Celebrate National Hot Breakfast Month!
We all know by now that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If your normal routine of cold cereal is giving you the winter blues, it might be time to spice up your morning with a hot breakfast. February is the perfect time to switch up the menu as this month is National Hot Breakfast Month.
For those who are on the go and need a very quick meal in the morning, hot oatmeal might be just the ticket. Simply boil water, mix with instant oats, and you are ready to go. If you plan ahead, you can even make traditional oats in the slow-cooker overnight and have them piping hot and ready for you as head out the door, check out our recipe here.
In our house, we like to make egg sandwiches each morning. They are quick, easy, filling, and healthy! Simply toast English muffins, fry up a couple of eggs, add cheese and ham if you like, and you are ready to eat in just three minutes. You can even wrap these yummy breakfast sammies up in tin foil and eat them during the morning commute.
On weekends, when we have a little more time, we try our hand at homemade pancakes, waffles, and muffins. And of course on lazy weekends we celebrate with breakfast out in Denver! Sometimes it is nice to have your friends at the Original Pancake House do all the work, and clean-up, for you!
From our breakfast table to yours, happy National Hot Breakfast Month!
Meet Karen Kinney!
You’ve probably seen Karen Kinney’s smiling face around the Original Pancake House each time you head out for breakfast at our Cherry Hills location. Karen was the Manager of our Denver Tech Center location for ten years before she transferred to Cherry Hills to become a General Manager this past October. We thought you might like to get to know the lady behind the smile. Read on to learn a bit more about our wonderful General Manager, Karen Kinney!
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and where you are from.
A: My name is Karen Kinney, and I am from Canada. I was born in a small town in Alberta called Medicine Hat, and raised in British Columbia in a place called Invermere, just outside of the Banff National Park. I met my husband Troy skiing in Kimberley B.C. and moved to Spokane Wash. where we lived until moving to St. Louis Mo. for 2 years, and Clovis Ca. for 8 months, before settling down in Highlands Ranch where we have raised our 2 children.
Q: How long have you been with the Original Pancake House?
A: I started as a server for the Original Pancake House Denver Tech Center when my daughter was 4yrs old, and she is now 16 and works as a Host for our Cherry Hills location. Our son also worked for me at the DTC location as a Host while he was in High School. I became a Manager at DTC the same year I started working there and have been with the Franchise for 12 years now. I was promoted in September of last year and given the position of General Manager for the Cherry Hills location.
Q: What is your favorite part about working at OPH?
A: My favorite part of working for the Pancake House is the people! I love the staff and guests as they have become my family since my real family is in Canada still. They make me laugh, cry and smile with all of their stories, jokes and antics.
Q: What is your favorite menu item?
A: My favorite menu item is always changing; I eat something different every day! But interestingly enough before I started working here I did not like to eat eggs. Now I will crave a simple side of scrambled eggs almost every day.
Q: If you could have breakfast with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and what would you eat?
A: It I could have breakfast with anyone I suppose I would choose Lady Diana. She was such an amazing and poised person that had so much to offer in the short time she was with us. With her I would love to show off our delicate Dutch Baby and that would be my breakfast choice, along with a side of our infamous bacon, and hot tea of course!
Thank you Karen for sharing a little bit about yourself! The next time you are out for breakfast in Denver, be sure to say “hi” to Karen, she will always treat you as family.
FALLing In Love With Apples
When golden fall leaves start to pop against bright blue skies, we know fall has arrived in Colorado. And when we think of fall at The Original Pancake House, we think of apples! Apples signify the beginning of harvest season and bring a delightful range of flavors to any fall meal. Our favorite fall breakfast in Denver is our Apple Pancake with oven baked fresh Granny Smith apples and pure Sinkiang cinnamon glaze. Read on to learn how to bring the flavors of fall to your breakfast table with this recipe for Apple Pancakes.
