Jenna's Famous "Braces Friendly" Molten Lava Cake Recipe

By Jenna Jensen
-Licensed Dental Assistant at Collins Orthodontics

This "braces friendly" dessert is the ultimate go-to for all chocolate lovers, especially the ones who love rich dark chocolate, like me!  You can ask all my co-workers, family, and friends - these molten cakes are simply the best!  I first started making these with my mom about seven years ago.  At that time, both her and I were fans of the TV show The Biggest Loser.  We made it a weekly tradition to make molten cakes every Tuesday when the show was on.  We often commented to each other on how we were watching contestants working hard to lose weight, and there we were indulging in a weekly dessert together!  To this day, my mom always has all the ingredients on hand, so she is always ready when visit and ask, “How about a molten cake, Mom?” Her answer is always "yes" of course!

I have had many trial and error molten cake baking sessions with sometimes overcooking, sometimes undercooking, and sometimes the cakes getting stuck in the dishes. The recipe below is what I have found to make the perfect molten cakes...

Without further adieu, I give to you my famous "braces friendly" molten lava cake recipe:

Molten Lava Cakes Recipe
*Makes 2* 

• 2 oz. Baker’s Bittersweet Baking Chocolate
• 4 T. Margarine
• 3 T. Four
• ½ C Powered Sugar
• 1 whole egg
• 1 egg yolk
• Spray PAM
• 2- 1 cup ramekins, or similar round dessert dish

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 
In a medium microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate and margarine for 30 seconds, stir, then repeat as needed until completely melted.  Whisk in flour and powdered sugar, then egg and egg yolk. Spray bottoms of ramekins with PAM, divide batter in half, and pour into prepared ramekins. Place in center rack of oven and set the timer for 12 minutes.  Check the cakes after 6 minutes. When the centers are slightly jiggly, and the cakes are firm about ½ inch from the outer edges, remove the cakes from the oven and let sit for one minute. Carefully cut around the edges of the molten cakes and invert onto serving plate. (Note: The cakes may crack so the lava comes running out, don’t worry, this is normal!)  You can dust powdered sugar on the top of the cakes for garnish. Serve with lots and lots of ice cream.  Different ovens may cook the molten cakes quicker. If you prefer more lava in the middle, cook for a shorter time. If you prefer less gooey goodness in the middle, cook for a little longer so the center is slightly firmer. You do not want to over bake.

Happy Baking Everyone!  Enjoy! :)

-Jenna Jensen

Want to learn more about Jenna Jensen and the rest of the Collins Orthodontics Team?  Visit our "Meet the Team" page and you'll be in the know on all of your favorite Collins Orthodontics team members!

Collins Orthodontics
Website: RochesterOrthodontics.com
Email: info@rochesterorthodontics.com
Facebook:  Facebook.com/RochesterOrthodontics
YouTube:  Collins Orthodontics YouTube Channel
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Instagram: instagram.com/thebracesguy

7 Critical Life Moments Your Teen Should Experience with the Perfect Smile

Putting your teen through orthodontic treatment doesn’t just mean a straighter smile after the braces are off. You know their smile will look different once teeth move into the right alignment, but sometimes it’s surprising just how much of a change this can make for your teen and their future.

For most adolescents, braces don’t just mean a healthier, more beautiful smile – they also mean twice the confidence and a brighter future.

Here’s a look at seven life moments you’ll guarantee your teen experiences with the perfect smile and that extra boost of confidence:

1.  Help your teen meet new friends with a smile.

Remember what it was like making friends growing up? It isn’t always easy –those first long term friendships provide a foundation for a lifetime of relationship building- self-esteem and a welcoming smile can make a huge difference.

Meeting new people and making new friends can be intimidating, even for adults, but it’s easier when you have the confidence of a straight smile. After having braces, (and even during treatment), most patients tend to smile more and that makes them act and feel more confident. And definitely makes them more approachable too.

2. Take some stress out of high school sweethearts.

Do you remember your first crush? You thought that he or she was the coolest person alive. Teens and adolescents take that first crush, (or first few!), very seriously. A first date can really be nerve-wracking, and they’ll want to get every minute right!

Teens put a lot of effort into their appearance on most days, but especially on a first date. What should they wear? Does their hair look O.K.? Which parent will give them a ride if they don’t have a car… how much will the parent embarrass them? Being confident in their smile means they have one less thing to worry about!

3. Be sure taking photos is fun.

More than ever, teens and adolescents are constantly using Social Media and taking countless photos with their friends at virtually all times. (A lot of them are taking plenty of themselves too.) Whether they are taking a trip to Disney World or the nearest shopping mall, almost every moment gets documented. 

A straighter, healthier smile means more comfort and confidence in front of a camera. That means your teen will feel comfortable taking pictures with their friends. On Photo Day it means they’ll spend more time on the perfect hair or outfit than they will practicing smiles in front of a mirror – that will come effortlessly. And yes, it also means they may be taking more selfies!

4. Make your teen’s prom perfect.

Prom night is a big occasion for any teenager. For months the school and students prepare for the dance most will only attend once or twice. Not only is it the biggest dance of the year, but it’s the dance that most teens will remember for the rest of their lives.

