- Published on
Orthodontics treatment is much more complex, different and difficult than what many young patients assume. A doctor dedicated to his or her craft puts much education, study and experience into each orthodontic case he or she treats.
Dr. Chris Baker's book, "Your Child's Smile" is the best parent guide for their child's oral health. It has also been used as a dental school textbook.
Orthodontics is the practice of the realities of moving teeth through bone over a period of time.
This past week, we had two high school students who are interested in dentistry spend the days with us in internships. They came in each morning and would spend about half of our office hours with us.
The students encountered orthodontics from a totally different perspective than what they experienced when they were our patients. They both agreed, very surely, that orthodontic treatment seemed much more complex, different and difficult than they had assumed when they were patients.
Isn’t that the way life works?
Perception varies according to the view through which we see it. It’s like looking into a room from a window on one side and seeing one part of the room -- and then from the other side, the view through a different window makes the room seem totally different.
What we regard is often limited by what we know and see.
To a teenager having braces treatment, the experience is one without much visual awareness of what is being done with those braces. While they're sitting in the dental chair, their minds are full of schoolwork, classmate matters, family matters, athletic and other activities of that evening, and so on.
The patient's awareness of what we are doing with the “hardware” of orthodontic appliances is minimal. Once the appointment is completed, they can “get back” to their “real life.”
But seeing us work with the realities of moving teeth through hard, mineralized bone was a different matter for our high school interns.
Think of a bone. It is miraculous that by placing the right force in the right direction on teeth, we can move teeth through that seemingly impenetrable, dense structure.
And, amazingly, the bone restructures and remodels itself to complete its presence around the tooth in the new position.
Our interns learned that we cannot move one tooth without anchoring somewhere, somehow to other teeth. They found out that it is a challenging, mechanical, engineering process to accomplish a bite that will work and last for almost a hundred years, and provide a smile that will charm, comfort, engage, and communicate the soul within.
Our interns were impressed with the time the human body requires to allow teeth to move, and to remodel the bone -- and why it takes the time. The human body is dynamic - always changing. It is not static - staying the same.
Orthodontic changes are not guaranteed; they are not totally predictable; they are not stable over time without retention, because of the dynamic properties of the muscles, speech, habits, tongue position, tooth clenching or grinding, eating, biting, opening, closing and even wear of the teeth.
Plus, a growing patient adds the challenge of growth changes to what we are working to do for them.
We were glad to share with two young people who wanted to understand more about what dental care can offer to each person.
We look forward to their joining the professionals who provide that care.
The students encountered orthodontics from a totally different perspective than what they experienced when they were our patients. They both agreed, very surely, that orthodontic treatment seemed much more complex, different and difficult than they had assumed when they were patients.
Isn’t that the way life works?
Perception varies according to the view through which we see it. It’s like looking into a room from a window on one side and seeing one part of the room -- and then from the other side, the view through a different window makes the room seem totally different.
What we regard is often limited by what we know and see.
To a teenager having braces treatment, the experience is one without much visual awareness of what is being done with those braces. While they're sitting in the dental chair, their minds are full of schoolwork, classmate matters, family matters, athletic and other activities of that evening, and so on.
The patient's awareness of what we are doing with the “hardware” of orthodontic appliances is minimal. Once the appointment is completed, they can “get back” to their “real life.”
But seeing us work with the realities of moving teeth through hard, mineralized bone was a different matter for our high school interns.
Think of a bone. It is miraculous that by placing the right force in the right direction on teeth, we can move teeth through that seemingly impenetrable, dense structure.
And, amazingly, the bone restructures and remodels itself to complete its presence around the tooth in the new position.
Our interns learned that we cannot move one tooth without anchoring somewhere, somehow to other teeth. They found out that it is a challenging, mechanical, engineering process to accomplish a bite that will work and last for almost a hundred years, and provide a smile that will charm, comfort, engage, and communicate the soul within.
Our interns were impressed with the time the human body requires to allow teeth to move, and to remodel the bone -- and why it takes the time. The human body is dynamic - always changing. It is not static - staying the same.
Orthodontic changes are not guaranteed; they are not totally predictable; they are not stable over time without retention, because of the dynamic properties of the muscles, speech, habits, tongue position, tooth clenching or grinding, eating, biting, opening, closing and even wear of the teeth.
Plus, a growing patient adds the challenge of growth changes to what we are working to do for them.
We were glad to share with two young people who wanted to understand more about what dental care can offer to each person.
We look forward to their joining the professionals who provide that care.
- Published on
Studies have proven, repeatedly, that it is more healthy for a child's development to have physical play, rather than being physically sedentary and frequently exposed to screens.
Dr Chris Baker's book, REAL, is a treasure of resources for living a healthy lifestyle and raising productive children.
Screen use by young children is unhealthy. The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued warnings about this danger.
The dramatic increase in Autism Spectrum Disorders has been associated with screen use. Dream It! Leaving Autism Behind is an inspiring story of one young man's growth and development, leaving autism behind.
Screen time creates brain damage in children. as shown by at least 11 recent studies.
One school activity that has been proven to be beneficial for developing brains is cursive writing.
Despite the dangers posed by the use of screen by young children, many school classrooms incorporate their use.
“Children should be seen and not heard."
Say what???
