blueberries

Winter Warmers – Breakfast ideas to warm even the coldest mornings!

blueberries-531209_1280

When the barometer dips and the winds howl, you often need a good reason to jump out of bed on a cold winter’s morning in Colorado.  Warm up your Denver breakfast table with a delicious meal to share with family and friends.  After all, breakfast is still the most important meal of the day!  Here are a few of our favorite recipes that will have you ready to rise and shine on even the frostiest mornings.

Heavenly Hot Chocolate

– For your kiddos, a warm cup of cocoa might be just the thing to jump-start the day.  Simply add ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ cup water, ¼ cup sugar, and salt to a medium sauce pan. Whisk over medium heat just until beginning to bubble. Whisk in 3 cups whole milk and 1 ½ cups half and half. Bring mixture to simmer. Remove from heat; whisk in 1 tsp. vanilla extract.   Serve with whipped cream!  And for the adults and coffee drinkers in the house, mix hot chocolate with coffee for a delicious mocha!

Steel Cut Oats –

A piping hot bowl of oatmeal is always a comforting treat on a chilly morning.  Simply prepare oats according to package instructions, add milk or buttermilk, and then top with a variety of delicious toppings.  Some of our favorite toppings include sliced apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg, or cranberries and pecans, or banana, golden raisins, and dried cherries.  It is always fun to play around with your favorite toppings to make the meal special.

Root Vegetable Hash and Eggs –

A warm veggie hash is always a great winter meal! Simply slice and dice your favorite root vegetables.  We like sweet potatoes, yellow potatoes, beets, and a little onion and garlic.  Season with salt, pepper and olive oil, spread evenly on a baking pan and roast in a 400 degree oven until veggies are soft.  Serve hash with your choice of fried or poached eggs for a colorful breakfast treat!

Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and White Cheddar Cheese –

The smell of scrambled eggs cooking in the skillet will rouse even the sleepiest bear out of hibernation!  We love to prepare classic scrambled eggs and add a little bit of spinach and white cheddar cheese to spice up this classic dish.  And of course we always serve our scrambies with a thick slice of toast!

Of course, if the kitchen is just too chilly to make your own breakfast, come visit your friends at Original Pancake House!  Join us at one of our two Denver restaurants to enjoy a variety of warming winter meals including our Green Chile Eggs Benedict, Cowboy Omelet, and of course our famous Apple Pancake!  Stay warm, Denver!


Holiday Blog

Celebrate the Season with Special Holiday Breakfast Treats

Holiday Blog Post Title

 

 

‘Tis the season for family, celebrations, and of course many delicious, traditional holiday meals.  Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, or Festivus, you are likely planning to join friends and loved ones for at least a couple holiday feasts.  At Original Pancake House, we like to make the season bright with special morning treats.  Here are a few holiday breakfast recipes that we like to cook for family and friends.

 

Christmas “Make-Ahead” Egg Casserole:

This breakfast dish is wonderful because you can prepare everything the night before and simply pop it in the oven on Christmas morning!

 

Ingredients:

12 large eggs

1/2 loaf day old bread (sourdough is best)

1 package Polidori Italian sausage

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions: At least 2 hours and up to 12 hours before cooking, assemble ingredients.  Grease large casserole dish. Beat all 12 eggs until fluffy, set aside.  Tear day-old bread into bite-sized cubes, set aside.  Cook ground sausage, breaking up meat into small pieces as it cooks, set aside and let cool.  Pour eggs and bread cubes into casserole dish, ensuring bread becomes submerged and soaked in eggs.  Add cooled sausage and mix well.  Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover casserole dish and refrigerate overnight.  On Christmas morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Uncover casserole and place in oven, cook for 30 minutes or until eggs are set.  Sprinkle cheddar cheese over top of casserole and return to oven for additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.  Serve warm with a side of salsa or hot sauce.