No expense is spared –there’s the dress or tux and matching corsage and boutonniere, sometimes even a limo or Uber Escalade - and of course, no prom experience is complete without an unstoppable smile.

5. Make sure they wear their cap and gown with a smile.

Whether it’s high school or college, graduation is a hallmark rite of passage for all of us. It’s also a time for friends and family to come together and celebrate your teen’s academic milestone and achievements. Make sure they’re smiling when they take their diploma (and that first big step forward).

6. Help them make stronger impressions at  interviews.

After graduating your teen will be ready to take the next steps to starting a career.  Smiles make an important first impression anywhere, and interviews are no exception. Whether they’re finding an entry level position just out of school, or interviewing for an executive role down the road, you don’t want a smile to hold your teen back in the future.

As surprising (and unfair) as it may sound, candidates who have more confident, straighter smiles have shown a proven advantage over the competition. News networks have reported on this smile phenomenon – why candidates with healthier more attractive smiles are more likely to succeed in their career goals.

The confidence that comes with a straight smile doesn’t hurt either! In fact, it’s a big reason why more people are getting adult braces than ever before.

7. Guarantee a big smile on their big day.

Many of us grow up with dreams of a big white wedding. One day your teen may be walking down the aisle. It’s a life changing occasion for both families and no big day is complete without a beautiful, white smile.

An effortless smile makes every moment better.

No matter what’s going on in your teen’s life, smiling is just all around good for people. Some studies have even linked smiling more to having longer, healthier lives.

Make every moment better for your teen and learn about the best treatment options for your family. Click here and schedule your teen's free consultation at Collins Orthodontics today! 

To your teen's continued success,

Grant Collins

Collins Orthodontics is proud to offer Invisalign® and Clear Braces.

Collins Orthodontics Website
Collins Orthodontics Facebook Page
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT
PHONE: 507-258-5400
EMAIL: info@rochesterorthodontics.com

Collins Orthodontics Voted "Best Orthodontist" in Rochester, Minnesota

By Grant Collins, D.D.S., M.S.

Wow. Just wow...

This past week, I learned that Collins Orthodontics was voted as the Winner for "Best Orthodontist" in the 2015 Reader's Choice Awards for the Rochester Post Bulletin, and I was literally speechless - not because of winning, but rather because of the overwhelming love and support we continually receive from our patients and the Rochester community.  

We are so grateful and inspired by every single one of our patients - your interests, your talents, your positive energy, and your stories.  We are honored and thrilled to even have the opportunity to create beautiful smiles with braces, clear braces, and Invisalign in the Rochester community.

To be voted "Best Orthodontist" in Rochester feels like receiving the nicest gift in the world in which every single one of our patients "pitched in."

And how did the Collins Orthodontics Team react when they first learned of this award?  See for yourself...

Cheers to our "Collins Orthodontics Family" of patients - you have successfully made our entire team feel grateful, thankful, appreciated, and important.  We love you and appreciate you all so much.

-Dr. Collins

Collins Orthodontics Website
Collins Orthodontics Facebook Page
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT
PHONE: 507-258-5400
EMAIL: info@rochesterorthodontics.com

Collins Orthodontics Service Project: Helping Our Youth Serve the Community in Rochester, Minnesota

By Grant Collins, D.D.S., M.S.

One thing that we "like" at Collins Orthodontics is serving people within our community. One thing that we "LOVE" at Collins Orthodontics is WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR YOUTH while serving people within the community! Thanks to the wonderful students, teachers and parents of St. Pius and St. John's, many children in poverty will have the opportunity to have a real cake on their birthdays, and families in need will have items that we often take for granted - toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, towels. I am so proud of these kids for spending an entire day serving others. Our future is in great hands, Rochester! 

#ThePowerOfService #StJohnsServiceProject #StPiusServiceProject #CollinsOrthodontics #HeartForService #Braces #Invisalign #SmileWithConfidence

For more information about Braces, Invisalign or Collins Orthodontics, please visit the following sites:

Web:  RochesterOrthodontics.com

Facebook:  Facebook.com/RochesterOrthodontics

Email:  info@rochesterorthodontics.com

Phone:  507-258-5400

Your Journey to a Great Smile

Your Journey to a Great Smile
By Grant Collins, D.D.S., M.S.
(Orthodontist - Rochester, Minnesota)

Have you ever wanted to get braces or Invisalign, but you are worried about what your experience will be like?  What will the orthodontist be like?  Will you be treated with respect?  Will they make you feel badly about your teeth?  Will they treat your child with the same amount of care as they would with their own families?

Going to an orthodontist can be nerve-wracking, and that's understandable!  You will be meeting with new people in a new office, and you are not quite sure what to expect.  For that reason, we have put together a short video called "Your Journey to a Great Smile" so you know exactly what it is like to become a family member (ahem - I mean "patient") at Collins Orthodontics.  Here is a little "peek" inside of our clinic walls to show you what we are all about...

For more information:
Web: RochesterOrthodontics.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/RochesterOrthodontics
Phone: 507-258-5400
Email: info@rochesterorthodontics.com
Request an Appointment: RequestMyAppointment.com