Online, there are lots of articles, studies and blogs about how our children are faring today. One such article, by blogger Vicky Prooday is titled, “Why are our children so bored at school, cannot wait, get easily frustrated and have no real friends?”
Others discuss the huge increase in the diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorders, learning disabilities and other childhood mental health areas.
Why do many children begin school not emotionally able to cope with the school environment?
Why do so many children fare poorly on testing and educational measures?
Why is there such a huge increase in ADD/ADHD, with many children who cannot sit and learn, let alone cope?
Why does such a huge number of children exhibit signs of addiction to screens and completely fall apart when the screen is taken away?
Why do so many children not have real friends?
Why are we in pediatric dentistry finding that children are emotionally incapable of coping with the dental care environment? And why does a huge percentage of children receive routine dental care provided while sedated or under GA (general anesthesia)?
Our grandparents did not have these problems.
What has changed?
The answer lies in our modern culture, our current beliefs as parents and in our resultant inability to give our children what they need to develop — their abilities to learn, cope, to have and enjoy true friends and life — real life.
The changes in our modern culture include:
Cultural Change #1: Omnipresent screens, including TV, movies, iPads, computers, electronic games and phones, which severely harm our children in two ways:
Boredom due to a damaged nervous system, and addiction, both disconnect the child from the ability to learn, to enjoy other types of stimulation like playing outside, and to emotionally attach to their family and to real friends.
Cultural Change #2: Parents have come to believe it is good for the child to “be in charge”, for the child’s needs to be met as immediately and completely as possible. Quite frankly, we have become servants to our children and their desires.
I remember being shocked a few years ago when I had explained the child’s abscessed tooth and need for extraction of an infection that was dangerously close to his brain and encephalitis. The mom asked the child, “Do you want to get your tooth taken out today?”
That was shocking. It was not shocking to hear the child’s answer. What do you think most all children who cannot begin to understand infection, encephalitis, meningitis or dental treatment would say?
Of course, the child answered, “No.”
And once again, I was shocked to hear mom say to me, “Dr. Chris, he said ‘no’ for today.”
As our children do not learn to cope with difficult things or things they do not wish (dental treatment), they do not learn that they CAN cope.
Millions of children in modern society are much less equipped than previous generations to deal with the simplest frustrations. How will they cope with the real world someday in their jobs. Will they be able to hold a job?
How will our children be able to learn to enjoy eating nutritious foods and to exercise and stay healthy if they have learned they “don’t have to do what they don’t like”?
I had a parent explain to me that neither she, nor her child ate anything except “white foods.” When I looked quizzically at her, she explained that they ate breads, pasta, crackers, cakes, and popcorn. Oh - and their ‘treats’ (candy and sweets) could be other colors.
The media and modern culture teaches modern parents to think if their children appear to be content, they have succeeded.
Quite the opposite!. Our beliefs are killing the chances of our children being happy.
I have wondered out loud more than once, “Who will our children marry, if there are so few capable, healthy young adults?”
And, if reincarnation is a reality, then what sort of world will we come back to?
We must:
You see, no matter how charming and cute children are, they must learn not to expect others to give them attention to “build them up.” The child should be doing that for the people around them, in being sweet, gracious, polite and helpful.They will be the happier adult, future parent, spouse and friend.
My grandmother used to say, “Children should be seen and not heard.”
I thought that was a mean thing to say. Years later, she explained to me, when I had my own child, that she felt a child could be emotionally damaged by receiving too much attention and should not enter into the conversation until spoken to.
Now, I understand what she really meant. It’s for their well-being. And for our future.
After all, the brain and its function are more and more difficult to change as one gets older. Let us work on fixing what we can and doing well for our children. One might think that raising children is not “rocket science.” Well, in our modern culture — maybe it is!
Our children need us to help them grow and develop without the disabilities of impulsivity, attention-neediness, inability to focus and pay attention, inability to learn well, and inability to truly connect with others.
Happiness awaits!
Say what???
Online, there are lots of articles, studies and blogs about how our children are faring today. One such article, by blogger Vicky Prooday is titled, “Why are our children so bored at school, cannot wait, get easily frustrated and have no real friends?”
Others discuss the huge increase in the diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorders, learning disabilities and other childhood mental health areas.
Why do many children begin school not emotionally able to cope with the school environment?
Why do so many children fare poorly on testing and educational measures?
Why is there such a huge increase in ADD/ADHD, with many children who cannot sit and learn, let alone cope?
Why does such a huge number of children exhibit signs of addiction to screens and completely fall apart when the screen is taken away?
Why do so many children not have real friends?
Why are we in pediatric dentistry finding that children are emotionally incapable of coping with the dental care environment? And why does a huge percentage of children receive routine dental care provided while sedated or under GA (general anesthesia)?
Our grandparents did not have these problems.
What has changed?
The answer lies in our modern culture, our current beliefs as parents and in our resultant inability to give our children what they need to develop — their abilities to learn, cope, to have and enjoy true friends and life — real life.