 

Overnight Egg-nog French Toast

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter (melt the butter while the dish is baking), melted

7 large eggs

2 cups eggnog

1 1/2 ounces rum (optional)

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Salt

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 loaf French bread, cut into 1 inch slices

Powdered sugar

 

Directions:

Beat together eggs, eggnog, rum, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Dip both sides of each slice of bread in this mixture and place them side by side in a greased casserole dish. Pour any remaining mixture over the slices. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake in 450 degree oven on bottom rack for 20-25 minutes (watch the bottom doesn't get too brown). Place on rack to cool slightly and dust with powdered sugar. Serve with Canadian maple syrup and the melted butter.

 

Gingerbread Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground dried ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup molasses

1 1/2 cups water

 

Directions:

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon in a bowl; set aside. Beat the egg in a separate mixing bowl with the vanilla and molasses until smooth. Whisk in the water until completely incorporated. Stir the flour mixture into the molasses mixture until just combined -- a few lumps are okay. Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium-high heat. Drop batter by large spoonfuls onto the griddle, and cook until bubbles form and the edges are dry. Flip, and cook until browned on the other side. Repeat with remaining batter.

 

Don’t forget to treat yourself this holiday season as well. Join us for the best breakfast in Denver and be sure to try our scrumptious holiday specials, which include Egg Nog French Toast, Ho! Ho! Ho! Pancakes, Holiday Link Sausage and Eggs, and the Holiday Plate.

 

From all your friends at Original Pancake House, we wish you and your family a very happy holiday season.


Family

End of Summer Family Bucket List

Happy Family Vacation

With the start of a new school year fast approaching, consider heading out for a family fun day before the end of vacation.  To make the day special, start with a hearty breakfast in Denver at Original Pancake House. With menu favorites such as Chocolate Chip Pancakes or OPH Smiley Cakes for the kids, and a plethora of egg dishes and more for the parents, everyone will leave full, happy, and ready to enjoy a day of adventure.  Read on to learn about a few of our favorite local spots to spend the day with the family.

 

Dinosaur Ridge

A part of the Morrison Fossil Area National Park, Dinosaur Ridge is a great place for families to see actual dinosaur footprints sealed by time. Dinosaur Ridge is famous for its Exhibit Hall and summer camps where young people can learn more about paleontology.

 

Cherry Creek State Park

A perfect spot for nature lovers, Cherry Creek State Park offers families a relaxing spot to spend the day. Enjoy hiking, biking, or horseback riding on the many trails throughout the park.  If it is a hot day, rent a canoe or kayak from the marina and picnic on the sandy beaches surrounding the reservoir.  Cherry Creek Park even offers an “airstrip” for flying model airplanes and a family shooting range.

 

Elitch Gardens

Summer vacation isn’t complete until you spend a day at Elitch Gardens.  Ride the slides to cool off in the water park and then test your adventurous spirit on the roller coasters and thrill rides.  There are attractions, rides, concerts and entertainment for kids ages 4 -100 which means the whole family will enjoy the day.

 

Tiny Town

Open to the public since 1920, Tiny Town, is a miniature collection of houses, buildings, and railroads to entertain kids of all ages. With more than 90 buildings on display, visitors enjoy stepping back in time with a ride on the railroad and marveling at all of the creations. Located close to Morrison, you get the added bonus of enjoying mountain surroundings on this trip!

 

The Children’s Museum

If you have younger children, Denver’s Children’s Museum is the place to go to “learn through play.”  With interactive exhibits, educational programs, and play areas, the kids will enjoy explorative play with everything from rockets, to bubbles, nature, and painting.

 

We hope you enjoy these last few weeks of summer, Denver!


Fiesta Bowl

Cool Breakfast Treats to Beat the Summer Heat!

Fiesta BowlEvery year in Denver we have a few weeks that are just plain hot.  When the thermometer has already reached 80 degrees before breakfast, sometimes you need a cool treat to start your day off on the right note.  Here are a few ideas for a refreshing morning meal!

Frozen Nutty Banana:

Cut one firm (but ripe) banana in half and un-peal. Arrange on a small baking sheet or freezer-safe plate, and spread each half evenly with 1 tablespoon of nut butter. Next add toppings such as granola, chia seeds, or flax seeds and cinnamon. Insert a popsicle stick or skewer into the cut end of each half, and freeze until solid (at least 2-3 hours).

