New UNICORN ICE CREAM Recipe

Are you ready for the most magical Ice Cream recipe you’ll ever find? Not only is it cute, but it’s great for all ages. Best of all, it's braces friendly & taste buds approved! Unicorn Ice Cream is magic on a cone!

UNICORN ICE CREAM

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups whipping cream
• One 14 sweetened condensed milk

Gel food coloring:

• Electric Blue
• Electric Green
• Egg Yellow
• Magenta
• Purple
• Star Sprinkles
• Purple Disco Dust (optional)
• Green Disco Dust (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream until medium peaks form.
2. Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk into the whipped cream, and fold the whipped cream and condensed milk together until completely combined.
3. Separate the ice cream base into 5 bowls. Add 2-4 drops of food coloring to each bowl (1 color per bowl). Use a spoon to mix in the food coloring until it is evenly distributed in the ice cream base. You can add more food coloring as needed to reach your desired color.
4. Using a standard loaf pan, layer the ice cream. Place ½ of each color in the pan in big dollops. (I layered the blue, green, and purple first, and then the yellow and pink on top of that.) Then repeat the color layering.
5. Run a butter knife through the ice cream a few times in each direction to swirl the colors together. You don't want to completely mix the colors, just swirl them a bit.
6. Top the ice cream with star sprinkles and sprinkle with disco dust. Because everyone knows unicorns are glittery.
7. Cover the loaf pan with plastic wrap and freeze for 8 hours to overnight, or until the ice cream has set up.

NEW OFFICE CONTEST!

Valentine's Day may be over, but our contest isn't! Can you guess how many sweethearts are in the jar? Visit Spannhake Orthodontics to see the jar & take your guess for a chance to WIN an amazing prize!#SpannhakeOrthodontics

Stacked Quesadilla Tower For Super Bowl Sunday

In this stacked tower quesadilla recipe, stack tortillas with black beans, squash, and plenty of cheese, and more.

Ingredients (4 SERVINGS)

• 4 8-inch-diameter flour tortillas
• 1 8-ounce package peeled chopped butternut squash, cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 cup chopped white onion
• 1 15- to 16-ounce can black beans, rinsed, drained
• 1/2 cup salsa, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 cup coarsely grated hot pepper Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Sour cream
• Additional salsa
• Fresh cilantro sprigs (for garnish)
• Choice of Meat (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat broiler. Put tortillas in single layer on baking sheet. Brush with oil. Broil until toasted, about 3 minutes. Turn; set aside.
2. Place squash in microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle water over, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave until just tender, about 3 minutes; drain. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add squash; stir 1 minute. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spread out squash in even layer over 1 tortilla. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet. Add beans, 1/4 cup salsa, garlic, and chili powder. Using potato masher, crush until beans are coarsely mashed; season with salt and pepper. Stir in 1/4 cup salsa. Spread over second tortilla. Sprinkle cheese over third tortilla. Leave fourth tortilla plain.
3. Broil tortillas until cheese melts and vegetables are browned in spots, about 3 minutes, watching to prevent burning. Transfer black bean tortilla to plate; sprinkle 1/4 cup chopped cilantro over. Top with cheese tortilla, squash tortilla, then plain tortilla. Cut into 4 wedges. Garnish with sour cream, salsa, and cilantro sprigs.

What is Invisalign & Why Should You Consider It?

Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So, you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign is made with 3D computer imaging technology and has been proven effective. More than 70% of orthodontists in the US and Canada are certified to treat with Invisalign, including Dr. Spannhake. 

Why should you consider it?
Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your doctor's office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete. Curious about Invisalign for your teens? Ask us about Invisalign Teen at Spannhake Orthodontics. 

How To Handle Soreness Caused from Braces

When you first get your braces at Spannhake Orthodontics, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.

