DIY: Breakfast Inspired Halloween Costumes!
It’s crunch time - what to dress up as for Halloween? We always opt for breakfast inspired costumes, here are a few of our favorite ideas for easy DIY Halloween costumes.
French Toast - This cute costume idea is a great little play on words and is very easy to throw together! First, find a striped, boat-neck shirt, a beret and perhaps a little red scarf for your neck. Then create your “toast” by using brown and yellow poster-board to create the bread and butter. Use string to tie around your neck and...Voila! French Toast!
Bacon and Eggs - This breakfast-y costume is sure to make everyone’s mouth water! Head to a fabric or craft store to get large pieces of felt - white and yellow for the egg, and red and white for the bacon. Cut appropriate bacon and egg shapes for your front and back. Either glue or sew pieces together for this complete breakfast look! And to add a little fun, the “egg” can add devil accessories to become a “Deviled Egg” and the “bacon” can add a “Kevin” name tag to become “Kevin Bacon!”
Breakfast of Champions: Choose your favorite breakfast item - perhaps a waffle, maybe eggs and bacon, or a stack of pancakes. Create your favorite breakfast item costume using a large piece of felt or poster board for each side of your body. Then, visit the dollar store or craft store to find some ribbons or perhaps a small trophy to carry around as a prop and you are “Breakfast of Champions!”
If you join us for breakfast in Denver on Halloween, you will see our staff all dressed up in fun and spooky costumes! Hope you have a safe and happy Halloween, Denver!
Colorado’s Best Pumpkin Patches!
With Halloween just around the corner, it is time to pick pumpkins! We love to head out on a 
crisp fall day to one of our local Colorado pumpkin patches each year to pick a few pumpkins for our front porch. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite pumpkin patches in Colorado for you to explore and enjoy with the whole family. And of course, we highly recommend you visit us for breakfast in Denver at the Original Pancake House before you head out to the fields, you’ll need a fully belly to help you on your pumpkin search!
Anderson Farms
Location: 6728 County Rd 3 1/4, Erie, CO 80516
Dates: September 21st through October 31st, 2016
This pumpkin patch has something for every age group! With 70 varieties of pumpkins to pick, hayrides, barrel cart rides, petting zoo, zombie paint ball for the older kids, an enormous corn maze, and delicious food offerings, you could spend all day (and night!) at this family-friendly pumpkin patch. Look for the giant pumpkin a top their grain silo as you approach.
Mueller’s Little Farm
Location: 6190 W Bowles Ave, Littleton, CO 80123
Dates: October 15th & 16th, October 22nd & 23rd, October 29th & 30th, 2016
Mueller’s Little Farm hosts their pumpkin patch during the last three weekends of October. This patch features free entry for the whole family, several pumpkin varieties including “jumbo crazy big pumpkins,” home-baked goods, hot coffee and cider, a magic show, toys, slides, a hay bale pyramid, and chickens to feed.
Rock Creek Farms
Location: 2005 S 112th St, Broomfield, CO 80020
Dates: September 24th through October 31st, 2016
Rock Creek Farm features over 100 acres of U-Pick-Em pumpkin fields to explore. In addition they have a hay bale maze and over six miles of corn mazes. Tots will love to check out their pigs, goats, ponies, donkeys, chickens and other farm animals and fall festive treats including caramel apples and baked goods. Moms and Dads will enjoy perusing the selection of fall decorations such as gourds, Indian corn, straw bales and more.
Mile High Farm
Location: 11 Cavanaugh Rd, Bennett, CO 80102
Dates: Saturday & Sunday from October 1st through October 30th, 2016
Mile High Farms features an antique tractor hay ride to and from the pumpkin patch, big and little kid sized corn mazes, bouncy castles, wagon and tractor tire corn pits, Grover’s Garden farm animals, unlimited barrel cart rides, and a farmer’s playground.
