Cool Breakfast Treats to Beat the Summer Heat!
Every 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!
Summer Road Trips in Colorado
With the kids out of school, summer is the perfect time to explore the magnificent state of Colorado. Our state offers nearly unlimited adventures for the family, but here are a few of our favorite places to visit during the summer months.
Glenwood Springs –
An easy three-hour drive from Denver, Glenwood Springs is home to the world’s largest hot springs pool. The whole family will enjoy playing in the water on a hot summer’s day. Glenwood Springs also offers opportunities for hiking, whitewater rafting, fishing, and horseback riding, all nestled within a spectacular canyon of the Colorado River.
Colorado National Monument –
Just past Grand Junction, the Colorado National Monument is a beautiful park with interesting red rock formations, cool hikes, and westward views as far as the eye can see. Be sure to stop in Palisade on your way and visit the orchards and vineyards for a taste of farm fresh Colorado peaches and cherries!
Great Sand Dunes National Park –
Near the sleepy town of Alamosa, Colorado, the Great Sand Dunes rise out of the plateau forming a truly unique natural wonder. Like a bit of the Sahara in the middle of our state, these dunes provide ample opportunity for exploration and family fun. Many folks bring snowboards and skis to slide down the immense slopes.
Mesa Verde National Park –
Near the mountain town of Durango, Mesa Verde National Park is one of only twenty World Heritage sites in the United States. Tour the ancient cliff dwellings, check out petroglyphs and enjoy the natural beauty of this special area. Afterwards, pack a lunch and take a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway.
Each of these destinations offers a unique adventure within an easy drive of Denver. So collect the kids, pack up the car, and head out on a summer road trip! Just be sure to fuel up with a nice big pancake breakfast in Denver before you hit the highway.
Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt Answers!
Thank you to all who participate in the Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt! Folks who answer each daily trivia question with the correct response will be entered to win one of three (3) $50 OPH gift cards, or one (1) Grand Prize to include a $50 OPH gift card plus OPH swag!
And the answers are:
Day 1:
Answer: The first Original Pancake House restaurant opened its doors in Portland, Oregon in 1953!
Day 2:
Answer: When she was just 11-years-old Sara started working at the Original Pancake House as a coffee girl.
Day 3:
Answer: Owner Sara Hueneke Ernst’s collection of beautiful, hand-painted plates. The collection started with family heirlooms Sara received from her grandparents.
Day 4:
Answer: Sara Hueneke Ernst is the great niece of franchise co-founder Erma Hueneke.
Day 5:
Answer: Pancake Man revealed!
Day 6:
Answer: Many of the breakfast menu items at the Original Pancake House Denver feature berries including the popular Seasonal Berry Crepes, Strawberry Belgian Waffles, Blueberry Belgian Waffles, Seasonal Berry French Toast, and our Blueberry Pancakes.
Day 7:
Answer: There are 21 delectable pancake items available at the Original Pancake House Denver, this number does not include seasonal pancake specialties.
The Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt will run for one week from Wednesday, June 18 to Tuesday, June 24, during which time players can participate in daily scavenger hunt challenges. The winners of the prize give-away will be announced on the blog on Friday, June 27.
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!
Spring Eggstravaganza Recap
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!
Eggstra Special Easter Traditions
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!
Spring Eggstravaganza!
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!
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 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!
The Delicious History of French Toast
At the Original Pancake House, one of our favorite brunch menu items is French toast with a rich French toast history. In fact, we love it so much, we offer four different types on our breakfast menu including Sourdough French Toast, Seasonal Berry French Toast, Cinnamon Almond French Toast, and the Denver breakfast favorite, Banana Praline French Toast.
With French toast on our minds, we were wondering, where did this delightful dish originate? We were intrigued to find that, though the name implies a French origin, the first mention of this meal appears in Roman times. In a cookbook attributed to Apicius, from the 4th or 5th century, a recipe simply called “aliter dulcia," or “another sweet dish,” describes soaking.
Bread in a milk and egg mixture, frying in oil, and then serving with honey. French toast next appears in medieval cookbooks throughout Europe. In France, it was called “pain perdu” or “lost bread,” which probably referred to the fact the cooks used stale or old bread in this dish with a fascinating French toast history. German, English, and Scandinavian cookbooks refer to the dish as “poor knights” bread, which is also a nod to the use of old bread.
The first references to this ancient dish as “French toast” appear in the late 18th century in North America. In New Orleans, the dish maintained its original French name of “pain perdu.” However, in English speaking areas of the North American colonies, the dish became known as French toast as it was popularized by French immigrants.
So, the next time you are out for breakfast in Denver, share the ancient history of French toast with your fellow diners. It is a fascinating story!
