1. Rita's Recipes - I heard Rita Edwards has some amazing recipes to share ... is this true?

It sure is!

What better way to celebrate your dazzling new smile, than with a freshly baked treat from Rita? These recipes are sure to brighten your day... we invite you to try them at home, and also to try them in the office after your visit with Dr. Edwards!

Appetizers

Cheese Ball

2- 8 oz packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese ( at room temp)

1 small jar of Old English Sharp Cheddar Cheese

2 Tablespoons parsley

1 small onion (finely chopped)

1 Tablespoon Worchestershire sauce

Combine all ingredients in medium bowl and mix thoroughly. Roll in chopped

pecans and store in refrigerator. Serve with crackers.

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Mexican Fudge

(This is more like an omelet – not a dessert)

4 eggs

4 slices bacon (cooked & crumbled)

4 cups grated cheddar cheese

1 small can chopped green chiles

¼ cup chopped onion (optional)

1 small jar pimientos

Beat eggs slightly with whisk. Add all remaining ingredients except the cheese and stir to mix. Add cheese and stir again until mixed well. Bake in 9” square glass pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cut into squares like fudge and serve warm.

This is a great appetizer and is festive looking and perfect for those holiday parties.

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Casseroles

Chicken Casserole

1 stick margarine

1 pkg stove top stuffing

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 empty soup can of chicken broth

2-4 cups chicken – white meat

(can use 2 cans Tyson)

Melt margarine in a skillet. Add stove top stuffing – reserve about ½ c. for topping. In a bowl mix the canned soups and the chicken broth. In one large casserole dish (or 2 smaller ones) layer the following:

margarine/stove top mixture

chicken (1 can)

soup mixture

margarine/stove top

chicken

soup mixture

reserved stove top

Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

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Veggie Casserole

2 cans french style green beans

1 can white shoe peg corn

1 can cream of celery soup

1 c. cheddar cheese, grated

¼ c. chopped onion

1 small jar pimientos

2 c. sour cream

1 stick butter, melted

1 roll Ritz crackers

½ c. slivered almonds

Combine all ingredients, except the last three, and put in a large casserole dish. Combine butter, crackers, and almonds. Place on top of veggies and bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

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Cookies

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

This recipe is so easy. It only takes three ingredients:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

Combine all 3 ingredients and shape into balls. Press flat on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. Mini chocolate chips can be added. It only makes about 2 dozen cookies, so you might want to double the recipe.

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Fudge Cookies

2 cups sugar

½ cup margarine

½ cup milk

¼ cup cocoa

Bring these ingredients to boil in medium saucepan and cook for exactly 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and add: ½ cup crunchy peanut butter and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix well and add: 3 cups oatmeal or 2 cups oatmeal and 1 cup coconut. Drop by rounded tablespoon or medium cookie scoop onto wax paper to cool. Makes 2 – 3 dozen cookies.

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Hello Dolly Cookies*

1/2 cup margarine

1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

¾ cup self-rising flour

1 cup Heath toffee bits

1 ½ cups coconut

1 cup chocolate chips

Melt margarine and add milk, cracker crumbs and flour. Mix well. Then add toffee bits, coconut and chocolate chips (any of these may be omitted). Drop by rounded spoonful or medium cookie scoop onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes.

Make 3-4 dozen cookies.

*These are the cookies requested most often by patients.

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Oatmeal Scotchies

1/2 cup margarine ¾ cup self-rising flour

½ cup granulated sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla

½ cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 egg 1 ½ cups oatmeal

½ cup chopped pecans 6 oz. butterscotch chips

Melt margarine and add sugars. Mix well. Add egg, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix again and add flour, mix, add oatmeal, mix. Then add nuts and butterscotch chips. Place batter on wax paper and shape into a log. Chill thoroughly. Slice and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Makes 2-3 dozen cookies. (Sometimes I double this recipe).

These are Dr. Edwards’ favorite!

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Sunshine Cookies

1 pkg lemon cake mix

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/3 c. vegetable oil

2 T. water

1/3 c. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine cake mix, egg, oil, and water in large bowl. Stir until thoroughly combined. Chop pecans and stir into dough. Roll dough into ¾” diameter balls and drop dough 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned –13 minutes on baking stone or 9 minutes on cookie sheet (metal). Let cool 3 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack.

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Desserts

Dirt Cake

1 large package Oreo cookies

8 oz cream cheese (at room temp)

1 teaspoon vanilla

8 oz. Cool Whip

2- 3 oz packages instant vanilla pudding

3 cups milk

Place cookies in large Ziplock bag and crush. In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese and half of the cool whip until smooth. In a large bowl, combine the milk and puddings and mix until smooth. Add the cream cheese mixture and mix again. Fold in the remaining cool whip. In plastic bucket (since it is dirt cake) or fluted bowl, layer Oreos, pudding mixture, Oreos, pudding, ending with Oreos on top. Keep refrigerated. If you really want to make it look like “dirt cake” add gummy worms to the layers and serve with a sand scoop or shovel.