Apple Pancakes
2 eggs, well beaten
1 ½ cups of milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup sugar
3 medium apples, peeled and coarsely grated
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Vegetable oil, for frying
Confectioner’s sugar, for dusting
- Mix the eggs with the milk in a large bowl.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and sugar together.
- Combine the wet and the dry ingredients and stir in the apples and whatever other flavorings you see fit.
- Heat a thin layer of oil in a skillet over low to medium heat. Drop large spoonful of batter into the pan and cook until golden brown underneath. Flip the pancakes and cook them for an additional two or three minutes.
- Either dust with powdered sugar and serve immediately, or keep on a tray in a warmed oven until you are ready to serve them.
From our kitchen to yours, we hope you enjoy this season of sweater weather! Bon Appetit!
Pardon Our Dust
Dear OPH Customers,
Our Cherry Hills location at University Boulevard and Orchard Road will temporarily close Monday, September 14 for our landlord to complete necessary repairs. We apologize for the inconvenience! We expect to reopen Saturday, October 3. In the meantime, please visit our Denver Tech Center location where the griddle is on and the pancakes are hot! You can find us in the Denver Tech Center at 8000 E. Belleview Ave., Greenwood Village, CO 80111.
Check our Facebook page @OPHDenver or our website OPHDenver.com for updates on our Cherry Hills location. Please visit us in the Tech Center to fulfill your breakfast cravings during our brief construction project at Cherry Hills. We hope to see you soon!
Cherry Hills will remain open through Sunday, September 13. This closure does not affect the DTC location on Belleview Avenue in the Tech Center, only Cherry Hills will be closed temporarily.
Make it at Home: Bacon Pancakes Recipe!
Bacon and pancakes are two of the most popular items people order when they go out to breakfast in Denver. 
What could be more delectable than a stack of warm pancakes and a side of bacon? The answer: Bacon Pancakes! We receive many requests for our Bacon Pancake recipe at The Original Pancake House. Read on to learn how to make bacon pancakes at home.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 8 slices bacon
- Pure maple syrup, (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees. In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, melted butter, and egg. Whisk flour mixture into buttermilk mixture just until moistened, with small to medium lumps remaining.
- In a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet or on a griddle, cook bacon over medium-high until fat is rendered and bacon is browned on one side, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip and cook until golden and crisp on underside, 1 to 3 minutes. Drain bacon on paper towels; pour off all but 1 teaspoon fat from skillet (reserve for another use). Finely chop bacon into small bits and mix into existing batter.
- Heat skillet over medium. Pour 1/4-cupfuls batter into skillet. Cook until some bubbles appear on top of pancakes and a few have burst, about 2 minutes. With a spatula, carefully flip pancakes and cook until browned on underside, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and loosely tent with foil. Keep pancakes warm in oven and repeat with remaining batter, adding more bacon fat if needed. Serve with pure maple syrup if desired.
From our kitchen to yours, bon appetit!
Fit For a Celebrity - What Do Famous Dads Eat For Breakfast?
On Father’s Day we have the opportunity to celebrate some of the most important men in our lives –Dads! Though the fathers in our family often have celebrity status, we thought it would be fun to look at a few other famous dads and see what they eat for breakfast. Read on to see what we found out:
Brad Pitt:
This super-star celebrity is a father to Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox and Vivienne, what a crew! Brad Pitt is known for his abs and spends a lot of time in the gym. Reportedly, Pitt eats a very healthy diet full of lean proteins and whole grains. One of his favorite breakfasts is six eggs and oatmeal porridge with raisins.
David Beckham:
A famous soccer player, model, and husband to fashionista Victoria Beckham, David Beckham has his kids' names - Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz -tattooed on his back. David Beckham also works hard to stay in shape and eats a very healthy diet. His favorite breakfast item is a tomato and cheese omelet. Yum!