The changes in our modern culture include:
Cultural Change #1: Omnipresent screens, including TV, movies, iPads, computers, electronic games and phones, which severely harm our children in two ways:
-
First, screen time creates brain damage, even in not a lot of exposure to screens. (Weng 2012, Hong, 2013, Zhou 2011, Yuan 2011 and 2013, Dong & Devito, 2013, Koepp, 1998, Kyhn, 2011, Ko, 2009, Han 2011, Kim, 2011 and Hou 2012)
- You can see the damage in your child when they are impulsive, moody and can’t pay attention. The sensory overload and hyper-aroused neural system are damaging their gray matter of their brain. YES - there is actually atrophy (shrinkage or loss of brain cells) in the areas, frontal lobe, where processing of screens occurs, and where planning, impulse control and ability to suppress unacceptable impulses occurs. And, the white matter in the brain, the functioning links between the various parts of the brain lobes and centers are damaged and not functioning properly.
- The brain’s size (particularly the outer layer, the cortex) is reduced.
- So, the BRAIN STRUCTURE AND ITS FUNCTION ARE DAMAGED.
- Second, screen use causes cravings. impaired dopamine function. This is ADDICTION.
Boredom due to a damaged nervous system, and addiction, both disconnect the child from the ability to learn, to enjoy other types of stimulation like playing outside, and to emotionally attach to their family and to real friends.
Cultural Change #2: Parents have come to believe it is good for the child to “be in charge”, for the child’s needs to be met as immediately and completely as possible. Quite frankly, we have become servants to our children and their desires.
I remember being shocked a few years ago when I had explained the child’s abscessed tooth and need for extraction of an infection that was dangerously close to his brain and encephalitis. The mom asked the child, “Do you want to get your tooth taken out today?”
That was shocking. It was not shocking to hear the child’s answer. What do you think most all children who cannot begin to understand infection, encephalitis, meningitis or dental treatment would say?
Of course, the child answered, “No.”
And once again, I was shocked to hear mom say to me, “Dr. Chris, he said ‘no’ for today.”
As our children do not learn to cope with difficult things or things they do not wish (dental treatment), they do not learn that they CAN cope.
Millions of children in modern society are much less equipped than previous generations to deal with the simplest frustrations. How will they cope with the real world someday in their jobs. Will they be able to hold a job?
How will our children be able to learn to enjoy eating nutritious foods and to exercise and stay healthy if they have learned they “don’t have to do what they don’t like”?
I had a parent explain to me that neither she, nor her child ate anything except “white foods.” When I looked quizzically at her, she explained that they ate breads, pasta, crackers, cakes, and popcorn. Oh - and their ‘treats’ (candy and sweets) could be other colors.
The media and modern culture teaches modern parents to think if their children appear to be content, they have succeeded.
Quite the opposite!. Our beliefs are killing the chances of our children being happy.
I have wondered out loud more than once, “Who will our children marry, if there are so few capable, healthy young adults?”
And, if reincarnation is a reality, then what sort of world will we come back to?
We must:
- Severely limit screens in our children’s lives.
- Limit screens in our own lives so we have time and energy to connect with our children emotionally and actually.
- Teach our children that they can cope - they can wait to eat dinner, or spend time outside and find it fun - and find the fun.
- Involve your children in every aspect of the family work - housework, cooking, table setting, packing lunch, folding laundry at first, and eventually doing the laundry.
- Teach “cotillion” courtesy skills - gracious behaviors that include saying thank you and please, sharing, taking turns, finding ways to make the other children and people feel loved and important to your child.
You see, no matter how charming and cute children are, they must learn not to expect others to give them attention to “build them up.” The child should be doing that for the people around them, in being sweet, gracious, polite and helpful.They will be the happier adult, future parent, spouse and friend.
My grandmother used to say, “Children should be seen and not heard.”
I thought that was a mean thing to say. Years later, she explained to me, when I had my own child, that she felt a child could be emotionally damaged by receiving too much attention and should not enter into the conversation until spoken to.
Now, I understand what she really meant. It’s for their well-being. And for our future.
After all, the brain and its function are more and more difficult to change as one gets older. Let us work on fixing what we can and doing well for our children. One might think that raising children is not “rocket science.” Well, in our modern culture — maybe it is!
Our children need us to help them grow and develop without the disabilities of impulsivity, attention-neediness, inability to focus and pay attention, inability to learn well, and inability to truly connect with others.
Happiness awaits!
- Published on
You are doing it. You are fielding life’s stuff.
The world doesn’t always work the way you want it to. Stuff happens.
And when it happens, your seeds of possibilities begin to grow.
In disappointment and distress are the seeds of wisdom - and the seeds of despair and grief.
In despair are the seeds of acceptance, personal growth and gratitude - and the seeds of helplessness and more despair.
In grief there are the seeds of love, compassion and growth - and the seeds of devastation and hopelessness.
In growth are the seeds of appreciation, gratitude and joy.
In gratitude and joy is the seed of fulfillment and love.
Our expectations and willingness shape these possible sequels to what happened. What we think - feel - do, when stuff happens, determines which seed grows.
Love,
The world doesn’t always work the way you want it to. Stuff happens.
And when it happens, your seeds of possibilities begin to grow.
In disappointment and distress are the seeds of wisdom - and the seeds of despair and grief.
In despair are the seeds of acceptance, personal growth and gratitude - and the seeds of helplessness and more despair.
In grief there are the seeds of love, compassion and growth - and the seeds of devastation and hopelessness.
In growth are the seeds of appreciation, gratitude and joy.