 

Breakfast Parfait:

Grab a large glass or ice cream bowl andadd a scoop of your favorite yogurt, fruit and granola.  Continue adding layers until the glass or bowl is full.  Enjoy!

 

Breakfast Smoothie:

Blend one cup of milk, almond milk, or soy milk with ice and one cup of frozen or fresh fruit.  Berries and bananas work best!  For a thicker shake and extra calcium, add a little yogurt to your blender.  For an alternative to the classic fruit smoothie, replace the fruit and yogurt with a banana and 2 tablespoons of peanut or almond butter and blend until smooth.

 

Nutty Apple:

Select a large apple and slice in half.  Remove the core, plus a little additional apple flesh to create a large hole in the center of each half.  Fill each hole with peanut or sunflower butter and granola and reassemble apple.  Wrap the apple in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and enjoy on the run!

 

If you are dining out for breakfast in Denver, visit the Original Pancake House! We have several cool treats on our menu including the Fiesta Bowl, a healthy breakfast of non-fat yogurt and our Homemade Granola topped with fresh fruit. Or try our Homemade Granola, a healthy, delectable dish made from thick oats, pecans, raisins, and coconut seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg, and served with skim milk.    Enjoy the summer!


World Cup Soccer

A World Cup breakfast – what do professional soccer players eat?

World Cup SoccerThe World Cup captured our attention this summer as we watched teams from all corners of the globe compete in the quest for futbol glory. As World Cup players are endurance athletes – the average player runs six to eight miles per match – they require up to 4,000 calories per day to keep their bodies strong and performing at max ability. In order to keep players healthy and full, many teams travel with their own set of nutritionists and chefs to monitor each player’s intake of calories, vitamins and minerals. In addition, the team nutritionist must prepare food that the players will eat and enjoy and as a result, many teams brought their own food supplies to ensure a “taste of home.” For example, the Italian team brought pasta, parmesan cheese, and wine to Brazil, while the Mexican team traveled with pozole, and the U.S. team brought peanut butter, jelly, Cheerios, and A1 Steak Sauce.

So what do the soccer players eat for breakfast? According to the U.S. Team Chef Bryson Billapando, breakfast chicken enchiladas were the most popular morning meal offering for the U.S. team. Instead of breakfast pancakes, he creates enchiladas filled with slow-roasted tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and garlic, shredded chicken, eggs, and homemade enchilada sauce. As the players require a carb-heavy diet, mixed with high quality proteins and healthy fats (no butter!), they also often enjoy rice and beans, or even pasta with their morning meals to fuel up for the day.

To ensure players are getting their required intake of vitamins and minerals, Chef Billapando requires each individual to fill his plate with at least two varieties of vegetables and multiple servings of fruit. According to team staff, the U.S. players eat an entire case, or 25 lbs., of avocados each day!

The next time you are enjoying a pancake breakfast in Denver (smothered in butter and syrup!); think of the World Cup players and their morning plate of rice and beans. We’re glad we get to enjoy pancakes and waffles!


2014 Anniversary Tent

Original Pancake House Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt

2014 Anniversary Tent FrontC

It’s time to celebrate! We are excited to celebrate our 18th anniversary in Denver this June.  That’s a full 18 years of delicious Denver breakfast tradition!

In honor of our anniversary, we’re hosting the week-long Mile High Anniversary Online Scavenger Hunt.  Kicking off on our anniversary on Wednesday, June 18, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ophdenver daily through Tuesday, June 24 to join in the fun and enter for your chance to win one of four great prizes!

Each day during the Scavenger Hunt, we’ll post an Original Pancake House trivia question on our Facebook page.  Participants simply need to find the answer and reply in the comments section of the respective Facebook post.  HINT: our website www.ophdenver.com has a lot of titillating information on your favorite Denver pancake house! On Friday, June 27, we will pick one Grand Prize winner and three additional First Prize winners from the correct entries to the daily trivia questions!