Banana Smoothie Recipe

Your kid’s diet should have fruits and veggies for complete nutrition. But when he does not eat them in their solid form, you might want to consider smoothies. Smoothies are great for both kids and adults, and even better for new patients being treated at Spannhake Orthodontics as they are braces friendly. The trick is to make the idea of smoothies exciting – get your children involved in the process. Let them make smoothies with fruits of their choice, on the condition that they will drink it.

To help get you started on your smoothie journey, we're sharing a delicious recipe with you below! Try it out this weekend and let us know how you liked it!

Banana Smoothie

One of the simplest fruit smoothies you can make for your kid, the banana smoothie is rich in potassium and Vitamin C.

You Will Need:

• 2 bananas
• 1 cup milk, preferably low-fat
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• Water for consistency
• Ice cubes (optional)
• Cinnamon powder (optional)

How To:

• Blend banana and milk until the fruit is sliced or chopped.
• Add the brown sugar and water and blend again for 10 seconds.
• Add ice if you want and blend the mixture again for a minute.
• Top it with cinnamon powder and serve chilled.

You can replace regular milk with soy milk or almond milk if you want a dairy-free smoothie.

NEW JANUARY CONTEST

Take your guess at your next appointment at Spannhake Orthodontics!

Start 2017 With A New Smile

Straightening your smile with orthodontic treatment imparts a host of functional benefits! You'll find that your teeth are easier to keep clean, your bite function will improve, and you'll experience a reduction in pain and discomfort from TMJ (jaw joint) issues. The real benefits, though, are psychological. That's because a new smile creates a boost of happiness, confidence, and self-esteem that radiates through every area of your life. Just think how much easier that upcoming presentation at work, neighborhood barbecue, or first date would be if you had a smile you were proud of and not afraid to show off!

Are you ready to start the new year with a new smile? Contact Spannhake Orthodontics to get started!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Spannhake Orthodontics would like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. For all of our patients, referring doctors, friends and family, may this Christmas find you surrounded by those you love, filled with a lot of fun and cheer, and the New Year bring happiness, health, and prosperity.

NEW RECIPE: M&M Christmas Cookie Bars

Do you enjoy making holiday treats for neighbors, co-workers, or loved ones? Then you need to make these M&M Christmas Cookie Bars! These cookie bars give you the classic chocolate chip cookie with a holiday m&m flare giving you two of America's favorite treats combined!

This is easy to make and the perfect holiday gift or hosting treat!

Ingredients

• 2 sticks of butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup of granulated sugar 
• 1 cup of firmly packed golden brown sugar
• 3 large eggs 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of Christmas M&M's , plus more for topping
• 1 cup of mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping
• 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a 9x13 baking dish with foil, leave some overhang to make removal easier.
3. Spray foil generously with nonstick cooking spray.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until fluffy.
5. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and continue to beat.
6. Lower speed of mixer and add flour, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.
7. Add M&M's and mini chocolate chips and give a final stir, reserving some M&M's, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for topping cookie bars.
8. Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish.
9. Press additional M&M'S, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips into top of cookie dough.
10. Bake 35 to 40 minutes on oven rack in lower third of oven to prevent over browning.
11. Let cool completely and cut.

adapted from FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE CHOCOLATE LOVER’S COOKBOOK

NEW CONTEST ALERT | Christmas Tree Selfie

New Contest Alert! Here are all the details on our Christmas Tree Selfie Contest! Enter for a chance to win an Astoria VR Headset perfect for ANY SMARTPHONE! #SpannhakeSelfie

Click here to post your photo on our Facebook page! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

There is always something to be thankful for, and at Spannhake Orthodontics we are thankful for you! Thank you to our wonderful patients for letting us work on those gorgeous smiles!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're A Toys For Tots Donation Location!

Guess who is a drop off location for Toys for Tots this year? SPANNHAKE ORTHODONTICS! Here is all the info you need to help us donate to Toys for Tots this holiday season! #SpannhakeSmiles #SpannhakeOrthodontics#ToysforTots