Breakfast of Champions: What are Olympic athletes eating?
With the 2014 Winter Olympics underway, we were wondering, what is the true breakfast of champions? With nutrition being just as important as the innumerable hours spent training for the Olympic Games, what do Olympic athletes eat for breakfast? With a bit of research, we found some astounding facts. Did you know that many Olympians, especially those in endurance sports, require 9,000 to 12,000 calories per day?! Amazing! If we were so lucky as to have one of these athletes join us for breakfast in Denver, we might have to serve them one of each item on The Original Pancake House Denver menu!
For a day of training and competition, we found that Olympians focus on a substantial, yet healthy, breakfast. After all, this first meal provides the foundation of energy needed to go for the gold. In general, Olympians start their day with a healthy mix of carbohydrates, fruits and protein. Many will combine a large bowl of whole grain oats with fresh fruit, and milk or yogurt. In addition, you will likely see athletes enjoy eggs, a great source of lean protein, with toast or a bagel for additional energy. Some athletes are reported to eat a whopping 12 eggs for their first meal of the day! And because they continually burn so many calories between training and competition, you will often see competitors munching on bananas and enjoying a glass of chocolate milk to keep their energy high.
From The Original Pancake House Denver, we wish all the athletes on Team USA “good luck” in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. And for the twenty Coloradoans competing in Sochi, we would love to have you stop by for an Olympic-worthy breakfast in Denver when you return home!
Escape Cabin Fever: Fun winter activities for the whole family!
We all know the feeling. It’s too cold to play outside, indoor games have lost their charm, and everyone is feeling restless. So what to do when cabin fever hits? Take an excursion! Denver offers many fun, family-friendly activities for cold weather days. Here are a few of our favorite winter activities:
Denver Museum of Nature and Science -
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science offers a fun and educational experience for Denver families. Visitors explore neat exhibits on everything from the solar system to dinosaurs. Be sure to check out the planetarium or see an IMAX film when you visit.
Ice Skating at Big Bear Ice Are
na –
If the kiddos are bouncing off the walls, then a trip to the Big Bear Ice Arena might be a good choice. Located in the heart of Lowry, Big Bear offers public ice skating, broomball, figure skating lessons and ice hockey leagues. If your kids have a need for speed, strap on a pair of skates and let them go!
Denver Aquarium -
The whole family will love strolling through Colorado’s largest aquarium. With a maze of different aquatic habitats and thousands of sea creatures to admire, the Aquarium features a shipwreck and sunken temple to delight the kids. Make sure you check out the Mystic Mermaids interactive show and get a tasty snack at the Aquarium restaurant.
Fun City -
Grab a few friends and head to Fun City for hours of family entertainment. Fun City offers oodles of activities including laser tag, a foam factory, go-karts, miniature golf, an arcade, and rock climbing.
Enjoy Your Favorite Denver Breakfast-
At The Original Pancake House Denver, we love to take our whole crew out to breakfast on cold winter days. With big plates of pancakes, eggs, waffles, and crepes to share, everyone will have a smile on their face! And once your bellies are full, you’ll be ready to try one of Denver’s fun, indoor activities.
Heart-friendly Breakfast Ideas
With the start of the New Year, we all strive to make healthy decisions and fresh starts. Thankfully, breakfast is one of the best ways to kick start healthy habits. If you start the day on a good note, it is much easier to continue the trend throughout the rest of your day, week, month, and year. Here are a few breakfast ideas to get your day, and New Year, off to a heart-healthy start.
Breakfast Smoothie
– Combine one cup of low fat milk or soy milk with frozen strawberries and a sliced banana. Blend in your food processor or blender until smooth and frothy. For extra protein, add a scoop of protein powder. Create variety by mixing and matching your fruits.
Incredible Egg-white Sandwich
– Assemble this delicious morning meal with a toasted whole-wheat English muffin, scrambled egg-whites and a slice of tomato. For extra protein, add smoked salmon and you have the perfect brain-boosting breakfast.
Spunky Oatmeal
– Spruce up your oatmeal with the addition of fruit and nuts. Adding tangy rhubarb, blueberries, raspberries, currents, or cranberries can add a much needed zip of flavor to this pantry staple. By adding nuts you’ll get an extra boost of protein, healthy fats, and vitamins to help keep you full and feeling great all morning.
And when you are heading out for breakfast in Denver, try The Original Pancake House Denver’s “Lighter Side” menu. We offer breakfast favorites like Old Fashioned Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, Scrambled Egg Whites, and Homemade Granola, to name a few. With these heart-friendly options, you can enjoy a delicious, guilt-free breakfast out with your family!