Sober Kitchen: Recipes and Advice for a Lifetime of Sobriety

by Liz Scott

Book Overview

Recipes and advice for a lifetime of sobriety. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558322213
• ISBN13: 9781558322219
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

The Sober Kitchen

A fabulous book that contained much more than I anticipated for those in recovery, interfacing cooking, AA theory, living life as normally as possible without feeling deprived.

Sobert Kitchen is a great book for anyone who doesn't use alcohol

I was recently involved in organizing a recovery walk in Kirkland, Washington and had the pleasure of meeting Liz Scott and purchasing her book Sober Celebrations and Sober Kitchen. She is an amazing chef and an amazing women in recovery who believes that those that don't need or want alcohol in their lives should not have to give up the joy of food, cooking and entertaining. Because there were no other books of this type available when she was early in recovery, she did a lot of research on how to substitute out alcohol in her cooking and catering business without losing the flavor and fun. AS someone who is not in recovery herself, but has a medical condition that makes alcohol use detrimental to her health, I was thrilled to find a cookbook that I could use myself. For anyone who is in recovery, doesn't drink alcohol, or is restricted diet wise, not only are these great recipes but the books are filled with great side bars and information that really helps me to understand the role of alcohol in foods, preparation, entertaining, etc. I couldn't recommend this book any higher. The same for Sober Kitchen. They are both must haves' Thanks LIz for your fondness of food and concern for those of us who love to eat and cook but felt like we had to give up so many dishes because of the alcohol. You are as much a chemist as a chef! Susan Burnash Kirkland, WA

Therapist Recommends "The Sober Kitchen"

Liz Scott was a professional chef when she stopped drinking. She worried how she could continue to work when her relationship with alcohol had changed so drastically. She found a way to continue cooking professionally without using alcohol OR sacrificing gourmet excellence or exquisite taste. I found Liz Scott's "The Sober Kitchen" when looking for a gift for a sober friend. I ended up buying a copy for myself after reading the great recipes and the sober self-care explanations that are so sensible, whether one is in recovery or just living life on its own terms, no easy feat today. I have drawn upon Ms. Scott's wisdom in my daily work with recovering men and women and have recommended her book to many people. I commend Ms. Scott for sharing her own story in the hope that others will be helped. Her "be-good-to-yourself, you've-been-through-a-lot" attitude towards preparing and enjoying food could benefit virtually anyone, not just the newly sober. Check it out!

A Tremendous Service

Liz Scott has done a tremendous service to those recovering from substance abuse and others who choose to cook without alcoholCookbooks and magazines typically give scant attention, if any, to the needs of those who forgo alcohol in cooking. Stock or water is often recommended as a substitute, despite lacking whatever flavor the wine, beer, or sherry called for in the recipe would contribute, and the results are what you'd expect: flat, dull, or off-putting.Scott's approach to substitution is more nuanced. By considering the flavors the alcohol would contribute and the role it plays in the dish, she arrives at substitutes that truly work. Where wine plays a supporting role, as in a pan sauce, for instance, she recreates its fruitiness and acidity with a mixture of unsweetened grape juice and wine vinegar. Where the alcohol stars, she reworks the recipe entirely, like the boeuf bourguignon where she uses currant jelly to give depth of flavor and body to the sauce.I bought the book for the discussion of substitution after I heard Scott interviewed on the radio, but I've found that it offers much more. She provides extensive information on nutrition and practical suggestions on eating better, both in early recovery and over the long haul, by eating more fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, and, without faddishness, by starting to pay attention to food's glycemic index. I was inspired to try roasted soybeans for the first time in a "road to recovery" trail mix with chocolate chips that I liked very much. The other recipes I've tried--iced herbal tea, granola; a leek and potato soup; pan-fried steak; a roasted pork tenderloin with cumin and apples that took only ten minutes of prep--have been uniformly good: clearly written, easy to prepare, and great-tasting.The book is structured according to stages of early, established, and long-term recovery, and it allows Scott to be supportive and even gentle-having that ice cream probably won't kill you-while aspiring to continuous improvement. For those in AA, her recommendations about triggers, cravings, HALT, fellowship, and other concepts are mainstream program. Although stricter than some might feel necessary-she tossed out her corkscrew and won't use alcohol-based vanilla extract-her suggestions will help keep you safe.I recommend the book highly for anyone in recovery who likes to cook, or for that matter, is just interested in taking better care of oneself.