Sinkiang Cinnamon
Ah, cinnamon! This warm, aromatic spice has been used as an ingredient in foods since ancient Egyptian times when it was rare, valuable, and often used as a gift for kings. Cinnamon has long been prized not only for its wonderful taste, but also for its medicinal properties. The health benefits of this very popular spice, made from the inner bark of trees, come from the compound cinnamaldehyde, and include:
- More antioxidants than “superfoods” garlic and oregano
- Anti-inflammatory properties to help lower risk of disease
- Can lower cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure
- Helps fight insulin resistance
- Lowers fasting blood sugar levels
- Helps fight fungal and bacterial infections
- Reduces bad breath and helps fight tooth decay
The great thing about this wonderfully aromatic spice is not just the fact that it’s loaded with all the health benefits listed above, but it also tastes divine! At the Original Pancake House, we have a special fondness for the taste of cinnamon, and our famous Apple Pancakes with cinnamon glaze take advantage of the unique properties of a very special type of cinnamon called Sinkiang cinnamon.
What is Sinkiang Cinnamon?
Sinkiang, also spelled Xinjiang and pronounced “shin-ji-yahng”, means “New Frontier” and is the name of a province in Northwestern China, where this special cinnamon is found. It is also called Chinese Turkistan or Eastern Turkistan. Xinjiang is bordered by Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan on the west and north, by the Republic of Mongolia, Gansu, and Qinghai on the east, and by Tibet and India on the south, and is characterized by mountains and rivers as well as grazing land and agricultural crops (source).
This unique Chinese cinnamon does what other cinnamons only dream of; it melts when heated rather than burning like other cinnamons can. This characteristic makes Sinkiang cinnamon absolutely perfect for our delicious apple pancakes, oven baked with fresh granny smith apples and covered in decadent pure Sinkiang Cinnamon glaze. This signature dish may take a few minutes more to prepare, but when it arrives piping hot from the oven straight to your table, you’ll know with the very first bite that it was well worth the wait! It’s a breakfast you’ll fall in love with, and probably will want to tell everyone about, but these apple pancakes smothered in rich, warm, mouthwatering purse Sinkiang cinnamon glaze are so delicious you might be tempted not to say a word, so you can keep this delicious secret all to yourself!
Stop by and visit us soon at The Original Pancake House, with two locations in the Denver area at Cherry Hills or Denver Tech Center, and try our Apple Pancakes with Cinnamon Glaze. You’ll love the homemade goodness that makes breakfast at America’s finest pancake house a great idea any day of the week from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm. We look forward to welcoming you and your family!
12 Months of Delicious Breakfast!
It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner as is the end to another year! 2018 was a good one, filled with many memorable moments shared round a table with family and friends. We feel so lucky to have the support of the Denver community through another year and look forward to what 2019 will bring! As we reflect back on the past year, we like to remember our favorite breakfasts for each month of 2018. Here they are!
January: Bitter cold January is always hallmarked by renewed devotion to healthy eating, especially after our usual holiday indulgence! For January, we love a bowl of our Old Fashioned Oatmeal with skim milk, raisins, and brown sugar!
February: Share the love! In February we always share a plate of Cherry Kijafa Crepes with someone special. Nothing says “I love you” like a delicious breakfast for two!
March: In March we begin to dream of Spring! And with Spring, all we can think of are fresh eggs. Ok, and Easter Bunnies too! In March we love to rotate through our selection of Eggs Benedict dishes, they are all so good!
April: In April, when Spring finally does arrive in the Mile High City, we can’t get enough fresh veggies! We love the Florentine Omelette, filled with fresh spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms and Swiss to celebrate the changing season!
May: We love a zesty and fresh Lemon Poppy Seed Waffle in May! It reminds us of a dish our mother’s would love - a golden brown Belgian waffle baked with lemon zest and poppy seeds, served with fresh whipped butter and homemade warm blueberry compote syrup.
June: Bring on the fresh berries! Each June we celebrate the return of fresh berry season with fresh Strawberry Crepes, fresh Strawberry Waffles, and Blueberry Pancakes!
July: With summer vacation in full swing, we can think of nothing better than a leisurely breakfast on our patio! We usually opt for French Crepes with a side of Fresh Fruit for the warmest days of the year.
August: Back to school month! For all the kids who are sad to see the end of summer vacation, we recommend Chocolate Chip Pancakes to sweeten the mood!
September: September’s golden days have us thinking about cooler weather to come! September also marks green chile season so we always opt for the Pork Green Chile Omelette this time of year!
October: With fall in full swing, we always try Sarah’s Pumpkin Pancakes! They are so delicious and really capture the flavor of the season.
November: November marks the beginning of the holidays and usually brings a bit of chill to Denver. To keep us warm, we love to order Biscuits with Sausage Gravy and Eggs.
December: ‘Tis the season to celebrate! Each December we are so excited to celebrate the return of the OPH holiday specials! The Ho! Ho! Ho! Plate and special holiday sausage links are our favorites!
From all your friends at the Original Pancake House in Denver, we wish you a very happy holiday and best wishes for the new year! We look forward to seeing you in 2019!
'Tis the Season for Pancake Cheer
‘Tis the season to spread Pancake Cheer! We’re in the full swing of the holiday season here at the Original Pancake House in Denver and are enjoying all the holiday specials on the menu! If you haven’t tried our Eggnog French Toast, our very special holiday sausage links, or everyone’s favorite Ho! Ho! Ho! Pancakes, you are in for a special treat on your next visit when you go out for breakfast in Denver!
If you are like us and are just getting started on your holiday shopping list, we want to share with you an easy idea to take care of just about everyone on your list this year. OPH gift cards make perfect stocking stuffers or easy gifts for all those hard-to-shop-for folks. For teachers, coaches, favorite yoga instructors, hair stylists, neighbors, and the mail delivery person, consider giving the gift of a delicious breakfast out. Have a persnickety in-law? No problem, give them pancake cheer with an OPH gift card! Everyone loves breakfast and you can take care of your entire list in one stop!
From all your friends at the Original Pancake House in Denver, we wish you a joyous holiday season. We hope to see you this month when you go out for breakfast in Denver so that we can extend our holiday wishes to you in person! May your days be merry and bright!