Braces-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes

Braces-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes
Posted on 11/22/2016
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Just because you have braces doesn't mean you have to abstain from delicious food this Thanksgiving. Here at UNLV Orthodontic Clinic, we are dedicated to offering the best orthodontic solutions, even providing our patients with great Thanksgiving recipes that won't harm their braces. We are committed to making sure that you enjoy this holiday season without damaging your orthodontic gear, and as a result you can truly get the best of both worlds!

Classic Baked Mac & Cheese

mac-and-cheese

Ingredients

  • Kosher Salt
  • 8 ounces fusili or other short pasta
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk, heated
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheest
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded gruyere cheese

 

Directions

  • Bring a pot of salted water to boil
  • Add pasta & cook until al dente
  • Reserve 1 cup cooking water and then drain the pasta
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
  • While oven is preheating, melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat
  • Whisk the flour and cook, whisking for 2 minutes, then whisk in milk
  • Add bay leaf, nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon of salt & simmer, whisking occasionally, until think
  • Remove bay leaf and stir in 2 cups cheddar and gruyere
  • Stir in pasta and the reserved cooking water to make loose sauce
  • Butter a 2-quart baking dish, add pasta mixture and top the 1/2 cup of remaining cheddar
  • Lastly, bake for 15 minutes.

 

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

mashed-potatoes 

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of garlic
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup of milk
  • Salt and pepper to taste

 

​Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  • Drizzle garlic with olive oil, then wrap in aluminum foil
  • Bake in preheated oven for an hour
  • Bring large pot of salted water to a boil
  • Add potatoes, and cook until tender (about 15 minutes)
  • Drain, cool, and chip potatoes
  • Sir in butter, milk, salt, and pepper
  • Remove the garlic from the oven, cut in half
  • Squeeze the softened cloves into the potatoes
  • Blend potatoes with an electric mixer until desired consistency

 

Contact UNLV Orthodontic Clinic

If these recipes appeal to you and desire to find out about additional braces-friendly recipes, please feel free to contact us at (702) 774-2690 or visit our contact page. With these delicious recipes, you don't have to sacrifice flavor to have a braces-friendly Thanksgiving feast.