Did you know that pumpkin is high in vitamins A and C? Both are beneficial for your immune system. This post-surgery recipe is easy to make while fulfilling all your seasonal-pumpkin cravings. (Bonus points for being vegan and gluten free!)

• 2 sugar pumpkins (2 pumpkins yield ~2 1/4 cups (450 g) pumpkin puree)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil (or sub water if oil-free)
• 2 medium shallots (diced // 2 shallots yield ~1/4 cup or 40 g)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced // 3 cloves yield ~1 1/2 Tbsp or 9 g)
• 2 cups vegetable broth (DIY or store-bought)
• 1 cup canned light coconut milk (or sub other non-dairy milk with varied results)
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar (or honey if not vegan)
• 1/4 tsp each sea salt, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Using a sharp knife, cut off the tops of the sugar pumpkins and then halve them. Use a sharp spoon to scrape out all of the seeds and strings (see notes for a link to roasting seeds).

·       Brush the flesh with oil and place face down on the baking sheet. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a fork easily pierces the skin. Remove from the oven, let cool for 10 minutes, then peel away skin and set pumpkin aside.

·       To a large saucepan over medium heat add olive oil, shallot and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until slightly browned and translucent. Turn down heat if cooking too quickly.

·       Add remaining ingredients, including the pumpkin, and bring to a simmer.

·       Transfer soup mixture to a blender or use an immersion blender to puree the soup. If using a blender, place a towel over the top of the lid before mixing to avoid any accidents. Pour mixture back into pot.

·       Continue cooking over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes and taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Recipe serves 3-4 (as originally written). Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to a few days and in the freezer for up to a month or more.

The post Pumpkin Soup-Not Just For The Holidays first appeared on Aurora Periodontal Care.

The post Pumpkin Soup-Not Just For The Holidays appeared first on Aurora Periodontal Care

This hearty lentil soup will surely satiate your cravings after having done gum surgery. The soup’s abundance of veggies and lentils provide a delicious meal that will also keep your gums from becoming irritated after your procedure. Lentils contain Arginine which helps reduce the pain of tooth sensitivity. That is why many toothpastes and oral hygiene products utilize Arginine for oral sensitivity.  Enjoy! 

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups dry lentils
• 8 cups water
• 1/2 cup spinach, rinsed and thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
2. Stir in lentils, and add water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve stir in spinach, and cook until it wilts. Stir in vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper, and more vinegar if desired.

The post A Hearty Lentil Soup Recipe For Your Post-Surgery Lunch first appeared on Aurora Periodontal Care.

The post A Hearty Lentil Soup Recipe For Your Post-Surgery Lunch appeared first on Aurora Periodontal Care

Who doesn’t like peanut butter and banana? Bananas are one of the most widely consumed foods in the world for good reason.  Packed with Potassium, bananas can help reduce blood pressure due to the vasodilative effects of Potassium.  And the protein from the peanut butter gives your body the amino acids that are much needed for tissue repair following surgery.

The combination of protein and carbs in this peanut butter banana protein shake recipe is a winner for after-surgery nutrition.

Ingredients:

1 cup yogurt (such as almond, coconut, or plain)

1 ripe banana, peeled

1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or oat milk, or coconut milk)

1/3 cup peanut butter (or nut or seed butter of your choice)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

(Yields 4 servings)

Directions:

Process the banana and yogurt in a blender until smooth. Add the milk, peanut butter, and cinnamon. Process until very smooth

Per Serving: 234 calories; 16g fat; 13g protein; 14g carbohydrates; 3g dietary fiber; 2mg cholesterol; 116mg sodium.

Recipe taken from The 150 Healthiest 15-minute Recipes on Earth by Jonny Bowden

The post Post Surgery Snack: Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake Recipe first appeared on Aurora Periodontal Care.

The post Post Surgery Snack: Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake Recipe appeared first on Aurora Periodontal Care

Turmeric is a well-researched, sought-after culinary spice.  This lovely yellow powder has centuries old medicinal properties. It has been shown to be beneficial for brain health, inflammation, heart disease, cancer, depression and skin conditions.

Turmeric contains a group of compounds called curcumin, which have strong anti-inflammatory properties.  Turmeric mouthwash significantly reduces the discomfort of radiation – induced oral mucositis.  In one research study patients with inflammatory bowel disease found significant relief of their symptoms when they added turmeric to their regimen.

Turmeric is well absorbed thru the GI tract when it is combined with black pepper extract.  Our wise grandparents somehow knew this when they created delicious recipes containing both turmeric and black pepper.  Who knew this precious spice so common in our kitchens for years could contribute so much to our overall health?

The post Turmeric, The Golden Culinary Spice first appeared on Aurora Periodontal Care.

The post Turmeric, The Golden Culinary Spice appeared first on Aurora Periodontal Care

What better way to start of the autumn season than with this homemade spiced apple sauce recipe? Apples are full of nutrients. They are high in Vitamin C, a natural antioxidant, B-complex vitamins, which key in maintaining red blood cells and aids in keeping the nervous system in good health.

This recipe was taken from, www.spiciefoodie.com.

Ingredients:

4 gala apples, peeled, cored and evenly chopped

1 whole cinnamon stick

1/4 cup brown sugar (more if desired)

small pinch of salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)

small pinch of ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

small piece of lemon peel

3/4 cup of water.

Garnishing:

dap of Greek yogurt

raisins, dried cranberries

Instructions:

Place the apple pieces and all remaining ingredients in a pot. Cover and allow to come to a boil over medium heat. Uncover to allow most of the liquid to evaporate and the apples break down. After 10 minutes use a potato masher to further break down the apples to desired consistency. Continue to simmer until nearly all of the liquid has evaporated.

Remove the cinnamon stick or leave if desired. Allow to cool before storing, or serving. Can also be enjoyed warm as a sweet autumn treat.

*The brown sugar may be replaced by sweetener or choice, such as honey or maple syrup.

Yields: 2-3 servings

The post After Surgery Nutrition: Homemade Spiced Apple Sauce Recipe first appeared on Aurora Periodontal Care.

The post After Surgery Nutrition: Homemade Spiced Apple Sauce Recipe appeared first on Aurora Periodontal Care