In gratitude and joy is the seed of fulfillment and love.
Our expectations and willingness shape these possible sequels to what happened. What we think - feel - do, when stuff happens, determines which seed grows.
Love,
- Published on
"You are beautiful, incredible, and brilliant. God makes his children so." - Dr Chris Baker
"Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you." - Marianne Williamson
You came with greatness.
Your eminence came with you too. Isn’t it funny that we feel as if it's just the others who have the importance, the wings to fly?
You are beautiful, incredible and brilliant. God makes his children so.
Actually your light and goodness scare you.
As Marianne Williamson says, “Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
"We are all meant to shine. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.“
Shine that smart brain out there this week. Shine your light of goodness all around you this week.
Share your beautiful smile with everyone you encounter. They will feel their special greatness and joy as you do.
Can you imagine what you do for the world?
Love,
Your eminence came with you too. Isn’t it funny that we feel as if it's just the others who have the importance, the wings to fly?
You are beautiful, incredible and brilliant. God makes his children so.
Actually your light and goodness scare you.
As Marianne Williamson says, “Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
"We are all meant to shine. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.“
Shine that smart brain out there this week. Shine your light of goodness all around you this week.
Share your beautiful smile with everyone you encounter. They will feel their special greatness and joy as you do.
Can you imagine what you do for the world?
Love,
- Published on
Kindness, commitment, dedication and integrity are key factors in a winning team. Dr Chris Baker and her husband Claude (back row) love working at the American Dental Center in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Build a winning life with your team by using the strategies Dr Chris shares in her book, REAL.
The Pediatric and Orthodontic Department of the American Dental Center in Abu Dhabi.
At the American Dental Center in Abu Dhabi, UAE, I am so very fortunate to work with some amazing team members.
These ladies (and a gentleman or two) are the kind of people who make the world better just because they are in it.
These doctors and staff are kind, committed, dedicated, and have integrity. As most folks, each has a story of major challenges and the courageous ways they handled or are handling those challenges.
To start with, they have each left their home country after dental school or training, and come alone to the UAE to work. That takes some bravery!
Each morning, as we close our half hour report with “words for the day,” these ladies bring amazing words and energy to all of us.
They give me strength and make me better! How it could be that God has put me in the midst of this powerful love, I do not know. But there I am, smack dab in the middle of it!
Each and every one in this team, gives the patients love and exquisite orthodontic care, AND a smile. A smile for every single patient and parent. And you know what? We get it back - compounded interest. More back than we “put in.”
The wisdom this team lives carries us all in joy:
Play and laughter give us strength and heal our souls.
You don’t have tomorrow yet, and yesterday is gone. Make everything of this moment!
Miracles are ours so we can celebrate life. My smile and joyful energy flows through me to others and makes them happy.
And that makes me happy!
Hug your team this week. Isn’t life precious?
Love,
These ladies (and a gentleman or two) are the kind of people who make the world better just because they are in it.
These doctors and staff are kind, committed, dedicated, and have integrity. As most folks, each has a story of major challenges and the courageous ways they handled or are handling those challenges.
To start with, they have each left their home country after dental school or training, and come alone to the UAE to work. That takes some bravery!
Each morning, as we close our half hour report with “words for the day,” these ladies bring amazing words and energy to all of us.
They give me strength and make me better! How it could be that God has put me in the midst of this powerful love, I do not know. But there I am, smack dab in the middle of it!
Each and every one in this team, gives the patients love and exquisite orthodontic care, AND a smile. A smile for every single patient and parent. And you know what? We get it back - compounded interest. More back than we “put in.”
The wisdom this team lives carries us all in joy:
Play and laughter give us strength and heal our souls.
You don’t have tomorrow yet, and yesterday is gone. Make everything of this moment!
Miracles are ours so we can celebrate life. My smile and joyful energy flows through me to others and makes them happy.
And that makes me happy!
Hug your team this week. Isn’t life precious?
Love,
- Published on
Being loving toward others is a great way to live.
Hospitality is a great way to show love and help make others feel significant.
We humans all - each and every one - want to feel significant.
We all - each and every - feel unworthy, less than, needy for worth.
Guess what it takes to give someone the gift of significance? — It takes telling them how great they are.
On a flight back to Texas, we watched a flight attendant, young, attractive, gracious, kind lady, serving lunch for the passengers. She was working around a bit of a bumpy ride, a tiny galley, and managed to serve a nice lunch to everyone, with a nice smile for all, in amazingly quick time.
As she came to collect our meal trays, I said to her, “You are amazing!” She looked at me, and replied, “The chicken was amazing?” I said, “The chicken was nice. YOU are amazing!” And as she looked at me, totally surprised and pleased, after a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Wow. (pause….) Thank you.” She was more than pleased. She was very touched and very happy. She felt significant.
What a tiny thing to make her feel great! And I felt most happy as well!
“Be so busy giving others recognition that you don’t really need it for yourself.”
~ Jim Rohn
And, know as you change another, and another - it will change you too. YOU will feel significant!
“If you help other people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.”
~ Zig Ziglar
You COULD decide to give every person you encounter today some loving recognition. And as you do, you WILL feel so very great! It comes back to you many-fold.
Because I KNOW you are amazing, full of love and inspiration.
I am PROUD of you.
