Share your Pancake Cheer!
Join us this Holiday Season in sharing Pancake Cheer! During the month of December, we'd like to share the JOY that our pancakes bring to you and yours. 
Helping us share this message is as easy as...
1. Snap a photo of you and friends or family enjoying breakfast.
2. Upload your photo to Facebook and/or Twitter to share the JOY!
3. Tag @OPHDenver and include #PancakeCheer in your post (we don't want to miss your photos!)
And what is better than sharing Pancake Cheer? We'll randomly select two winners from #PancakeCheer photos on social media to receive $25 gift cards to The Original Pancake House!
Happy Holidays!
Thanksgiving Tradition…is delicious!
Funny how perfectly our saying “Tradition is Delicious” fits the Thanksgiving holiday. Whenever we gather around the table with our loved ones, it’s hard not to include tradition. And in the case of Thanksgiving, most traditions are delicious! We’ve collected a few interesting turkey day traditions from across the United States; read on to find out how folks celebrate
around the country.
What’s on the menu?
Perhaps the most important part of the holiday is the food! But the Thanksgiving spread varies widely depending on geographic location. Southerners often deep fry their turkeys, in New England you are likely to find a salt-brined bird, and in Hawaii they rub their turkeys with coffee grounds. Side dishes also vary widely with variations on sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, veggies and cranberry sauce. In the Pacific Northwest, locally foraged mushrooms are usually featured in the meal, while in the southwest, you might find Mexican influences such as spicy chorizo, chilies and cilantro. And for desert, the most common choice is usually the pumpkin pie, but in the south you are likely to be served a pecan pie and many mid-westerners opt for apple deserts.
What do we do after the meal?
Due to the tryptophan in the turkey, many folks find themselves napping after such a large feast. But of those who manage to stay awake, many families opt for football on TV or perhaps a game of tag football in the backyard. In New York City, you can’t miss the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, an annual tradition since 1924. And the local Turkey Trot is a great family activity for those who want to work off some of that gravy! As it is a holiday of thanks, many families also use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to volunteer and give back to those who are less fortunate in their communities.
Giving thanks
One common theme among all American families is a pause during the gathering to give thanks. It is important to remember the reason we gather on Thanksgiving Day and appreciate the wonderful food, family, and friends that we have in our lives.
At Original Pancake House Denver, we are very thankful for all of our loyal customers and wonderful staff who support us. We are so grateful to all the folks who make The Original Pancake House Denver part of their breakfast tradition.
Happy Thanksgiving!
All About Pumpkins!
Halloween is just around the corner and pumpkins abound on almost every front porch in our Denver neighborhood. With this healthy gourd on our mind, we came up with a few ways to incorporate pumpkin into your breakfast recipe repertoire. Read on to learn how you can make pumpkins part of a perfect fall morning.
Pumpkin Pancakes
We have our own secret pumpkin pancake recipe at Original Pancake House Denver, but here is a variation to try at home. Simply grind the oats with a blender or coffee grinder and combine with the remaining ingredients. Cook pancakes following the standard process and top with pecans and warm syrup!
Ingredients
½ cup oatsl
6 egg whites
¼ cup grams pumpkin puree
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp pumpkin spice
Splash of vanilla extract
Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal
This healthy fall recipe couldn’t be easier and tastes just like a fresh-baked pumpkin pie! Cook oatmeal according the package instructions. Once water is absorbed and oatmeal is nearly ready, stir in pumpkin puree and fall spices. Top your oatmeal with syrup, yogurt or toasted pecans.
Ingredients
1 cup steel cut oats
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
2 tsp cinnamon
1 large pinch nutmeg
1 pinch cloves
1/4 tsp cardamom
2 Tblsp maple syrup
Yogurt & toasted pecans (optional but delicious)
Pumpkin Yogurt Parfait
Another healthy fall breakfast treat, this parfait is guaranteed to be a family favorite! This recipe is so easy you could even make it for the family before work and school. Combine granola, pecans and crushed gingersnaps to make the parfait topping. Mix one half of the pumpkin spice with the yogurt and the other half with the pumpkin puree. Alternate layers of yogurt, pumpkin, and toppings and breakfast is ready!