Flat Acre Farm
Location: 11321 Dransfeldt Rd, Parker, CO 80134
Dates: September 24th through October 31st, 2016
Douglas County’s newest locally owned and operated family farm, Flat Acres Farm includes a pumpkin patch, a giant bale maze and haunted maze, and a petting zoo. Kids of all ages will enjoy activities including giant jenga, cornhole, duck races, bouncy houses, and a giant swing set.
Happy fall and happy pumpkin picking Denver!
Big Batch Breakfasts to Feed a Crowd
The holidays are here! At the Original Pancake House in Denver, we’ve been celebrating the season already with the return of our holiday specials menu, you can check out all the scrumptious holiday treats we have for breakfast in Denver here! For many of us, the holiday season means we have a full house with family and friends and neighbors coming to call. So how do you prepare to feed a crowd for holiday breakfast or brunch? You go BIG and make a big batch breakfast to feed a crowd. Here are a few of our favorite breakfasts ideas that will feed a large, hungry group this holiday!
Your family and friends will love the Tex-Mex flavors in this recipe (courtesy of Southern Living Magazine). Eggs combined with milk, tortilla, peppers, onion, jack cheese and chiles make a delicious and flavorful breakfast casserole. We also love this recipe because it works best if you prepare it the night before. That means on the morning of your large holiday brunch, you just pop it in the oven with no prep or clean-up! That’s a win in our book.
Baked Eggs with Chorizo and Potatoes
Crispy chorizo and potatoes topped with eggs all baked together in a big cast-iron skillet - what’s not to love? This hearty and flavorful breakfast is sure to be a crowd pleaser and covers all breakfast staples in one big pan. YUM.
For those with a sweet tooth, this recipe is for you! Glazed with honey and topped with seasonal and nutty pecans, these breakfast rolls are delightful and work well to bring as a hostess gift or to act as the centerpiece on your breakfast table. Serve these pecan honey buns to a large group of guests with a yogurt bar and breakfast is done!
Who doesn’t enjoy a breakfast pie this time of year? Quiche are so pretty and easy to make in advance. You can even save time by using store-bought dough. When we’re preparing breakfast for a large crowd, we like to make a few different quiche options to satisfy every taste. Our favorites include classic ham and cheddar, spinach and gruyere, and bacon and potato. One of the best features of quiche is that you can put almost anything in them and come up with a delicious breakfast meal for your family and friends!
Whatever your plans for the holiday season, we hope you enjoy time with loved ones! And after your hosting duties are complete, come on by the Original Pancake House in Denver and say hi! We’ll treat you to some of our favorite holiday breakfasts!
Best Breakfasts Around the World
Summer is the season to travel and we love hearing about the adventures our customers experience as they travel the globe over the holiday months. Our customers’ stories have us wondering, what are the best breakfasts to experience around the world? We decided to create a breakfast travel wishlist in case we are ever able to book that ‘round the world’ plane ticket! If your travels take you to any of these destinations, snap a photo and show us the yummy food you tried!
Mexico: When visiting our southern neighbor, be sure to order the Chilaquiles for breakfast. You’ll enjoy a tortilla topped with eggs, red or green chile sauce, cheese, beans, and sometimes shredded bacon or chicken.
England: One must order a full English breakfast when visiting the U.K. You’ll get a hearty plate with eggs, baked beans, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes, sausage or bacon, and toast. Sounds good to us!
Australia: When in the land down under, one must order toast with vegemite for breakfast. Vegemite is a thick, black Australian food spread made from leftover brewers' yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives. Some people love it, others not so much, let us know what you think!
Japan: Traditional Japanese breakfasts usually include miso soup, steamed rice, and boiled fish. Now that sounds like a breakfast our doctor would approve of…
Turkey: In turkey, as with other Mediterranean countries, you can expect lots of fresh produce including feta cheese, tomato, cucumber, olives, toast, cherry jam, spicy Turkish sausage, and of course Turkish tea.
Venezuela: In Venezuela, breakfast arepas are like a grilled pancake or tortilla or sorts filled with assorted meats and sausage, cheese, and are served with avocado salad, eggs and beans. Now that sounds like a breakfast that will get you through the day!