Will Smith:
Will Smith is father to Jaden, Willow, and Trey, and keeps the family entertained with his jokes and musical stylings. Will Smith is another celebrity dad who has to eat a healthy diet to keep up his physique, but he and the kids like to eat chocolate for breakfast when wife Jada Pinkett Smith is out of town.
Will Ferrell:
You can bet his sons Magnus, Mattias, and Axel never stop laughing with father Will Ferrell around. And though Will’s famous character “Buddy the Elf,” from the movie Elf, enjoys spaghetti, sugared maple syrup, sprinkles, mini-marshmallows, Hershey's chocolate syrup, M&M's, and Frosted Chocolate Fudge Pop-Tarts for breakfast, in real life Will and the kids enjoy eggs and pancakes like the rest of us.
We think each of these celebrity dads could find something to fill their bellies at The Original Pancake House; hopefully they will stop by if they are ever out for breakfast in Denver. And if you need to treat your own dad to a breakfast out, we will be happy to serve him a meal fit for a king. From The Original Pancake House family, we would like to wish all the dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day!
Hippity Hoppity, Easter Is On Its Way!
One of our favorite Easter traditions is to take our family out to a nice breakfast in Denver to celebrate the holiday. But, on the years that we stay home, we love to make a bunny pancake breakfast for our family and neighbors. Bunny pancakes, plus all the rest of the traditional Easter breakfast fixings, are an easy way to add a little hippity-hop to your breakfast or brunch spread. Here are a few ideas to bring the Easter Bunny to your breakfast table.
- Begin with your favorite pancake recipe and create batter.
- Determine if you have had enough coffee to have a steady hand when spooning out the batter. Bunny pancakes can be made either by dolloping the batter into a bunny face (circle) and ears (two ovals attached to the face), or by simply creating the bunny face and then adding ears using pieces of fruit once the pancake has cooked.
- When creating the bunny face, place two blueberries or chocolate chips in the liquid batter as soon as you have spooned it onto your frying pan. You can also add a nose and whiskers using various fruits and chopped fruit shapes. Get creative! If you are adding batter bunny ears, let the face (circle) set for a minute or two on the pan before you attempt to add each ear. Gently spoon batter into an elongated ear shape on each side and connect to the bunny face. Be careful when flipping!
- If batter ears sound too challenging, try using cantaloupe, pineapple, or bananas for the ears. Arrange your bunny pancake face on the center of the plate and add the fruit to create ears. Try using strips of bacon or sausage to create whiskers.
- Serve and enjoy!
If you are too exhausted after your Easter egg hunt to make your own bunny pancakes, join us at Original Pancake House for a scrumptious brunch. With almost thirty egg dishes, plus pancakes, waffles, and crepes, we have plenty of choices for a delicious, traditional Easter brunch. Happy Easter Denver!
Take our Customer Satisfaction Survey for a chance to win a FREE $50 OPH gift card!
Hello to all our Original Pancake House customers!
In an effort to ensure we continue to provide you with the best possible breakfast experience, we’ve put together a brief customer satisfaction survey. Please take a few minutes to tell us how we are doing. We know you are busy so as a thank you for your time, we’ll enter each respondent into a drawing for a FREE $50 OPH gift card! Just complete the survey and you could win free breakfast for you and your family! As always, we thank you for your continued patronage of OPH and look forward to seeing you soon!
Click HERE to take our brief customer satisfaction survey.
Wishing you a good day and full belly,
The OPH Staff
A New Spin on Breakfast
The New Year is under way and we can’t think of a better time to try some new recipes and spice up your traditional breakfast repertoire. With an eye for adventure, we’ve collected a few ideas to liven up your Denver breakfast table. Strap on your apron, roll up your sleeves, and get ready for breakfast fun!
Bacon Breakfast Cupcakes:
With a drizzle of spicy Sriracha Sauce, these cupcakes will add zing to your morning! 
