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Jam & Jelly: Favorite Breakfast Condiments Defined

Whenever you go out to your favorite breakfast spot it’s highly likely that you’re going hear the question, “What kind of toast?” And naturally you’re going to find a selection of jam and jelly on the table for topping that toast. Some may say that ketchup or hot sauce are their favorite breakfast condiments, but your toast would be very lonely without jam and jelly.

Fruit spreads are a big business in the U.S. with over one billion pounds produced every year.  So, what exactly is the difference between jam and jelly? Or between marmalade and preserves?  Allow us the set the record straight.

• Jelly –  A clear, bright mixture made from fruit juice, sugar and often pectin or acid. No less than 45 pounds of fruit must be used for each 55 pounds of sugar.
• Jam – A thick mixture of fruit and sugar (and often pectin) that is cooked until the pieces of fruit are very soft and almost formless, the texture of a thick purée. It is also made with a ratio of 45 pounds of fruit solids combined with 55 pounds of sugar.
• Preserves – Almost identical to a jam but preserves can contain large chunks of fruit or whole fruit.
• Conserves – Similar to a preserve but usually contains more than one kind of fruit and often nuts.
• Marmalade – Also like a preserve but contains some amount of fruit rind, usually from a citrus fruit.
• Fruit Spreads – Modern fruit spreads that have been introduced over the last 15 years do not fall under the jelly or jam Standards of Identity, hence the generic name “fruit spreads.” These products are usually made with fruit juice concentrates or low-calorie sweeteners replacing all or part of the sugar.
• Fruit Butter – A spread that is made by cooking fresh fruit with spices until it becomes thick and smooth.

Come visit us at The Original Pancake House for all your favorite breakfast items, condiments included!

by OPHD1996

Are Omelettes the Best Breakfast in Denver?

It’s no secret that omelettes are delicious.  Perhaps one might say they make for the best breakfast in Denver, or anywhere else for that matter.  We all know that this classic combination of fluffy eggs stuffed with fillings like cheese, ham and vegetables is delicious and nutritious.  What better way to start off your morning?  But how much do you know about the origins of this traditional breakfast?

People have been eating eggs since ancient times and the modern day omelette has evolved throughout the centuries.  The French word omelette was first used in the mid-16^thcentury, although different versions of both the word and the dish had been in use prior to this.  The classic French version of the dish is a bit different than what we are used to seeing on our plate.  It is rolled, rather than folded in half and the egg is cooked much softer.  Often chopped fresh herbs such as chives, tarragon and parsley are added, as well as are tomato, cheese and meat.  French omelettes use less filling than their American counterparts.

Other countries around the world have their own versions of the dish.  The Italians make frittata, which is made open faced and can include vegetables, cheese and leftover pasta.  In Spain they make them the same way, but it’s called a tortilla.  In Japan they have several types, the tamagoyaki being the traditional style that consists of many thin layers of seasoned, cooked egg stacked together, rolled in a sushi mat and sliced.  In Thailand they deep fry the eggs for khai chiao, and serve it over rice with Sriracha sauce.  In Southern Germany and Austria they make Bauernomelette, or farmer’s omelette, which includes onions, boiled potatoes and bacon.  An Iranian omelette is called Khagineh and is simply eggs beaten with sugar and cooked quickly in a hot pan.

When you want to enjoy a delicious, hearty omelette for the best breakfast in Denver, visit us at The Original Pancake House in Cherry Hills or the Denver Tech Center.

by OPHD1996

Is a Burrito the Best Breakfast in Colorado?

A burrito is the best breakfast in Colorado for many of us, but how did it get that way?

If you’ve lived in Colorado for long, particularly Denver, no doubt you’ve noticed that we kind of have a love affair with burritos.  And that love is especially strong for the breakfast burrito. So, if you were to poll the locals and ask them what is the best breakfast in Colorado, you can bet that burrito is going to be at the top of the list.

It’s probably hard for most people to think of a time when burritos weren’t in our culinary lives. But do you know the history of this humble, but delicious, dish?  Many people agree that the burrito is actually an American invention, specifically Tex-Mex.  While the big, rice-and-bean filled burritos that we know and love are certainly a home-grown dish, something called a burrito has been served in Mexico for a long time.

The term burrito, meaning “little donkey,” has been in the Dictionary of Mexicanisms since 1895.  Long before the modern burrito, Mesoamerican people in Mexico were wrapping up food inside corn tortillas.  And the Pueblo people of the Southwestern U.S. wrapped up beans and sauces in tortillas as well.  While we can’t pinpoint the exact invention of the burrito, it is likely that the modern burrito that we know evolved through cowboys in northern Mexico in the 19^th century and farm workers in California.

The breakfast burrito is the product of regional cuisines including New Mexican, Southwestern and Tex-Mex.  Naturally it has become one of the best breakfast in Colorado due to our location.  And while Denver loves a wide variety of breakfast dishes, the burrito certainly holds a special place in our hearts.

by OPHD1996