Of course, we think a classic American breakfast with pancakes, eggs, sausage, and home fries really can’t be beat! When you return from your world travels, be sure to stop in and say hi at the Original Pancake House in Denver, we’ll cook you up a breakfast that tastes like home!
Blueberry Spectacular!
Blueberries are truly a remarkable little berry! They are a good source of vitamin K1, vitamin C, manganese and several other beneficial plant compounds like anthocyanins. Consuming blueberries on a regular basis may help prevent heart disease, improve brain health and help moderate blood sugar levels. Not to mention they taste divine and work well for just about any meal of the day, we certainly like to have them for breakfast in Denver this time of year when they are in season and at the peak of their flavor. Here are a few ways to incorporate blueberries into every meal of the day!
Breakfast: Well that’s an easy one! At the Original Pancake House in Denver we love to have buttermilk blueberry pancakes dusted with powdered sugar and served with homemade blueberry compote or our homemade Belgian waffles with plump ripe blueberries. Breakfast doesn’t get much better than that!
Lunch: For lunch, try this recipe for Blueberry and Feta salad with mint dressing. You’ll get your greens, healthy protein, and of course delicious berries. This salad can be made ahead and will keep for a couple of days, so it is a great lunch to bring to work or even to serve at a summer picnic.
Dinner: The blueberry dipping sauce really stands out on these Lemon Herb Chicken Skewers. Kids and adults alike will love this summer grilled entree.
Dessert: Don’t forget dessert! With just three ingredients, you can make these blueberry ice pops in a jiffy. They’ll be a delightful and healthy frozen treat on a hot day!
Enjoy fresh blueberry season, Denver! And join us next time you are craving these delectable little berries for breakfast, we know you’ll love our blueberry pancakes and waffles!
Healthy Summer Breakfasts
At The Original Pancake House in Denver, we often associate summer with relaxed mornings and leisurely summer breakfasts. In reality, some summer days are quite rushed, scooting the kids off to camp, or getting up early to hit the trails before it gets too hot. For those days, we have collected a few of our favorite make-at-home, easy-breezy summer breakfast recipes.
Here they are!
No-Bake Chocolate Energy Bites: We love these because they make a delicious and easy breakfast, or snack on the go! Freeze them and save them for a day when you are short on time!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup no stir almond butter or creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- Up to 4 tsp warm water , as needed
- 1 cup old fashioned oats (raw)
- 3/4 cup toasted or raw coconut
- 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
- 6 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, stir together almond butter, honey, vanilla and cocoa powder. If mixture seems too thick stir in 2 tsp warm water to thin. Add oats, coconut, flaxseed meal and chocolate chips and stir until evenly coated. At this point if mixture still doesn't stick well, stir in up to 2 tsp water as needed. Transfer mixture to refrigerator or freezer and chill until nearly set and easier to handle.
- Remove from refrigerator and shape into 1-inch balls. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.
Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie - this recipe wins points for being super easy (all you need is a blender!), and for using up the inevitable watermelon leftovers you’ll have after buying a whole melon.
Simply combine the following ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth:
- 1 1/2 cups fresh watermelon, cubed (black seeds removed)
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/2 ripe banana previously peeled, chopped and frozen
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 Tbsp chia or hemp seeds (optional)
Overnight Blueberry Cobbler Oatmeal: Make this one the night before and it’s ready to eat for a morning on the run!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 plus cup plus 2 tablespoons quick-cooking oats
- 1/2 cup milk, I used almond but any milk will do
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar (I use 2 if I drizzle on extra honey)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- pecans, optional
- honey, optional
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, stir together oats, milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Fold in blueberries.
- Divide evenly between 2 small bowls and cover to refrigerate. Leave in the fridge for at least 5 hours or overnight. Enjoy with a drizzle of honey and your favorite nuts, if desired.