Ingredients:
1 bag (20 oz.) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
6 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
¾ cup crumbled crisply cooked bacon
¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz)
Sriracha sauce
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place foil liner in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups. Generously spray with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix potatoes, oil, salt and pepper. Divide evenly among cups; press lightly. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until golden brown. In medium bowl, beat eggs and milk. Stir in bacon and cheese. Firmly press potatoes in muffin cups with bottom of 1/4-cup dry measuring cup. Top each with slightly less than ¼ cup egg mixture. Bake 13 to 16 minutes or until knife inserted in center of egg comes out clean. Cool five minutes. Serve with sauce.
French Toast Kabobs
: Everything tastes better on a stick! These kabobs are fun, bite-sized, and perfect for dipping. Kids love them!
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 cups brioche, French or sandwich bread (cut into 2 inch cubes)
1 tablespoon butter or oil
16 strawberries, stems removed
2 bananas, sliced into ½ inch coins
8 wooden skewers
Directions:
Whisk together the milk, eggs, honey and cinnamon. Dip the bread cubes in the milk mixture to coat each side. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook the bread for 1 ½ minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Skewer the French toast cubes, strawberries and bananas and serve with maple syrup for dipping.
Waffle BLT
: For this recipe you can either make your own waffles, or save time and use frozen waffles!
Ingredients:
8 frozen waffles
8-12 slices bacon
2 medium tomatoes
4-6 lettuce leaves
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup fresh dill, chopped fine
Directions:
Prepare herb spread by combining mayo and dill. Cover and refrigerate. Meanwhile, prepare bacon in a frying pan or 400-degree oven to desired crispness. When bacon is finished, place cooked slices on paper towels and dab to absorb some of the grease. Next, either prepare your own waffles or toast freezer waffles. Prepare sandwiches by spreading 2 tablespoons of herb spread on each waffle. Top with bacon slices, tomato slices, and lettuce leaves. Top with another waffle. Serve immediately.
Make-Ahead Blueberry Lemon French Toast
: This sweet breakfast treat is a delicious new take on French toast. And the best part, you can prepare it the night before.
Ingredients:
1 (12-count) package sweet dinner rolls, cubed
1 cup blueberries
1½ cup milk
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons maple syrup, or more, to taste
Zest of 1 lemon
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
For the crumb topping:
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
Directions:
Lightly coat a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Place a layer of bread cubes evenly into the baking dish. Top with blueberries in an even layer, repeating 2 more times and ending with a layer of bread.
In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, maple syrup, lemon zest, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. After the dish has absorbed liquid for at least two hours, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
To make the crumb topping, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add cold butter and toss to coat, using your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the bread cubes. Place into oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown.
We hope you try and enjoy some of these new ideas for morning treats. Next time you visit us at Original Pancake House, be sure to let us know how these breakfast recipes turned out. To all our friends in Denver, we wish you a New Year filled with delicious breakfasts and adventure!
Winter Warmers – Breakfast ideas to warm even the coldest mornings!
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!
Celebrate the Season with Special Holiday Breakfast Treats
‘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
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.
Tis the season for Pancake Cheer!
Join us in spreading the Pancake Cheer this holiday season! During the month of December, we’d like to share the joy our pancakes bring with you and your loved ones. Each week in December we will invite you to participate in our #PancakeCheer promotion on Facebook. As a thank you, by commenting and sharing on our weekly #PancakeCheer posts, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a one of four gift cards. The first three weeks of December, our fans have the opportunity to win $25 gift cards and the fourth week in December, we will give away a $50 gift card to one lucky participant.
Helping us share this message is as easy as…
- “Liking” and “Following” us on Facebook and Twitter
- Participate in our weekly #PancakeCheer promotion to be entered in to a gift card raffle
Happy Holidays!
Rules: One winner per gift card. Winners will be contacted via Facebook’s messaging platform to obtain mailing address information where gift card prizes will be sent. Gift cards are only redeemable at one of our two Denver restaurants. Contest begins December 1, 2014 through December 24, 2014.