Thank you for being in MY life.
Love,
We all - each and every - feel unworthy, less than, needy for worth.
Guess what it takes to give someone the gift of significance? — It takes telling them how great they are.
On a flight back to Texas, we watched a flight attendant, young, attractive, gracious, kind lady, serving lunch for the passengers. She was working around a bit of a bumpy ride, a tiny galley, and managed to serve a nice lunch to everyone, with a nice smile for all, in amazingly quick time.
As she came to collect our meal trays, I said to her, “You are amazing!” She looked at me, and replied, “The chicken was amazing?” I said, “The chicken was nice. YOU are amazing!” And as she looked at me, totally surprised and pleased, after a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Wow. (pause….) Thank you.” She was more than pleased. She was very touched and very happy. She felt significant.
What a tiny thing to make her feel great! And I felt most happy as well!
“Be so busy giving others recognition that you don’t really need it for yourself.”
~ Jim Rohn
And, know as you change another, and another - it will change you too. YOU will feel significant!
“If you help other people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.”
~ Zig Ziglar
You COULD decide to give every person you encounter today some loving recognition. And as you do, you WILL feel so very great! It comes back to you many-fold.
Because I KNOW you are amazing, full of love and inspiration.
I am PROUD of you.
Thank you for being in MY life.
Love,
- Published on
Dr Chris honed her cooking skills while in dental school. She subscribed to Bon Appetit Magazine and learned new recipes each month.
Some Thursdays, we open my orthodontics office earlier, from 7am until 3pm.
A few months ago, I thought those hours might give parents some early morning appointments, to avoid the conflict of school and orthodontic appointments. Turns out, it seems to be quite popular. Since the staff, Claude and I get up quite early to be at the office “ bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” and ready for the patients, I usually provide “breakfast.”
Breakfast has included yummy fresh baked croissants and pain au chocolate (chocolate croissants) from Spinney’s, that absolutely brilliant, gorgeous food emporium, as well as other nifty pastries.
Yesterday I enjoyed making a Sour Cream Coffee Cake to take in this morning.
It was fun to share it with the staff and with several of the early morning moms. Since every single mom wanted the recipe, I thought it would be fun to share with you here. In fact, I think I’ll share recipes regularly with you, as I absolutely love to cook, AND have some fabulous recipes.
This particular recipe’s history is part of my dental education. When I was in dental school, there was no money to be “going out” to eat. The money we had was hard-earned at the hospital where I worked as a nurse throughout dental school. Those evening shifts definitely paid the basic expenses, but not any going out expenses.
So, I subscribed to Bon Appetit magazine during the dental school years (only 9.95 per year - a veritable steal!). Each month a treasured new edition of recipes came to my mailbox. During the ensuing month, I made many of the recipes in each Bon Appetit, and boy! did I learn a lot about cooking! Oh - and boy, did we eat some great food! For cheap!
It so spoiled us that now eating at home beats the heck out of going out most any place you can name. Seriously!
One of the recipes discovered along the way is this one.
Sour Cream Coffee Cake.
350 degree oven (177 C)
Butter a bundt pan
Mix and chop in the processor, then set aside:
2T sugar
1T cinnamon
½ c pecans or walnuts
Mix in food processor in this order:
2 sticks of butter, softened in the microwave for 20 seconds
2c sugar
Then:
2 eggs
1 c sour cream, preferably Daisy brand (no junk/preservatives)
or Lebneh if you are in the UAE
1t Baking Powder
1/8t salt
1/2t vanilla extract
And then:
2 c flour
Finally:
1/3-1/2c of chocolate chips – just barely mix in Processor using short on-off turns
Spoon into bundt pan. Spoon about half in several large spoonfuls into pan, and sprinkle about half of cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter, then spoon the other half into the bundt pan and sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over that.
Pop into the oven for about 1 hour, or until a little bamboo skewer comes out clean. Mine often take 1 hour and 10-15 minutes additional.
You should know that this melt-in-your-mouth cake that begs for coffee alongside, has been our family’s tradition on Thanksgiving morning and Christmas morning, ever since dental school. And, you can make several up one evening, and repeat another evening, and freeze them wrapped in foil, and into a ziplock bag, and have amazing presents for colleagues and friends.
We have started making these cakes some years around Thanksgiving weekend. We'll have a freezer full of 10-12 or more ready to take out of the freezer on an evening, and the next morning put a big red bow on it to delight someone.
It’s also nice to have your Christmas breakfast ready and waiting. Take it out of the freezer on Christmas Eve, and the next morning it will be ready to serve. That is if Santa hasn’t helped himself on his way outta Dodge.
Though the warm spice and butter-sugar cake scent wafting through the house makes it surely tempting to bake and then eat warm, right out of the oven. And it is goo-ooo-ood!
If you’re going to freeze them, BE SURE to let the cake cool completely to room temperature after it comes out of the oven, before you wrap and freeze.
Be sure to let me know just how yummy you think this recipe is, AND any ideas for enjoying it! You know I love to expand my cooking and baking in every way possible.
A few months ago, I thought those hours might give parents some early morning appointments, to avoid the conflict of school and orthodontic appointments. Turns out, it seems to be quite popular. Since the staff, Claude and I get up quite early to be at the office “ bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” and ready for the patients, I usually provide “breakfast.”