And for those days that you do have time for a leisurely summer breakfast, come in and join us at The Original Pancake House for breakfast in Denver! We’ll take good care of you and your belly! Happy Summer!
Berries are Back!
At the Original Pancake House in Denver, we love the beginning of summer. Long summer days, leisurely morning breakfasts, and the return of fresh berries make us smile this time of year. There is nothing quite so delectable as perfectly ripe and sweet fresh seasonal berries topping your favorite pancakes, waffles, french toast and crepes! Here are a few of our favorite dishes which showcase the best, most delicious, fresh berries:
Fresh Seasonal Berry French Toast
Our golden brown French toast topped with fresh seasonal berries and our fresh whipped cream. Served with our warm strawberry syrup.
Blueberry Pancakes
Buttermilk pancakes filled with plump blueberries and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and warm blueberry compote syrup.
Strawberry Belgian Waffle
Our golden brown Belgian waffle lightly dusted with powdered sugar, then topped with fresh strawberries and our fresh whipped cream. Served with our warm strawberry syrup.
Seasonal Berry Crepes
Three delicate crepes rolled and topped with fresh seasonal berries, our fresh whipped cream and dusted with powdered sugar. Served with our warm strawberry syrup.
The next time you are out for breakfast in Denver, be sure to stop in and try one of our seasonal berry breakfasts, they are berry delicious!
Congratulations to the Class of 2018!
To all the graduating high school seniors in Denver, we say, congratulations and well-done! You’ve worked hard over the past four years to reach this momentous occasion and now you are off to great things! Graduation is such a special time, enjoy the celebrations and summer ahead. Hopefully you’ll have time for a few leisurely breakfasts in Denver with your friends before moving on to work and college in the fall.
This year, we send out a special congratulations to one of our staff members at The Original Pancake House, Tianna Morris. Tianna is a host at our Cherry Hills location and will graduate from Vista High School this May. After graduation, Tianna is planning to join the U.S. Navy! From all of us at The Original Pancake House, we say congratulations Tianna! We are so proud of you and wish you all the best in your Navy career. We will miss you!
And to the Class of 2018, your journey is just beginning. The world is waiting for you to bestow great things upon it. Congratulations on your graduation, may your knowledge carry you far. And our biggest piece of advice on your graduation is to make sure you start every day with a good breakfast
A Topping for Every Pancake
If you want pancakes for breakfast in Denver, look no further than the Original Pancake House! We are proud to say that we make the most perfect, golden brown pancakes you’ll ever have. If you are a purist, we will always have our classic buttermilk pancakes topped with whipped butter and served with our warm maple syrup, but for those who are feeling adventurous, we have a topping for every taste!
For those who love our classic, American buttermilk pancakes, try one of these favorites inspired by the American heartland:
49'er Flap Jacks - From the mother lode country. Plate-sized, chewy, and tender. Served with whipped butter and warm syrup.
Potato Pancakes - Served with sour cream or cinnamon applesauce.
Sourdough Flap Jacks - This recipe was the favorite of the klondike gold rush. Served with whipped butter and warm syrup.
Georgia Pecan Pancakes - Buttermilk pancakes filled and topped with warm toasted pecans. Lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and warm tropical syrup.
For those that are feeling like something a little exotic, you have to try one of these delightful takes on classic 
pancakes:
Swedish Pancakes - Authentic lacy Swedish pancakes are always a treat. Served with lingonberry sauce from Sweden and whipped butter.
Coconut Pancakes - Buttermilk pancakes filled and topped with warm toasted coconut. Lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and tropical syrup.
Hawaiian Pancakes - Buttermilk pancakes filled with crushed pineapple and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and warm tropical syrup.
For the young, and the young at heart, we always recommend folks try our Bacon Pancakes, Blueberry Pancakes, Banana Pancakes or our Chocolate Chip Pancakes. All are served with whipped butter and warm syrup of course!
And last, but certainly not least, if you are feeling fancy you must try our signature Dutch Baby Pancake which is oven baked and served with whipped butter, lemon and powdered sugar, or our signature Apple Pancake which is oven baked with fresh Granny Smith apples and pure Sinkiang cinnamon glaze. We promise you won’t go home hungry after one of these breakfast works of art!