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Key Lime Pie

4 eggs

1 can sweetened condensed milk

½ c. lime juice (Key Lime if possible)

6 T. sugar

½ c. cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 250 degrees, beat 4 egg yolks, add condensed milk and lime juice. Beat until thick and pour in baked pie shell, bake for 20 minutes.

For meringue topping, beat 4 egg whites, blend in sugar and cream of tartar. Beat until stiff and peaks form. Bake at 350 degrees until egg whites are golden brown.

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Party Brownies

Combine and bring just to boil in saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally:

1 ¼ cups sugar

2/3 cup vegetable oil

¼ cup water

Remove from heat and add 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Stir until chocolate chips melt and mixture is smooth. Add 1 cup self-rising flour and 2 eggs and mix well. Add 1 cup chopped nuts. Spread into greased 13” X 9” pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 30minutes. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

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Rita’s Pecan Pie

6 eggs 1 cup dark Karo syrup

2 cups light brown sugar 2 cups pecans

2 Tablespoons corn oil 2 teaspoons vanilla

½ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pie crusts in the bottom of two 9” pie pans. Place 1 cup of pecans in each crust. Beat eggs with whisk or hand beater (not mixer). Add brown sugar and oil and beat again. Then add syrup, salt and vanilla and beat again. Pour half of filling into each crust. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and put pies in. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until filling is firm. Cool before cutting.

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Strawberry Soda Pop Cake

1 box white cake mix

1 12 oz. can strawberry soda pop

1 small box strawberry Jello (mixed with 1 cup hot water)

Frosting:

1 package instant vanilla pudding

1 cup cold milk

1 large tub Cool Whip

Bake cake according to instructions on box in 13”X 9” pan. As soon as cake is removed from oven, punch holes in it with a fork. Pour soda pop over cake slowly so it will seep into holes. Then pour Jello mixture over cake in the same manner. Set in refrigerator to cool. After cake is cool, mix together pudding and milk. As it starts to thicken fold in cool whip. Cover cake with the frosting and return to refrigerator until serving. Cut in squares to serve. Store in refrigerator.

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Salads/Soups

Christmas Salad

Mix in medium bowl and cool in refrigerator for 1 hour:

12-16 oz. Cool Whip

1 can Eagle Brand Milk (can use Fat Free)

Add:

1 can crushed pineapple (13-15 oz) drained

1 can cherry pie filling

½ cup chopped nuts

1 cup miniature marshmallows

I put mine in a clear fluted serving bowl. Refrigerate overnight. We always have this for Christmas but also other holidays.

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Crunchy Salad

8 cups Romaine Lettuce

1 Granny Smith Apple (thinly sliced and soaked in pineapple juice)

1/3 c. Feta Cheese, crumbled

¼ c. Roasted Walnuts

Dressing:

3 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 T. Balsamic Vinegar

½ t. Minced Garlic

2 t. Dijon Mustard

Mix ingredients for dressing and set aside. Toast walnuts slightly in oven for 5 minutes. Slice apple with peel on it and pour pineapple juice over. The lettuce can be placed in a medium bowl or platter, but I usually make it in individual bowls. Pour dressing over lettuce and mix until well coated. Top with apple slices, feta cheese, and then walnuts. Enjoy!

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Frito Corn Salad

1 small bag Chili Cheese Fritos

1 can shoe peg corn (drained)

½ onion -finely chopped

½ green pepper – finely chopped

½ cup real mayonnaise (can use fat free)

½ cup fat free sour cream

1 cup grated Monterrey Jack cheese

Mix all ingredients (except Fritos) in medium bowl. Add Fritos just

before serving. This salad does not keep – the Fritos get soggy, so make

for a group of 8 or more.

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Pasta Salad

12 oz. Tri-Color Rotini

1 cucumber – thinly sliced

1 can (6 oz) drained mushrooms – optional

1 small can sliced black olives – optional

¼ cup chopped green onions

1 tomato – finely chopped

Dressing:

6 Tablespoons olive oil

6 Tablespoons white wine vinegar

2 teaspoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon dried oregano

¼ teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Cook pasta according to directions and drain. Whisk dressing ingredients until well blended and set aside. Place pasta in large bowl and add other ingredients. Toss lightly to mix. Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss lightly again. Chill in refrigerator.

Before serving add ½ cup grated parmesan cheese for more flavor.

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Taco Soup

1 ½ pounds cooked hamburger

1 package Taco seasoning

1 package dry ranch dressing mix

1 can kidney beans (do not drain)

1 can pinto beans (do not drain)

1 can corn or hominy (drained)

1 cup chopped onion

2 cans diced Rotel tomatoes

1 ½ cups water

Mix all ingredients and simmer at least one hour in crockpot. Serve with Fritos and grated cheese. Great in cool weather and on ski trips.

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2. What is the philosophy of your dental practice?