Breakfast has included yummy fresh baked croissants and pain au chocolate (chocolate croissants) from Spinney’s, that absolutely brilliant, gorgeous food emporium, as well as other nifty pastries.
Yesterday I enjoyed making a Sour Cream Coffee Cake to take in this morning.
It was fun to share it with the staff and with several of the early morning moms. Since every single mom wanted the recipe, I thought it would be fun to share with you here. In fact, I think I’ll share recipes regularly with you, as I absolutely love to cook, AND have some fabulous recipes.
This particular recipe’s history is part of my dental education. When I was in dental school, there was no money to be “going out” to eat. The money we had was hard-earned at the hospital where I worked as a nurse throughout dental school. Those evening shifts definitely paid the basic expenses, but not any going out expenses.
So, I subscribed to Bon Appetit magazine during the dental school years (only 9.95 per year - a veritable steal!). Each month a treasured new edition of recipes came to my mailbox. During the ensuing month, I made many of the recipes in each Bon Appetit, and boy! did I learn a lot about cooking! Oh - and boy, did we eat some great food! For cheap!
It so spoiled us that now eating at home beats the heck out of going out most any place you can name. Seriously!
One of the recipes discovered along the way is this one.
Sour Cream Coffee Cake.
350 degree oven (177 C)
Butter a bundt pan
Mix and chop in the processor, then set aside:
2T sugar
1T cinnamon
½ c pecans or walnuts
Mix in food processor in this order:
2 sticks of butter, softened in the microwave for 20 seconds
2c sugar
Then:
2 eggs
1 c sour cream, preferably Daisy brand (no junk/preservatives)
or Lebneh if you are in the UAE
1t Baking Powder
1/8t salt
1/2t vanilla extract
And then:
2 c flour
Finally:
1/3-1/2c of chocolate chips – just barely mix in Processor using short on-off turns
Spoon into bundt pan. Spoon about half in several large spoonfuls into pan, and sprinkle about half of cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter, then spoon the other half into the bundt pan and sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over that.
Pop into the oven for about 1 hour, or until a little bamboo skewer comes out clean. Mine often take 1 hour and 10-15 minutes additional.
You should know that this melt-in-your-mouth cake that begs for coffee alongside, has been our family’s tradition on Thanksgiving morning and Christmas morning, ever since dental school. And, you can make several up one evening, and repeat another evening, and freeze them wrapped in foil, and into a ziplock bag, and have amazing presents for colleagues and friends.
We have started making these cakes some years around Thanksgiving weekend. We'll have a freezer full of 10-12 or more ready to take out of the freezer on an evening, and the next morning put a big red bow on it to delight someone.
It’s also nice to have your Christmas breakfast ready and waiting. Take it out of the freezer on Christmas Eve, and the next morning it will be ready to serve. That is if Santa hasn’t helped himself on his way outta Dodge.
Though the warm spice and butter-sugar cake scent wafting through the house makes it surely tempting to bake and then eat warm, right out of the oven. And it is goo-ooo-ood!
If you’re going to freeze them, BE SURE to let the cake cool completely to room temperature after it comes out of the oven, before you wrap and freeze.
Be sure to let me know just how yummy you think this recipe is, AND any ideas for enjoying it! You know I love to expand my cooking and baking in every way possible.
- Published on
Today was different. Rain. Real rain. Pouring at times. Huge puddles of standing water on the road, some four or more inches deep. This was Abu Dhabi today.
We surely did not expect that we could get drenched walking from the office to the car, or that there would be flooding on roads.
It was pretty. The overcast cloudy skies, reminiscent of Kentucky winter days, opened up in the desert, first damp air and walkways, then pitter-patter drops of rain, then lots more rain.
To walk out the back door of the office to the laboratory, feel the rain on my head and hear the rain thrumming on a metal surface out there was almost dizzying. It didn’t belong here in the desert, making music with the splatters.
As we drove home later, the roofs of the cars danced with spray and I enjoyed the murmuring of the rain through the window.
But then, of course it rained and rained. There have been prayers for rain for the last month or so.
And the skies answered with a day of sweet, clean rain filling the aquifers and oases, renewing the life-roots of the plants, and washing the large dusty leaves of the plumeria to a fresh moist, dark green.
The desert was bathed in sweetness today.
Much love,
We surely did not expect that we could get drenched walking from the office to the car, or that there would be flooding on roads.
It was pretty. The overcast cloudy skies, reminiscent of Kentucky winter days, opened up in the desert, first damp air and walkways, then pitter-patter drops of rain, then lots more rain.
To walk out the back door of the office to the laboratory, feel the rain on my head and hear the rain thrumming on a metal surface out there was almost dizzying. It didn’t belong here in the desert, making music with the splatters.
As we drove home later, the roofs of the cars danced with spray and I enjoyed the murmuring of the rain through the window.
But then, of course it rained and rained. There have been prayers for rain for the last month or so.
And the skies answered with a day of sweet, clean rain filling the aquifers and oases, renewing the life-roots of the plants, and washing the large dusty leaves of the plumeria to a fresh moist, dark green.
The desert was bathed in sweetness today.
Much love,
- Published on
Many businesses and public buildings, like the Abu Dhabi Ritz Carleton hotel, have elegant Christmas decorations.
