National Orthodontic Health Month Cookbook Review

Happy National Orthodontic Health Month to all you braces wearing people! We officially have one teen wearing braces. She went from eating crunchy tacos to just eating the taco "guts." She is old enough to be in charge of her own orthodontic care and routine of bands,etc. Every time we go back for her appointments they praise her and are impressed at how quickly things are moving along.

Braces are a huge adjustment for the wearer as well as the cook in the family. Several times I had to change dinner plans because of my dear daughter and her sore mouth. I'm impressed at how responsible she is with them and how she is avoiding things that could cause damage to the hardware.

Did you know that there is a specific cookbook full of recipes for brace wearers?   It has won several awards, too! I was really impressed by the mission of the book! A portion of the proceeds from their book sales benefit the Smile of a Lifetime Foundation, a non-profit group that provides orthodontic scholarships to under-served students. These cookbooks should be in the Orthodontist office! Next time we go back I'm going to show them the cookbook!

The recipes in this  book focus more on "comfort food" vs. "forbidden food", which is so helpful!  When your teeth are hurting you still need to eat!  I appreciate all the recipes and suggestions on "do-able" foods. I love all the tooth trivia sprinkled throughout the book!  The end of the book includes Websites of Interest!  I found that very helpful, too!

The chapters in this book include: 
*Soothing Tips of Difficult Days
*Easy Eating
*Dining-Out is Do-able
* Be-Nice-to-Me-Beverages (great, Mmm Mmm Milk Shakes)
*Bracket-Friendly Breads and Breakfasts (Apple-not too-Crisp & Twisty Soft Pretzels, yum)
*Mellow Main Meals (must have Soft-Crust Pizza and Tender Chicken Pot Pie)
*Very Tender Vegetables (yummy Red Beans and Rice and Three Corn Extravaganza)
*Definitely Deserved Desserts (tasty Sensational Cinnamon Snickerdoodles and Fudgy Cocoa Bites)

Red Beans and Rice


3 1/2 c. water
1-15oz can red kidney beans, drained
1/2 c. onion or 2 T. dried onion
3/4 c. chopped green pepper or any sweet pepper
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. dry long-grained rice
(optional: 2 tsp. dried basil or 6 crushed basil leaves)

In a large saucepan, combine 1 1/2 c. of water with the beans, onion, pepper, garlic and oregano.  Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer and cook for 20 min. 
Add salt, optional basil and the remaining 2 cups of water.  Bring to a boil again, then lower the heat to simmer and stir in the rice.  Cook for 20 minutes, or to your favorite level of softness.  Serves six to eight.

Notes: If you want meat, we did, add in soft chicken and skinless sausage.  Hot sauce really kicks up the dish.

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I was given a cookbook to review and post. I hope you read the book to find out more information and get your own tasty recipes! LINK UP Mardi Gras/New Orleans Recipes