Three Braces-Friendly Summer Recipes

Three Braces-Friendly Summer Recipes
Posted on 05/24/2016

If you are looking for an orthodontist in the Hatboro, Horsham, Huntington Valley, Warminster, or Willow Grove areas, Checkoff & Casey Orthodontics is here for all your orthodontic needs. We pride ourselves on our personalized care we offer to our patients whether they are in our office or they are just getting accustomed to our orthodontic treatments. When getting acclimated to wearing braces, changes will have to be made to your lifestyle, including what foods you eat. Wearing braces does not mean that you are out of options when it comes to what you eat though. There is still a variety of tasty and healthy foods that are perfectly fine to consume. For your convenience, we have listed a couple of recipes you can try this summer that are suitable for a brace-wearer. We think you will enjoy them!

Peppermint Lemonade

Nothing says summertime like lemonade! After you have been outside and in the sun for some time, there is really no better way to cool off. For a soothing twist on lemonade, you should try out this recipe!

Ingredients:

1 (12 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 fresh lemon
1 ¼ cups white sugar
½ cup fresh mint leaves

Directions:

Pour the lemonade concentrate into a large pitcher or cooler with a spout. Stir in enough water to make 1 gallon. Grate the zest from the lemon and add to the pitcher, then squeeze the lemon juice from the lemon into the pitcher. In a small bowl, crush the mint leaves into the sugar using a muddler or a wooden spoon. Stir into the lemonade. Cover and chill for several hours, then strain to remove the leaves and zest before serving. Serve over ice and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Pasta Fredda

This delicious pasta recipe is made for not just the pasta lover, but the vegetable lover as well. With an ingredient list including tomatoes, olives, and basil leaves, you get a meal that is not only tasty, but also healthy for you.

Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) package farfalle (bow tie) pasta
20 cherry tomatoes, halved
7 ounces bocconcini (small balls of fresh mozzarella cheese)
¾ cup black olives
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 fresh basil leaves
1 ½ teaspoons fresh oregano leaves

Directions:

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the bow-tie pasta at a boil, stirring occasionally, until cooked through yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes; drain and cool to room temperature.

Combine tomatoes, bocconcini, olives, olive oil, basil, and oregano in a large bowl; toss to evenly coat. Add pasta to tomato mixture and toss.

Chicken Enchiladas

If you are looking for a way to spice up your lunch or dinner this summer, this chicken enchilada recipe is perfect for you. In addition to the standard chicken breast meat, cheese, chiles, and tortilla, this recipe adds cream of mushroom soup, onions, and garlic powder among other ingredients in order to give it a unique flavor. This is the perfect choice for those wanting to try something new.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter
½ cup chopped green onions
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
½ cup sour cream
1 ½ cups cubed cooked chicken breast meat
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
6 (12 inch) flour tortillas
¼ cup milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking dish.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the green onion until tender (about 3 to 4 minutes). Add the garlic powder, then stir in the green chiles, cream of mushroom soup and sour cream. Mix well. Reserve 3/4 of this sauce and set aside. To the remaining 1/4 of the sauce in the saucepan, add the chicken and 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Stir together.

Fill each flour tortilla with the chicken mixture and roll up. Place seam side down in the prepared baking dish.

In a small bowl combine the reserved 3/4 of the sauce with the milk. Spoon this mixture over the rolled tortillas and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.

Contact Checkoff & Casey Orthodontics Today!

If you are looking for an orthodontist around the areas of Hatboro, Horsham, Huntington Valley, Warminster, Willow Grove or beyond, you can fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation with us. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us online or by phone. Our phone number is (215) 674-0332. We hope to hear from you soon, and look forward to seeing your smile in our office!