OPH Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt prizes include:

One (1) Grand Prize: Original Pancake House Gift Package

·        $50 OPH Denver Gift Card

·        Adult-size OPH Denver apron

·        Child-size OPH Denver apron

·        OPH Denver wooden spoon

·        OPH Denver mug

Three (3) First Prizes: Original Pancake House Gift Cards

·        $50 OPH Denver Gift Card

In order to win, participants must “Like” OPH Denver’s Facebook page.  Remember, we’ll only accept one answer per daily challenge, but participants are encouraged to submit an answer to each of the four daily trivia questions.  As an added bonus, participants can receive an additional entry in the prize give-away by sharing the scavenger hunt daily challenge posts on their own Facebook pages.

We are excited to celebrate our Mile High Anniversary with you, Denver!  Thank you for 18 wonderful years of breakfast tradition.  Now for the Scavenger Hunt…on your mark, get set, go!


Celebrate Berry Season

Celebrate Berry Season!

Celebrate Berry Season!At the Original Pancake House, we love many things about the summer season.  One of the things we look forward to most is fresh berry season which begins in late May and early June throughout the country.  Many of our breakfast menu items feature berries including our popular Seasonal Berry Crepes, Strawberry Belgian Waffles, Blueberry Belgian Waffles, Seasonal Berry French Toast, and our Blueberry Pancakes. Next time you are heading out for breakfast in Denver, be sure to try one of these berry delicious breakfast dishes!

 

Did you know you can celebrate berry season in Colorado by picking your own fresh fruits?  There is nothing quite as delicious as a strawberry or raspberry warmed by the sun and picked straight from the vine.  Here are a few places to visit this berry season:

 

Berry Patch Farms

: Berry Patch Farms is an organic farm and orchard featuring Pick-Your-Own strawberries, cherries and plums.  Located in Brighton, Colo., this local farm’s picking season begins in June.  Be sure to call in advance for hours of operation and seasonal fruit availability.

 

Hoot ‘N Howl Farm:

Located near Gunbarrel, just outside of Boulder, Colo., Hoot ‘N Howl Farm grows a plethora of fruits and veggies throughout the summer growing season.  Their berry selection includes a variety of raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and elderberries.  Check their website for fruit availability and U-Pick harvest schedules.

 

Strawberry Days Festival:

For a full weekend of strawberry fun, plan a visit to Glenwood Springs, Colo. for the 117th annual Strawberry Days Festival.  Held June 20-22, Strawberry Days features arts and crafts, family fun activities, an old fashioned carnival, and parade.  Free strawberries and ice cream are served to all on Saturday afternoon, a festival tradition for over 100 years!

 

Happy berry season and happy picking, Denver!

 


Happy Memorial Day

Meaningful Ways to Celebrate this Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day

Memorial Day marks the non-official beginning of summer.  This favorite American holiday is often filled with BBQ’s, time spent with family and friends, and perhaps the first family trip to the pool.  At Original Pancake House, we love to celebrate this holiday by taking our families out to a leisurely breakfast in Denver!

In addition to relaxing with family and friends, Memorial Day is meant to be a day of remembrance and a time to celebrate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.  Read on to learn other popular ways to celebrate this Memorial Day.

Displaying the flag:

Flying the American flag on Memorial Day is a great way to show thanks to those who have served our country.   According to tradition, the flag should remain at half-mast until noon to honor the men and women who have fallen in combat. Remember it is customary to put your flag up at dawn and take it down by dusk.

Attend the Memorial Day Parade:

Denver will host a Memorial Day parade on Saturday, May 24 at Civic Center Park.  The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by a Veterans Memorial Day tribute at the Veterans Monument.

Learn Your Family History:

Memorial Day is a great time to pull out the family photo album and share your own family history with your children. Many of our grandparents and great-grandparents served our country and sharing their story with the next generation is a great way to honor and remember their sacrifices.

Display Memorial Day Poppies

: Red poppies are a symbol of Memorial Day inspired by John McCrea’s 1915 war poem In Flanders Fields.  Since the First World War, red poppies have become a way to “keep faith with all who died,” and are a memorial tradition in the United States, England, France, and more than 50 other countries.

On behalf of the Original Pancake House family, we would like to thank all of the men and women who have served our country.  Happy Memorial Day, Denver!