Ingredients
1/4 cup low-fat granola
2 tbsp. pecans, chopped/pieces
2 gingersnap cookies, crushed
1/3 cup 100% pumpkin puree (not pie filling!)
1/3 cup. fat free vanilla Greek yogurt
1/8 Tsp. pumpkin pie spice
And of course we recommend you stop by Original Pancake House Denver for one of our favorite breakfast dishes and try Sara’s Pumpkin Pancakes! Ours are filled with rich pumpkin, molasses and fall spices, then topped with warm butter or fresh whipped cream. We can’t think of a better way to start the day!
Original Pancake House Denver’s Kids Recipe Challenge Winner!
This past August, The Original Pancake House Denver hosted the Kids Pancake Recipe Challenge. Open to all young pancake fans, the contest challenged youngsters to create the wackiest, most creative pancake recipes to share with the Original Pancake House Denver community. All recipes were put up for popular vote on our Facebook page and the winner was announced on National Pancake Day, September 26.
We are thrilled to congratulate Cole Brody on his winning recipe for Vanilla Brown Sugar Gluten Free Pancakes! Recently we took a few moments to chat with Cole about his love for pancakes and his recipe inspiration. Here is what he had to say:
OPH Denver: What was your inspiration for Homemade Gluten Free Vanilla Brown Sugar pancakes?
Cole: I was trying to make really good pancakes that are gluten free and I love brown sugar for the sweetness that it makes the pancakes.
OPH Denver: Do you and your family make pancakes together at home often?
Cole: I make pancakes every Saturday and Sunday for my family, unless we sometimes go to Pancake House. My favorite part of going to the (Original) Pancake House is they make the best gluten free pancakes ever and I love them and I love the bacon.
OPH Denver: What are your favorite pancake toppings?
Cole: We usually eat our pancakes with maple syrup or whipped cream but my favorite toppings are chocolate chips and strawberry syrup. But not together.
OPH Denver: What is the craziest pancake you've ever had or made?
Cole: We made Lifesaver Gummy pancakes once and the Lifesavers melted and turned into jelly. We also made Fruity Pebbles pancakes and they tasted like fruity pancakes.
OPH Denver: What is your favorite part about breakfast?
Cole: Making pancakes for my family and they tell me how good they are.
OPH Denver: What grade are you in and what do you want to be when you grow up?
Cole: I am in 3rd grade at Greenwood Elementary and I want to be an airplane pilot and own an airline.
From the entire OPH Denver family, we would like to congratulate Cole on his winning recipe! Want to make Cole’s Gluten Free Vanilla Brown Sugar Pancakes at home? Cole was kind enough to share his secrets. Happy cooking!
Cole’s Gluten Free Vanilla Brown Sugar Pancakes
1C Pamela's GF baking mix
3/4C Vanilla Soy milk
1 Egg
1 TBS oil
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 TBS Brown Sugar
Makes 8-10 medium sized pancakes
Fluffy Foamy Omelette Recipe
At The Original Pancake Denver, we take our breakfast recipes very seriously. One of our favorite breakfast menu items is the omelette. Light and fluffy, filled with a favorite topping, omelettes are always a crowd pleaser! There are many methods to omelette making, and most home chefs have a favorite technique.
The Original Pancake House Omelette Recipe
Here are a few tips for creating the perfect fluffy, foamy omelette at home.
1. To start, make sure your eggs are whipped until they are light and even a bit frothy. Some chefs recommend adding one tablespoon of
water to make sure the egg mixture is extra light. For a solid meal, we usually use three eggs.
2. Choose the appropriate sized pan. A 7-8” non-stick frying pan is perfect for a three-egg omelette.
3. Warm your pan over medium heat. Add fat to the pan to ensure your omelette never sticks. This step is very important; if you skimp on the fat you will create an omelette disaster! Butter, oil, bacon fat or a combination of any of these three will work. In general, you want to use at least a tablespoon to ensure your omelette does not stick. Tilt your pan in all directions to make sure the fat evenly coats the pan.
4. Turn your pan down to low heat. All omelette connoisseurs agree that the best omelettes are cooked low and slow! No one enjoys brown or burned eggs. Add your eggs to the pan and sprinkle your favorite toppings over the top.