Live a happy, healthy life with strategies from Dr Chris Baker's book, REAL.
A Christmas tradition at many Abu Dhabi restaurants is the construction of full-sized gingerbread houses and structures.
It is winter season here in Abu Dhabi, which means that the mornings and evenings may call for a light sweater or wrap. The midday temperatures are comfortably warm in the rays of Arabian sunshine.
The desert here smells clean and fresh. And all around us is celebration. The first holiday here was the 45th UAE National Day, December 2. They celebrate National Day with lights and flags all about us, green, red, white and black.
Those red, green and white lights seem quite Christmas-y to this girl, as we pass them sparkling on the roadsides everywhere.
Then was Martyrs Day, to honor those in the UAE military who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country, December 3.
School will soon be out for the Winter Christmas break, and everywhere you hear, “Merry Christmas.” One sees Christmas trees, decorations and hears Christmas music.
Even though this is a Muslim country, everyone seems to enjoy the holidays of all religions. It's a very tolerant and loving place.
Tonight in the grocery store the Christmas carols had me humming along as I looked for just the right Christmas treats to take into the office for next week’s patients.
There’s a celebratory air about; the children and parents are excited about their plans for the holidays. It’s fun to tell the patients, “See you next year!”
Holidays, celebration, happiness, joy - it’s a wonderful time of year.
It is love. Christmas is about love; love that is irrepressible, bursting with joy, giving and giving, hurrying less and noticing more as we go to and from, smiling and connecting with people we meet, calling out “Merry Christmas,” hearing and rejoicing in the bells, as another angel gets his wings (as George Bailey discovered in “It’s a Wonderful Life”).
And while we’re thinking of that movie, remember, “All you can take with you is that which you have given away.”
Give love in your smile, your hand, your hugs, your warmth, your kindness.
Merry Christmas!
The desert here smells clean and fresh. And all around us is celebration. The first holiday here was the 45th UAE National Day, December 2. They celebrate National Day with lights and flags all about us, green, red, white and black.
Those red, green and white lights seem quite Christmas-y to this girl, as we pass them sparkling on the roadsides everywhere.
Then was Martyrs Day, to honor those in the UAE military who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country, December 3.
School will soon be out for the Winter Christmas break, and everywhere you hear, “Merry Christmas.” One sees Christmas trees, decorations and hears Christmas music.
Even though this is a Muslim country, everyone seems to enjoy the holidays of all religions. It's a very tolerant and loving place.
Tonight in the grocery store the Christmas carols had me humming along as I looked for just the right Christmas treats to take into the office for next week’s patients.
There’s a celebratory air about; the children and parents are excited about their plans for the holidays. It’s fun to tell the patients, “See you next year!”
Holidays, celebration, happiness, joy - it’s a wonderful time of year.
It is love. Christmas is about love; love that is irrepressible, bursting with joy, giving and giving, hurrying less and noticing more as we go to and from, smiling and connecting with people we meet, calling out “Merry Christmas,” hearing and rejoicing in the bells, as another angel gets his wings (as George Bailey discovered in “It’s a Wonderful Life”).
And while we’re thinking of that movie, remember, “All you can take with you is that which you have given away.”
Give love in your smile, your hand, your hugs, your warmth, your kindness.
Merry Christmas!
- Published on
I learned to cook while growing up in Houston with five younger siblings. (That's me on the back right, next to Daddy.) Mother Joy always had things for me to do.
The advantage of shopping in the UAE is that the country's central location enables stores to get a wide variety of products from Europe, Asia and Africa. Here is a selection of imported cheeses.
Our neighborhood grocery, Spinney's, has a 'pork room' for non-Muslims only.
The checkout counter at Spinney's in Khalifa City.
ABU DHABI -- I love to cook. It's something I've done for a long time.
From early on, as the oldest child of six, I was taught to cook by my incredible mother. Growing up in Houston, I was required to do a lot of home-making and my jobs went beyond cooking. At four years old and with an infant brother, I had to sit on the steps and fold his diapers.
Mother Joy was quite particular, and the diapers had to be folded neatly, after being taken out of the clean laundry basket. The diapers were not to touch the ground and end up folded and laid neatly into the diaper basket.
At age 10 - fifth grade - I walked the five blocks home each day from my Spring Branch, Houston, elementary school, come in by the back door to the kitchen, and go straight to the refrigerator.
On that fridge was Mother Joy’s list for me of what to do for dinner that evening. While cooking, I could hear the piano students playing and being instructed by my mother in the living room.
There in the kitchen, I encountered such instructions as, “1. peel and cut potatoes and put into fresh water in pot,’ and so on. (Almost every evening included “spuds” - my father loved them.) There were always instructions for an entree (chicken, beef, pork or fish), potatoes, a salad and a vegetable. Many evenings there was a dessert - tapioca pudding, Jello, or other sweet.
I learned to cook quite well because Joy was an outstanding teacher and I a willing and fascinated pupil. Oh yes, there were some evenings I did not want to cook, but it didn’t matter, because I was the oldest of the children. As much as I would have liked to go outside to play on the patio, dinner preparation was first.
In Abu Dhabi we have a wonderful grocery store called Spinney’s. It is quite a treat for me, as the ingredients I want to make my delectable and delicious dishes are available..