Eggstravaganza

Spring Eggstravaganza Recap

2014 Eggstravaganza FB cover_Final

As April comes to an end, we also close the curtains on our month-long Spring Eggstravaganza.  We’ve had so much fun celebrating eggs with you this past month.  One feature of our Eggstravaganza was a weekly Egg-off contest between several of the Original Pancake House favorites.  Our customers voted on their favorite egg breakfast dishes via Facebook and the results are in:

Week 1:  Fried Eggs claimed victory over Scrambled in our first weekly Egg-off.

Week 2: Denver Omelet took top prize in a heated contest with the ever-popular Joe.

Week 3: After a tight race, Green Chile Eggs Benedict inched ahead of Classic Eggs Benedict to take the win by a nose.

Week 4: In a close contest, Ham & Cheese Omelet earned the win over the Florentine Omelet.

All were close-fought “battles” and for good reason; we have a hard time choosing our favorite egg dishes as well!  As a closeout to the Eggstravaganza, we’d also like to share a few additional Eggstra Fun Facts about Eggs.

Did you know…

  • Each of the roughly 280 million laying birds in the U.S. produces from 250 to 300 eggs a year. In total, the U.S. produces about 75 billion eggs a year, about 10% of the world supply.
  • Normally, hens with white ear lobes lay white eggs, and hens with red ear lobes lay brown eggs. There is no nutritional difference between white and brown eggs.
  • A mother hen turns her eggs about 50 times per day.
  • The most expensive egg ever sold was the Faberge “Winter Egg” sold in 1994 for $5.6 million.
  • Egg size and grade are not related to one another. Size is determined by weight per dozen. Younger hens tend to lay smaller eggs. The size increases as the hen grows older and bigger. Grade refers to the quality of the shell, white and yolk and the size of the air cell.
  • There are 7 to 17 thousand tiny pores on the shell surface, a greater number at the large end. As the egg ages, these tiny holes permit moisture and carbon dioxide to move out and air to move in to form the air cell. The egg can also absorb refrigerator odors through the pores, so always refrigerate eggs in their cartons.

Thank you to all our customers and fans who helped us celebrate our Spring Eggstravanza this past month.  Whether you joined us for breakfast in Denver and tried one of the 24 fantastic egg dishes on our menu, or you voted in our weekly Facebook Egg-offs, we hope you enjoyed celebrating the incredible egg as much as we did!

Have an eggscellent spring, Denver!


Eggstravaganza

Eggstra Special Easter Traditions

2014 Eggstravaganza FB cover_Final

Brightly decorated eggs, the Easter Bunny, oodles of chocolate, and a family brunch are all integral parts of most annual Easter traditions.  Since we are celebrating our Eggstravaganza at the Original Pancake House this month, we decided to explore the history of Easter eggs to find out where this tradition began.

 

Though today Easter eggs are associated with the Christian holiday of Easter, the tradition of decorating and painting eggs extends back to ancient times.  As a symbol of life and rebirth, decorated eggs have been found in ancient civilizations in Africa, South and Central America, and Mesopotamia.  For example, Iranians have been decorating eggs for many thousands of years in honor of their new year’s holiday of Nowruz, which coincides with the spring equinox.  The Easter egg as we know it today may have pagan roots as part of a springtime and rebirth celebration that occurred each year and involved an egg hunt.

 

In the Christian religion, Easter eggs are symbols of the resurrection and rebirth of Jesus Christ.  In Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox churches, eggs are dyed red to represent the blood that Christ shed on the cross. The egg’s hard shell represents the Tomb of Christ and the cracking of the shell represents his resurrection. Easter egg rolling is representative of the rolling away of the stone in front of Christ’s tomb.  In A.D. 1610 under Pope Paul V, the Christian Church officially adopted the Easter egg as a symbol of the resurrection. These Easter traditions originated in Europe and Eastern Europe and were brought to the United States over the past century by immigrant families.  Today we continue to celebrate Easter with many of these old traditions including an Easter egg roll on the White House lawn and backyard Easter egg hunts.

 

However you plan to celebrate this Easter holiday, be it with an egg hunt or just a gathering of family and friends for brunch in Denver; the Original Pancake House wishes you a very happy Easter and a wonderful spring!


Eggstravaganza

Spring Eggstravaganza!

