Braces-Friendly Recipes

DonnaB · #1 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 04:52 PM

I’ve got a yummy recipe for Cherry Chicken Salad Bites that is braces-friendly and great to have as an afterschool snack or as a side to your meal, especially after a day running around doing errands (at that point, simple is always better!) Enjoy!

CHERRY-CHICKEN SALAD BITES

Ingredients:

1 (12.5-ounce) can (or 1¼ cups) cooked chicken
½ cup (about 3 ounces) dried cherries, presoaked in hot water for 10 minutes, then drained
½ cup (4 ounces) black-cherry yogurt
1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise

Directions:

Drain the chicken and break it up into a medium-sized bowl. Add cherries, yogurt and mayonnaise. Stir together well. If you have time, let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for an hour to absorb the moisture and flavors.

This serves up nicely in tiny scoopfuls on ruffled red-leaf lettuce and is also excellent as a filling inside sliced miniature croissant rolls.

(From The Braces Cookbook 2 by Pamela Waterman and Amee Hoge)

Leave a comment to let me know what you think—and feel free to share any other braces-friendly recipes you might have!

I am working with the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Please let me know if you have any suggestions for braces-friendly recipes or if you have any questions about orthodontists! I’m here to help!

DonnaB · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 06:33 PM

Here’s another braces-friendly recipe for Moroccan Sweet-Pepper Chicken- yes, it’s just as tasty as it sounds!

MOROCCAN SWEET-PEPPER CHICKEN

Ingredients:

3 boneless chicken breast halves, boiled
3 cups (fresh or frozen, unthawed) sweet peppers, diced (any color)

For the sauce:

1/3 cup orange juice
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ teaspoon ginger
1 Tablespoon sherry
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
(Optional: ¼ cup sliced almonds)

In a large pot, boil the chicken breasts until very tender, about 1 hour. (This is a great task to do ahead of time while getting other things done in your life.) Shred the chicken on a cutting board and set aside.

In a Dutch oven or large covered frying pan, simmer the peppers in ½ cup water for 15 minutes. Add shredded chicken and keep on low heat.

In a small bowl, use a whisk to stir together all the sauce ingredients except the almonds. Pour the sauce over the chicken and pepper mixture and simmer the combination, covered, for 10 minutes. Serve over rice and, if desired, add the almonds on top for non-braces eaters. This recipe makes 6 to 8 servings.

(From The Braces Cookbook by Pamela and Brenda Waterman)

Enjoy!

DonnaB · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 01:52 PM

I just wanted to follow-up with one final recipe! If you like these recipes, you should check out more from the AAO at My new smile changed my life

CORNBREAD PIZZA

Ingredients:

2 (8½-ounce) boxes dry cornbread mix
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 jar or can (about 26 ounces) spaghetti sauce, any flavor
1 tablespoon oregano
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
Toppings of your choice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 30-to-35 minutes total.

In a large bowl, stir together the 2 boxes of dry cornbread mix, 2 eggs, milk and Parmesan cheese. Grease a 9” x 13” pan, and also grease 6 muffin-pan cups (or line them with cupcake papers). Spoon batter into the 6 muffin cups, about halfway, as this is extra batter. (You’ll have muffins for another meal – they’re great with chili.) Then spread the remaining batter into the 9” x 13” pan and spread the spaghetti sauce over the top. Sprinkle with oregano.

Bake the pizza and the muffins at 375 degrees for 15 minutes and remove both from oven. Sprinkle the pizza with the mozzarella cheese and any other toppings, then bake it at an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Cut into squares.

Chef Amee’s Gourmet Touch:
To make two specialty “soft” pizzas, bake them in two round cake pans and top with your favorite toppings. Add 1 tablespoon of dried Italian herbs to the pizza crust along with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder for added flavor.

You should check out more from the Braces Cookbook at the AAO’s official site, My new smile changed my life.

Good eats!

DonnaB · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 08:52 PM

Hope everyone has enjoyed these recipes! Have one of your own? The AAO wants to know! Find more recipes and submit your own braces-friendly meals, side dishes, and deserts to the AAO here: Recipes

For more info on braces and choosing an orthodontist, please visit the AAO’s website at My new smile changed my life, and join our group on the MomLogic community, Healthy, Beautiful Smiles to continue the discussion on orthodontists, braces facts and of course, braces-friendly recipes!

Thanks!