Strawberries and Cream Slush Drink, a braces-friendly spring smoothie!

You have braces, and you’re probably wondering what to eat. You can’t have gum, popcorn or other delicious but braces-unfriendly foods. But fear not! Reed Orthodontics has a delicious spring smoothie recipe that is perfect for those warm, sunny afternoons. Enjoy!

Ingredients
• 2 ½ cups (about 1 pound) strawberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1 ½ cups crushed ice
• 1 ½ cups club soda
• 3 Tablespoons vanilla syrup (sold as a coffee flavoring)
• ½ cup sugar or more, to taste
• 1 can whipped cream

Directions
Wash and drain strawberries. Remove stems and slice. Put lime juice in blender, and then add batches of strawberries, about a half-cup at a time, blending until liquefied. Strain the strawberries through a fine sieve to remove most of the seeds and some pulp. Place back in blender, and blend with the crushed ice. Pour into a 2-liter pitcher and stir in club soda, vanilla syrup and sugar. Serve in six tall glasses with a swish of whipped cream on top.

PB&J Cookies, from the Reed Orthodontics Cookie Cookbook

Everyone has a favorite childhood recipe, or a treat that reminds them of mom, dad or grandma's baking. Peanut butter and jelly are no longer just for sandwiches – today's recipe will redefine your favorite childhood snack. Nikki's recipe for PB&J Cookies is one of the originals from the Reed Orthodontics staff and patient Cookie Cookbook. What great recipes we’ve received from everyone!

Dr. Reed would like to pass on a big thank you to all of you who shared your favorites with us. We also encourage patients and staff to share more of their favorite recipes on our Facebook page. Enjoy this tasty treat!

PB&J Cookies

Mix 3 cups flour, 1 Tbsp. baking soda, a pinch of salt and 1 tsp. cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl mix 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 Tbsp. Butter and 1 tsp. vanilla.

Mix dry and wet ingredients. Roll dough into a ball and put peanut butter and jelly in the middle of the dough ball.

Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes. Let cool and serve with milk!

A few Halloween safety tips, from Reed Orthodontics

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of October’s sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, Dr. Reed would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has provided trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give Dr. Reed and our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.

A braces-friendly recipe, in celebration of National Orthodontic Health Month!

Did you know that October is National Orthodontic Health Month? Dr. Reed and our team would like to share a braces-friendly Halloween recipe with all of our patients, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontics and celebrity chef Michael Chiarello. This Green Goo Slimedoo recipe is delicious, and provided that you brush and floss after indulging, it will not damage your beautiful smile.

Green Goo Slimedoo

Ingredients:

2 cups heavy cream
2 ounces sugar
2 ounces butter
2 pounds white chocolate
6 to 12 drops green food coloring
2 bags of thin pretzel sticks
Strawberries, bananas and thinly sliced apples for dipping
Candy sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. In a non-reactive double boiler set over medium-low heat, bring the cream, sugar, and butter to a boil. Meanwhile, chop the chocolate into small chunks - a serrated knife works best for this.
3. Add the chocolate chunks to the cream mixture in the double boiler, whisking, until it is melted and incorporated into the cream. Finally, add the food coloring until it is the desired shade of green.
4. Keep mixture warm in a fondue pot. Set out the fruit and the pretzels for dipping with long wooden skewers next to the fondue pot. Guests can dip their pretzels or fruit into the fondue and then roll them in the candy sprinkles, if desired.