2014 Eggstravaganza FB cover_Final

Join us this month as we celebrate the incredible EGG with our Spring Eggstravaganza!   With the arrival of spring and Easter on the way, April is the perfect month to celebrate our favorite breakfast staple.  Did you know that the Original Pancake House menu offers over 20 different egg dishes?

This month, visit our Facebook page to vote on our weekly Egg-off!  Tell us which featured egg dish is the most eggcellent and you’ll be entered to win a $25 Original Pancake House gift card!  We’ll choose one lucky winner each week during the month of April.  Simply vote via the comments section on our weekly Facebook Egg-off post, and you’ll be entered to win.  If you haven’t visited our Facebook page yet, click here to be our friend!

What else makes eggs so incredible? Follow us on Twitter @OPHDenver this month for fun egg trivia and OPH Egg Favorites! We’ll share fun facts and recipes each day during the month.

And of course, the best way to celebrate our Spring Eggstravaganza is to come on in to Original Pancake House and try a few of our egg favorites.  Bring your whole family for the best breakfast in Denver; we look forward to seeing you soon!


Meyer Lemon Strawberry Muffins

Say Hello to Spring!

We've been waiting all winter and spring has finally arrived.  Flowers are poking their green stems through the dirt, small blooms are popping up on sunny corners, and even the trees are starting to bud.  With spring comes the annual promise of fresh produce including asparagus, strawberries, green onions, rhubarb, peas, grapefruit, and a variety of spring greens.  To celebrate the return of warm weather, here are a few fresh and seasonal recipes for a delightful spring breakfast.

Artichoke Frittata

Ingredients

2 9 ounce boxes frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and quartered

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)

12 large eggs

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup grated pecorino-romano cheese

1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 pinch nutmeg

Salt and pepper

Lemon wedges, for serving

Spring greens, for serving

 

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, toss the artichokes with the flour to coat.

2. In a medium ovenproof skillet, heat the EVOO, 4 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the artichokes and fry until lightly golden, about 5 minutes. In a bowl, beat together the eggs, cream, cheese, parsley and nutmeg; season with salt and pepper. Pour the eggs over the artichokes and cook until just set.

3. Transfer the frittata to the oven and bake until set and golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool, then slice into quarters and serve with the lemon wedges and a side of fresh spring greens

 

Meyer Lemon Strawberry MuffinsMeyer Lemon Strawberry Muffins

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Zest and juice of one Meyer Lemon
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups chopped, fresh strawberries

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Position rack in center of oven. Butter or spray with a non-stick cooking spray 12 muffin cups. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl whisk together the egg, buttermilk, oil, Meyer Lemon juice and vanilla extract.

3. In another large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest. Gently fold in the berries. With a rubber spatula fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir only until the ingredients are combined. Do not over mix the batter.

4. Fill each muffin cup almost full of batter, using two spoons or an ice cream scoop. Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 5 minutes before removing from pan.

 

Spring Asparagus and Bacon Hash

Ingredients

¼ pound bacon, cut into ¼-inch dice (pancetta is also a good idea)

1 pound fingerling potatoes, peeled, cut into ½-inch dice

1 small yellow onion, diced

½ pound asparagus ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch segments

salt and pepper

2 tablespoons butter

4 eggs

 

Directions

1. Add bacon to a large cast iron pan set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about ten minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

2. Add potatoes to the pan, stir well until they are coated in the rendered fat, and then spread them out into a single layer. Season with salt and pepper, and cook without stirring until lightly browned on the bottom. Using a spatula, flip the potatoes and cook until lightly browned. Continue this process until all sides are lightly browned, about 15 minutes total.

3. Add onion to the pan and stir well. Cook until onions are softened, about five minutes. Add the asparagus, stir well, and then cover the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is crisp and tender, five to eight minutes. Return the bacon to the pan, stir, and let cook for a minute until warm. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Serve with scrambled eggs, fried eggs or poached eggs.

 

Of course, if these recipes sound like too much work, why not take yourself out to breakfast in Denver?  At the Original Pancake House, we would be happy to serve you one of our spring favorites such as the Strawberry Belgian Waffles or our Florentine Omelet!  Happy spring!