cover image The Sober Kitchen: Recipes and Advice for a Lifetime of Sobriety

The Sober Kitchen: Recipes and Advice for a Lifetime of Sobriety

Liz Scott. Harvard Common Press, $32.95 (448pp) ISBN 978-1-55832-220-2

Alcoholics Anonymous's stress management acronym is H-A-L-T, reminding recovering alcoholics to avoid becoming hungry, angry, lonely or tired. But until now, there hasn't been a book intended to help with the hunger. A professional chef in recovery, Scott fills the void with this empathetic volume. Following an introduction to the important role food plays in recovery, Scott provides dozens of easy-to-follow recipes for each of recovery's three stages. In phase one, recipes are simple and intended to combat ""years of nutritional neglect and possible extremes of eating the wrong foods or not eating at all."" Sub-chapter topics include non-alcoholic beverages, quick snacks to fight hunger pains in a healthy way and treats to curb carbohydrate cravings. Throughout, Scott offers sidebars addressing alcoholic-specific issues, such as using non-alcohol-based vanilla. In phase two, Scott focuses on healthy comfort foods, with somewhat more complex recipes, such as Baked Whole Wheat French Toast with Orange Maple Glaze. Phase three concerns actively ""enhancing your health and becoming a sober gourmet."" Scott delves into functional foods, re-creating favorites such as chicken Marsala and black forest cake without alcohol. These recipes are appealing for anyone, but the thoughtful advice accompanying almost every entry makes them invaluable for recovering addicts in need of a nourishing diet. (Sept.)