Today, Claude and I usually have an entree and perhaps one side for dinner, and no potatoes. (Too starchy). I have gotten pretty good at this cooking business. It was rather a miracle. Well, ok, my childhood gave me a great base, and then in dental school when there was not money to eat out, even fast food, I subscribed to Bon Appetit magazine and spent each month cooking many of the recipes in each issue.
With all that practice, I learned how ingredients tasted and acted, and what combinations seemed to please our palates. The miracle? - the little girl who wanted to play outside quicker than she got to, became a dental student who wanted to eat out more than she got to, and then somewhere along the way my cooking just came along. Now we don’t want to eat out a lot because the food is great at home.
I delight in walking the aisles of Spinney’s, choosing the goodies for our meal preparation, diverse, and pleasing, from many countries. There are peaches right now from South Africa, Greengage plums (fantastic little fruits!) from Spain, a choice of 15 to 20 different balsamic vinegars, Cassoulet beans from France made with duck confit, clotted cream from Great Britain, sausages from Austria and Germany, all sorts of cheeses from all over Europe and farther, roasted red peppers from Macedonia, coffee from Ethiopia, Italy and many others and on and on. When I am home in East Texas, Kroger seems rather tame in comparison.
The Spinney's pork room is a particular delight. I never realized how much I love to cook with pork until I went without it here in the UAE, before discovering the pork room at Spinney’s -- for non-Muslims only, of course. Last night Claude and I enjoyed our salad, prepared by roasting sliced onions in the bacon fat after the bacon had been lifted out, and then adding the romaine and arugula to wilt just enough. In the middle of the plate was a nice large spoonful of crunchy bacon bits, chopped roasted red peppers, surrounded by the wilted greens, all sprinkled with a squeeze or two of lemon juice.
The attention to detail so important in dentistry and in orthodontics sure pays off when preparing a fabulous meal. I’m off to see about dinner for tonight.
From early on, as the oldest child of six, I was taught to cook by my incredible mother. Growing up in Houston, I was required to do a lot of home-making and my jobs went beyond cooking. At four years old and with an infant brother, I had to sit on the steps and fold his diapers.
Mother Joy was quite particular, and the diapers had to be folded neatly, after being taken out of the clean laundry basket. The diapers were not to touch the ground and end up folded and laid neatly into the diaper basket.
At age 10 - fifth grade - I walked the five blocks home each day from my Spring Branch, Houston, elementary school, come in by the back door to the kitchen, and go straight to the refrigerator.
On that fridge was Mother Joy’s list for me of what to do for dinner that evening. While cooking, I could hear the piano students playing and being instructed by my mother in the living room.
There in the kitchen, I encountered such instructions as, “1. peel and cut potatoes and put into fresh water in pot,’ and so on. (Almost every evening included “spuds” - my father loved them.) There were always instructions for an entree (chicken, beef, pork or fish), potatoes, a salad and a vegetable. Many evenings there was a dessert - tapioca pudding, Jello, or other sweet.
I learned to cook quite well because Joy was an outstanding teacher and I a willing and fascinated pupil. Oh yes, there were some evenings I did not want to cook, but it didn’t matter, because I was the oldest of the children. As much as I would have liked to go outside to play on the patio, dinner preparation was first.
In Abu Dhabi we have a wonderful grocery store called Spinney’s. It is quite a treat for me, as the ingredients I want to make my delectable and delicious dishes are available..
Today, Claude and I usually have an entree and perhaps one side for dinner, and no potatoes. (Too starchy). I have gotten pretty good at this cooking business. It was rather a miracle. Well, ok, my childhood gave me a great base, and then in dental school when there was not money to eat out, even fast food, I subscribed to Bon Appetit magazine and spent each month cooking many of the recipes in each issue.
With all that practice, I learned how ingredients tasted and acted, and what combinations seemed to please our palates. The miracle? - the little girl who wanted to play outside quicker than she got to, became a dental student who wanted to eat out more than she got to, and then somewhere along the way my cooking just came along. Now we don’t want to eat out a lot because the food is great at home.
I delight in walking the aisles of Spinney’s, choosing the goodies for our meal preparation, diverse, and pleasing, from many countries. There are peaches right now from South Africa, Greengage plums (fantastic little fruits!) from Spain, a choice of 15 to 20 different balsamic vinegars, Cassoulet beans from France made with duck confit, clotted cream from Great Britain, sausages from Austria and Germany, all sorts of cheeses from all over Europe and farther, roasted red peppers from Macedonia, coffee from Ethiopia, Italy and many others and on and on. When I am home in East Texas, Kroger seems rather tame in comparison.
The Spinney's pork room is a particular delight. I never realized how much I love to cook with pork until I went without it here in the UAE, before discovering the pork room at Spinney’s -- for non-Muslims only, of course. Last night Claude and I enjoyed our salad, prepared by roasting sliced onions in the bacon fat after the bacon had been lifted out, and then adding the romaine and arugula to wilt just enough. In the middle of the plate was a nice large spoonful of crunchy bacon bits, chopped roasted red peppers, surrounded by the wilted greens, all sprinkled with a squeeze or two of lemon juice.
The attention to detail so important in dentistry and in orthodontics sure pays off when preparing a fabulous meal. I’m off to see about dinner for tonight.
