also another town that offers a rich culture with so many outdoor activities as well as entertainment. A walk in downtown Golden feels like a trip back in time with its gold mining town ambiance.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I suppose I would have to start by thanking my grandma who always had a stool in her kitchen we could climb on to help bake and cook. A very special shoutout my mom and dad for always having a passion for good food, taking cooking classes, teaching us, and making the kitchen the heartbeat of our home.

Many thanks to my kids, who give me a reason to get up and try my very best every single day.

Super shoutout to all my friends who empower me and give me the encouragement I wouldn’t have had on my own.

I also have to thank full heartedly Niya Gingrich, owner of Edgewater Inn Pizza, who initially gave me the chance to bring one of my creations into her restaurant to serve to her guests! You can now find my tiramisu cheesecake on her menu!

Another shoutout to Tadd Overstreet, owner of Stylus & Crate, who also took a chance by letting me make sourdough cheesy scones for his community coffee shop.

In addition, Jeff Hurlburt, owner of Clancy’s Irish Pub, is letting me roll out my new Irish cheesecake, “Blarney’s Kiss” over St. Patrick’s Day weekend!

And of course, all my fans. Anyone and everyone who has ever purchased my tasty treats or shared my tasty treats with their friends or loved ones. Mad love is what I’ve got for you all!

My business is dedicated to the memory of my son, Skyler Danger and my dad who was and still is my hero. Without their love of food and family I would have never founded Dangerous Pocket Snacks & Co. For them I am forever grateful.

Website: http://www.danger-snacks.com

Instagram: @danger_snacks

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