Philosophy of Practice

For patients who choose a dental office appropriate to their needs, there must exist a match between the services sought by the patient with the services provided by the office. If the value you possess for your teeth and health coincides with our beliefs in fine dentistry and prevention, a mutually rewarding relationship should evolve for both parties. As a form of welcoming you and sharing our beliefs about how we serve patients, the following information is provided.

A dental office is a small health-oriented team of professionals dedicated to serving patients. Each office maintains certain standards of skill and concern, we want an aura about us that unquestionably makes a statement of our quality of care. To make this evident, we have committed to a particular kind of practice. In a philosophical sense, basically one is devoted to either quantity (do little for a lot of people) or to quality (optimal care on a long-term basis for regular patients). We want to attract and keep people who share our values and beliefs in excellence or can grow to this level of appreciation through education and motivation. We seek a patient population dominated by people with high expectations of good health and happiness.

Examination Process

Excellence in dentistry begins with a careful diagnosis and treatment plan to move us toward the goals we will establish together. We will perform an extensive and comprehensive examination of the teeth, gums, bite, joints and soft tissues. When needed, with your permission, we will utilize all appropriate x-rays; if beneficial we will use intra-oral photographs and study models of your teeth and jaws to identify areas of concern. We believe this in-depth examination to be the cornerstone of quality dentistry.

Maintenance of Traditional Values

In this country, at this time, with the government becoming more involved in health care, insurance carriers trying to dictate treatment and fees, and some dental offices competing through extended hours and pricing, the very foundation of dentistry is being tested. We believe there has never been a time when a practice dedicated to prevention, to service, and to excellence can be more highly rewarding to both our patients and us, in providing quality, long-term health care. We hope you will agree and join our family.

3. Can you tell me about your dental practice?

Is uniquely different from any dental practice you have experienced. Not simply because of the pleasant surroundings nor because of the highly skilled professional staff, nor even because of the high quality technical work we do.

Our practice is different because our mission is different. In today’s world you are offered many choices as to how dental health care will be delivered to you, the patient. You can choose an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), a PPO (A Preferred Provider Organization) or a CAP Program (A Capitation System). In all of these health delivery systems, you the patient do not have a choice with regard to your treatment plan, you are not free to choose the dentist who attends to you, and normally you do not develop a significant relationship with either the dentist or the staff.

Our practice represents the 2–3% of dentists in the United States who have made a commitment to practice in a free environment. You are free to choose us or not. We are free to choose the best treatment plan that is consistent with your needs, wants, and values. This is no idle, passive statement because we do not believe patients involved with HMO's, PPO's, and capitation systems are free. Normally they receive substandard treatment that does not involve the patient as part of the solution. The patient becomes the object of cure rather than participating in the prevention and curative phases of treatment.

Hygiene Department

The hygienist that is a part of our dental team is licensed by the Oklahoma State Board of Dental Examiners. She is also a member of the American Dental Hygienist's Association and the Oklahoma Dental Hygienist's Association. She participates in continuing education every year and has received advanced training and certification in preventive periodontal treatment. Our hygienist is dedicated to increasing her knowledge and professional skills which results in a high level of professional diagnostic skills not routinely delivered by dental hygienists. Our team coordinates the recare appointments for the hygienist. This involves maintaining a master schedule for the entire year. In order to maintain control, we attempt to appoint 6 months in advance through the use of reminder cards and letters. This service includes telephone contact to remind you of these important appointments.

Dental Assistants

The dental assistants are an integral part of our team. Each assistant has come to us because they share our beliefs and values and are an integral part of the clinical team, helping us deliver the highest quality of technical care that is possible. In our office our assistants help us make your visit pleasant, before (by informing you completely of what will be done at each appointment), during (by pampering you and helping to relieve any stress or discomfort) and after (by insuring that you are comfortable when treatment is complete).

4. What are your Office Policies?

We have three policies that we feel are important to share with our patients. We strongly believe in our work and professional efforts, and we therefore ask you to read this page thoroughly so that you understand these policies and agree to comply with them.

Commitment to Treatment Policy…

We believe all treatment begun should be completed. Incomplete treatment leads to problems, complication, misunderstandings, and usually further disease. Therefore, if a plan is agreed upon and started, it needs to be completed.

Commitment to Appointment Policy…

An appointment in our schedule is a bond of trust that we will be here to serve you and you will be present for treatment. Our office policy is firm in this regard.

Commitment to Financial Arrangement Policy…

We believe we have the responsibility to use the best professional care, skill, and judgment in planning and delivering your dental treatment. Your payment will reimburse us for our services.

5. What is CareCredit? (Is Patient Financing Available?)

CareCredit is a personal line of credit for healthcare treatments and procedures for your entire family, including your pets. It is a credit card but it has two advantages. It can only be used for healthcare services and you can get No Interest if paid in full within the promotional period on purchases made with your CareCredit credit card. Not all promotional plans are available at all Participating Professionals. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional purchase is not paid in full within the promotional period or if you make a late payment. Minimum Monthly Payments Required and may pay off purchase before end of promo period.