5. This next step is one of great debate. Once the eggs are in the pan, some chefs recommend lightly stirring the eggs and pulling them away from the sides to ensure evenly cooked eggs. Others recommend you do not touch the eggs once they are in the pan; instead place a lid over top and let the omelette cook covered on very low heat for 5-8 minutes. We recommend experimenting with both to see which works best for you.
6. Once the omelette has finished cooking, fold in half or in thirds and ENJOY!
Though we can’t share all of our omelette trade secrets, we encourage you to find and perfect your favorite technique. This breakfast (or lunch!) dish is certainly an art and patience will garner great rewards!
Quick and Easy Back-to-School Breakfast Recipes
With August underway, gone are the mornings of leisurely breakfasts we all enjoyed over summer vacation. But even with the hustle and bustle of fall schedules, it is still important to start the day off with a nutritious and filling meal! Here are few quick and easy breakfast ideas that will start your busiest mornings off on the right foot.
Peanut Butter Toast: Packed with protein, peanut butter provides energy for hours! One of our favorite “on the go” breakfasts includes a couple slices of toasted bread topped with a generous spread of peanut butter. To make this meal even more delicious add honey, bananas or even raisins.
Pancakes: Don’t have time to go out for pancakes at your favorite Denver breakfast spot? No problem! Make a large batch of pancakes over the weekend and either freeze or store them in the fridge. Pancakes reheat beautifully in the microwave or toaster oven within just minutes. Add a bit of fresh fruit, syrup and butter and you’re ready to eat!
Incredible Eggs: Eggs may seem like a weekend staple, but they are quick and easy to prepare any day of the week. Hard boil eggs the evening before if you are very short on time. A hardboiled egg makes a great meal when served with a banana and a slice of toast. Fried eggs are also quick and easy; they cook within just a couple of minutes and will satisfy hunger pangs throughout the morning.
Oatmeal: Nutritious and delicious! Slow-cooked traditional oatmeal can be made a night in advance, or quick cooking oats make a speedy morning meal. Simply add a bit of fresh fruit or brown sugar and you are ready to roll!
And remember, The Original Pancake House Denver will be here to serve you a splendid breakfast when the weekend comes around or when the kids are out of school!
Family Fun – Things To Do on Summer Vacation
Ah, summer vacation! We still have a few weeks left before the kids go back to school and the lazy mornings and leisurely breakfasts are over. At the Original Pancake House Denver, we love to start our dog days of summer off with a nice big stack of pancakes followed by a little family fun. Here is a list of some of our favorite South Denver attractions to try with the whole family!
Speed Raceway
– Are the kiddos getting a bit restless as home? Perhaps they have a need for speed! The Speed Raceway is an indoor electric go-kart track and provides hours of fun and racing for the whole family. Siblings can race each other (at moderate speeds) around the indoor track and cheer on their friends and fellow racers.
Pirates Cove Family Fun Aquatic Center
– AHOY! For the hottest of summer days, Pirates Cove is just the place to cool you off! With pools, water slides, a lazy river, and play area, Pirates Cove provides hours of refreshing fun for the whole family. We recommend starting with a big breakfast first so everyone has enough energy to swim all day!
Littleton Museum
– Step back in time and enjoy the adventures of life in Littleton circa the 1860’s and 1890’s. Located on 39 acres, the Littleton Museum has served as the primary repository for the history, art, and culture of Littleton. Often cited as one of the top ten local history museums in the United States, the museum consists of two living history farms, a small lake, a collections center, and a main exhibition and administration building.
Centennial Center Park
- The 11-acre, award winning, Centennial Center Park provides children of all ages hours of fun on one of three climbing walls, two expansive, age-appropriate play areas and the Nautilus water play area in the center of the Park. Ideally situated on a slight bluff adjacent to Centennial Civic Center, Centennial Center Park also features “butte” and “meadow” nature areas, three decorative water fountains and a two-story covered shelter to overlook the plaza or enjoy a spectacular Centennial sunset.