What is an Irish Breakfast?
St. Patrick’s Day is this coming Saturday and we’re excited to celebrate this delicious (and lucky!) food holiday at The Original Pancake House in Denver. In Ireland they say “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper” which means we should all start the day with a large cooked breakfast - now that is an idea we fully support!
In Ireland, the tradition of a full Irish breakfast was started for farm workers to give them energy and sustenance for a full-day of outdoor labor. The meal was typically created with farm fresh produce and homemade breakfast staples, all warmed together in a big frying pan with a generous square of Irish butter. Today’s Irish breakfast usually consists of some or all of the following: bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and perhaps some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash. There will also be toast, butter, marmalade, and lots of tea to drink.
Today, most Irish folk don’t have time for such an elaborate breakfast during the week. However, this favorite breakfast meal is savored on lazy weekend mornings and is always served at Irish bed and breakfasts and inns.
At The Original Pancake House in Denver, we serve our own version of an Irish breakfast, our Corned Beef Hash and Eggs. Inspired by the flavors of Ireland, this dish includes our own homemade freshly ground corned beef brisket and onion with diced potatoes. It comes served with two basted eggs and three of our wonderful buttermilk pancakes. If you are looking for a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast in Denver, stop on in and try it!
From all of us at The Original Pancake House, we wish you a Happy St. Patty’s Day!
Call ahead, we’ll save you a spot in line!
Our holiday gift to you Denver - now you can call ahead and save a spot in line at The Original Pancake House in Denver! Starting Monday, December 11th, you can now call ahead and we’ll put your name on the waiting list.
Its as easy as…
- Call when you are on your way!
- We will let you know the current wait time and add you to our waitlist.
- Check in when you arrive and we’ll update you on the status of your table.
We now offer our call ahead wait list every day of the week. Because less waiting means more time to enjoy breakfast with friends and family!
Be sure to add our two locations to your phone:
The Original Pancake House Cherry Hills - University at Orchard Road
Call: 303-795-0573
The Original Pancake House Denver Tech Center - 8000 E. Belleview Ave.
Call: 303-224-0093
We hope to see you soon, Denver! Happy holidays!
Breakfast Warmer - What will it be? Coffee versus tea!
The coffee versus tea debate has been percolating for decades - which is healthier, which should you choose, which is the best breakfast beverage? Studies show that both beverages contain many health and energy benefits, here is the break-down.
Caffeine - Coffee typically has about 100 mg of caffeine per cup, whereas tea contains 25 - 75 mg per cup depending on the variety (black teas typically have more caffeine than green teas). Depending on time of day (or just how sleepy you are feeling!) you may opt for one beverage over the over. Coffee releases caffeine in a quick burst, whereas tea is more a slow, sustained release of energy over a longer period. 
Health benefits - Coffee contains key nutrients like potassium, niacin, manganese, and magnesium. It also may protect against certain types of cancers, reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, and protect your liver. Further, coffee supports brain function and helps prevent Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and can help ward off depression. Tea, on the other hand, reduces inflammation, promotes mouth health, reduces risk for certain cancers, and improves insulin sensitivity. Tea may help prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and may decrease the risk of heart disease.
Taste - Both coffee and tea come in a variety of flavors sourced from around the world. Different coffee beans will have different flavor profiles due to the unique terroir of the growing environment. Further, the brew can vary greatly depending on how the coffee is roasted and if any spices such as vanilla or cinnamon are added. Tea comes in a wide variety of flavors as well, though most are derived from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Tea flavors vary greatly depending on how the tea leaves are processed.
Whichever breakfast beverage you favor, you are sure to get a boost of energy, many health benefits, and of course something to warm you on a cold morning. We serve both hot coffee and tea at The Original Pancake House in Denver, so the next time you are out for breakfast, stop in and let us know which one you prefer. Cheers!