Welcome to the first of our monthly columns on cooking and recovery! I’m Liz Scott, the author of The Sober Kitchen: Recipes and Advice for a Lifetime of Sobriety, a cookbook and eating guide for those who are embarking on a clean and sober lifestyle.  The idea for this book arose through my own battle with alcohol which forced me to take a long, hard look at my chosen career as a gourmet chef. Among other dangerous triggers I was exposed to in the culinary world, alcohol was a staple ingredient in the kitchen.  I knew the booze had to go!  But how was I to continue cooking in the classically trained method I was taught without the splash of wine here or the douse of rum there?  Well, in recovery, as we all know, everything is possible, and I was determined to find a way. In the process I also discovered something remarkable; there was a severe lack of practical information on nutritious eating available to us who were struggling with this debilitating disease.  There were cookbooks on heart disease, arthritis, even PMS!  But nothing for the recovering alcoholic and addict. That was about to change!

Good food and nutrition is an enormously important part of recovery from any illness and can be particularly critical in the recovery from addiction.  So many aspects of our physical well-being are affected, from common complaints and ailments in the early stages of sobriety, like nausea, insomnia, and irritability to name a few, to the intricate neurochemical makeup of our addicted brain that “craves” our drug of choice regardless of consequences.  There is so much to learn about our disease and thankfully, much research is being devoted to improving treatment outcomes and helping the newly sober to travel the path toward wellness and recovery.  We’ll be discussing many of these issues each month as we find camaraderie in the kitchen and become healthy together.

So, what exactly do we mean by a “sober kitchen?”  Although it means much more than merely removing alcohol containing ingredients from our cupboards and fridge, striving for an alcohol-free kitchen is a good place to start.  Why is this important?  Because contrary to the old wives’ tale, alcohol does not burn off in the cooking process.  In 1989 a USDA study proved that between 5 and 85% of the alcohol added to a dish is retained depending upon the cooking method, type of alcohol used and the amount of time it is exposed to heat.  Indeed, the act of flambéing retains 75%!  Surprised?  I was too, but what was more surprising was the fact that addiction researchers discovered that the mere smell or taste of alcohol could spark unwanted cravings in the addicted brain.  Although small amounts of alcohol would seem to be unimportant, our brain cells never forget!  Obviously it would be unwise to “tease the tiger” as they say, so eliminating alcohol containing ingredients from our kitchen is a necessity.  And once you start digging, you’ll be amazed to find out prevalent alcohol is in the food products we purchase.

Alcohol plays many roles in the kitchen: flavor enhancer, preservative, tenderizer…  Its contained in Dijon mustard, many bottled sauces and marinades, even extracts which contain up to 35% alcohol by volume!  Thankfully, there are many wonderful substitutes we can use to recreate the role that alcohol may be playing in a recipe whether it be for flavor or another purpose.  And today there are numerous extracts available that are glycerin based and alcohol free.  So you see, the alternatives are there and in many cases those alternatives are even more flavorful and delicious.  Through necessity, I’ve come up with numerous substitutions for everything from vanilla extract to Grand Marnier liqueur – all wonderful choices and completely sober safe.  In essence, we need not sacrifice the enjoyment of good food to protect our sobriety.  That’s the good news.  The even better news is that we can utilize the power of food to nourish our bodies, minds and souls as we travel the road of a new and sober lifestyle. Healing ourselves, our relationships and our spirits can all be accomplished in the “sober kitchen.” So, tie on that apron and let’s get cooking!  I look forward to hearing from all of you and sharing recipes, tips and the love of good food here at Recovery Times.