Belleview Park
–Located just adjacent to Pirates Cove, Belleview Park offers numerous family friendly activities. Visitors can enjoy a ride on the Miniature Train, play by the creek or on the playground equipment, ride their bikes along the bike paths, and cool off with some concessions sold at the farm. The miniature train has run in Belleview Park for over 30 years, averaging 60,000 riders annually. The train runs every summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Kids can enjoy getting to know some farm animals, which include pigs, goats, chickens, and sheep just to name a few.
Westlands Park
– Westlands Park is a hidden jewel in the middle of the Greenwood Village corporate park area. The Westlands playground includes three play areas sized for toddlers to teens. There are two large climbing structures which satisfy both the technical climber as well as the inexperienced child. In addition to the main play area, there are three multi-use playing fields, an in-line hockey rink, a natural water sculpture, a pond and a hike / bike trail.
Cherry Creek State Park
– You can’t beat Colorado State Parks! Cherry Creek State Park has it all with biking and hiking trails, a shooting range, a miniature airport for model planes, and did we mention that nice big reservoir to cool your toes? Bring a picnic and spend the day playing in the outdoors!
Brunswick Zone XL Bowling
– Cool shoes, slick lanes, the sound of pins collapsing, no wonder they say “fun is bowling!” At Brunswick Zone the whole family can escape the heat and get in on the action. Kids of all ages are welcome to take their shot at breaking a score of 200! And when the bowling is done, Brunswick Zone XL also offers laser tag, a large game room and billiards!
You’ll need lots of energy for whatever activities you choose, so be sure to fuel up Original Pancake House Denver with a big breakfast before embarking on your adventures!
Golfing for Firefighters
On June 23 and 24, The Original Pancake House Denver helped sponsor the annual South Metro Professional Firefighters Foundation Gala and Memorial Golf Tournament. One of the largest charity events in the state of Colorado, the tournament raises funds to support professional firefighters and their families who face financial hardships as a result of off-duty emergencies such as accident, injury or death. The foundation is a non-profit organization and provides funds to firefighters and police officers from Denver Fire, Englewood Police, Aurora Fire, West Metro Fire, Arvada Fire, Cunningham Fire, Littleton Fire and many other neighborhoods.
This year’s event included a Sunday night gala followed by a charity golf tournament on Monday. The Original Pancake House Denver sponsored a booth along the course where we gave out fun OPH swag and refreshments to the golfers. With over 200 participants, we had the opportunity to meet several firefighters and their families, as well as members of our community who also support the South Metro Professional Firefighters Foundation.
On behalf of all The Original Pancake House Denver staff, we are proud to participate in this wonderful event and support those who protect and serve local community!
Independence Day: Celebrating family-owned businesses and restaurants in America
In honor of Independence Day, we’d like to celebrate family-owned businesses and restaurants across our great country. Did you know the first Original Pancake House was founded in 1953 in Portland, Oregon by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke? Using her family’s recipes and traditions, Sara Hueneke Ernst, great niece of Erma Hueneke, opened the first Original Pancake House in Denver in 1996. The Original Pancake House Denver has been serving breakfast to hungry patrons for many years, but here are a few American family-run businesses that have been around even longer!
Zambelli Fireworks
Founded by Antonio Zambelli back in 1893, Zambelli Fireworks is still run by the Zambelli family out of Pittsburgh, PA. Today the company supplies more pyrotechnic displays for celebratory events than any other firework company in the country. Of the 2,000 plus annual displays the Zambelli’s create, most occur on the 4th of July. Now that is a booming family business!
Antoine’s Restaurant
We thought we’d been serving pancakes for a long time, but Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans, LA has us beat! The oldest family-owned restaurant in America, Antoine’s was established in 1840 by Antoine Alicatore. Specializing in French-Creole cuisine, Antoine’s is famous for inventing Oysters Rockefeller. Today the restaurant boasts 14 dining rooms and seating for 700 patrons!
Martin Guitars
There is nothing more American than good old fashioned Rock –n-Roll! Did you know that Martin Guitars have been an American family-run business since the early 1800s? Martin Guitars was founded by CF Martin Jr. who immigrated to New York City from Germany in 1833. Today Martin Guitars has an 84,000 square foot factory and 500 employees, but it is still run by CF Martin’s great grandson. In 2004, Martin Guitar’s produced its 1,000,000th guitar following the same standards for workmanship and quality that CF Martin outlined in 171 years prior.
On behalf of the Hueneke and Ernst families, we salute each American family-owned business on this 4th of July holiday!
Summer Favorites
Temperatures are rising, the flowers are in bloom, and flip flops abound - summer is here! At The Original Pancake House Denver we like to enjoy the season with a few breakfast items that celebrate summer from beloved vacation destinations. So though you may be dining on breakfast in Denver, your taste buds will be on a summer vacation!
COCONUT BELGIAN WAFFLE –
Dreaming of warm sand between your toes? Take a summer beach vacation with the Coconut Belgian Waffle. Our golden brown Belgian waffle is filled and topped with toasted coconut and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and warm tropical syrup…can you hear the waves and music of the ukulele?
CONTINENTAL CREPES –
If the art and culture of a European adventure are more your style, then slip away to Paris with our Continental Crepes. Enjoy three delicate crepes rolled with sour cream, tempered with Triple Sec and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Topped with our warm tropical syrup, you’ll be touching down at Charles de Gaulle in no time!
BLUEBERRY PANCAKES –
When it’s a “sco-cha” in Colorado, you might want to head up to Maine! This beautiful northern state is filled with cool lakes, fireflies, campfires and blueberries, yah? To show our appreciation of summer in Maine, we love to dine on Blueberry Pancakes! These classic buttermilk pancakes are filled with plump blueberries and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Each order is served with whipped butter and warm blueberry compote syrup. It’s wicked good!
Who knew you could travel the world while eating breakfast in Denver? Pack your bags and slide on into a booth at The Original Pancake House Cherry Hills or Denver Tech Center location…your flight will be boarding soon.
Congrats to the 2013 Graduates!
At The Original Pancake House in Denver, some of our favorite breakfast customers are our neighborhood high school kids. As May comes to a close and summer is fast approaching, we would like to extend our congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2013! You’ve spent many a morning with us, and we thank you for making The Original Pancake House your favorite spot for breakfast in Denver!
We would also like to congratulate a few of our favorite employees on their graduation this month! Your service at The Original Pancake House has been top-notch and we appreciate your hard work. Best wishes in your future endeavors!
Meet the Original Pancake House Denver's Graduates:
Korbin Kinney with DTC Manager and mom Karen Kinney
Graduate Braydin Mehnert
Graduate Aaliyah Navarro with DTC Managers Karen Kinney and Jennifer Cheshek
Graduate Kelsey Amsberry with her twin brother Blake Amsberry
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Who doesn't love bacon? The smell, the sizzle, the crunch and the taste…bacon is so scrumptious it’ll rouse even the sleepiest from their beds. At The Original Pancake House in Denver, we LOVE bacon. People come from near and far just to get a plate full of thick-sliced goodness. In fact, our bacon is so popular we served 30 tons last year. Yes, you read that right, 60,000 pounds of our delicious bacon. Thank you Denver!
In honor of this pork treat, here are a few fun bacon facts:
1. A 250 lb. pig yields approximately 23 lbs. of bacon.
2. Bacon is an ancient treat! The Chinese began curing pork belly around 1500 B.C.
3. In 1924 Oscar Meyer created a patent for the first sliced and packaged bacon.
4. The average American consumes 17.9 lbs. of bacon each year.
5. Dry-curing bacon is the oldest curing method. The meat is rubbed with salt, spice and sugar, and then is hung in a cool place for two weeks.
6. In 1920, a Parisian butcher created the formula for Bacon Cologne.
7. In the U.S. we make bacon from pork belly; however, in Canada they use the loin and in Europe they use the pork shoulder.
8. National Bacon Day is the Saturday before Labor Day.
9. Bacon contains a micro-nutrient called choline. Expectant mothers should eat bacon as this nutrient boosts intelligence levels in unborn children.
10. Bacon is actually addictive! It contains umami which produces an addictive neurochemical response in the brain.
Hungry yet? Brain full of bacon facts? If you are looking for a big bacon breakfast in Denver, The Original Pancake House is here to serve you! We leave you with this quote from one of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson: “I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family, and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post.”
Sources: www.friendseat.com, www.bacontoday.com, www.yumbacon.webs.com, www.baconsocial.com