Bippity Boppity Booze

The ultimate recipe for dry January 

By Fanny Slater

Let’s get one thing straight. Sober people are not drink shamers. We just have a collective mentality that cutting alcohol out of our lives has made us happier overall. If you’re a normal drinker—meaning you can take booze or leave it—congratulations! I’m jealous you got to taste this year’s annual batch of Highland’s Cold Mountain Winter Ale and I didn’t. Don’t worry, I’ll be okay. As a sober person, I couldn’t care less what’s in your cup. I’m only focused on mine and making sure it’s always half-full. 

You likely flipped to this page for one of a few reasons. Maybe Dry January appeals to you because seasonal sobriety is super approachable. Maybe you’re sober-curious and desire to dip your toe into the occasional stretch of being AF (alcohol-free). Maybe you’re already on a recovery journey. 

Whatever the reason, I’m happy you’re here.

It can be easy to stop drinking for a few days after a rough night, but how do you sustain that for a week or even a month? I’ve got good news. There was a 50% increase in Dry January participants from 2023 to 2024, so things are trending in the right direction. If a month-long goal of ditching drinking is uncharted waters, don’t worry. That’s where I come in.

I’m breaking it down in the way I know best: in the form of a recipe. Think of the formula below as a delicious, insightful compass that points you towards a successful alcohol-free month. Don’t take it too literally—as onions and garlic are not actually the first step towards sobriety, but rather a metaphor for building a strong foundation. I’ll do my best to steer clear of sappy, dad-esque idioms such “a dash of determination” or “a sprinkle of serenity”—but we are talking about living your best life here so cut me some slack. Most importantly, this is a choose-your-own adventure scenario. Take what you learn and carry it into 2025 in whatever form that fits your lifestyle. It’s your tale, I’m just the kitchen wizard-slash-sober-fairy-godmother helping you wave goodbye to the bippity-boppity-booze.

Base: Setting Clear Intentions
There’s a reason that most recipes begin with onions and garlic and most sobriety stories start with moderation attempts. Onions and garlic are the pillars in classic savory dishes because they build the base (or first layer of flavor). If cutting out alcohol has crossed your mind, you’ve likely thrown moderation and a concrete goal into your pot.

Instead of aimlessly declaring “I need to drink less,” now is the time to lay out the structure and set an attainable goal. Being grounded in purpose at the kickoff of my journey was essential. I concluded that drinking would always push me out of the driver’s seat of my life and I wanted to indefinitely regain control of my decisions. In my sobriety recipe, the onions and garlic were the phone call to my parents asking for support. I set the intention that I wanted help, and then made choices to support that goal. 

Aromatics: Leaning into Support
These are specialty ingredients that add depth of flavor to the base. Like fresh ginger and lemongrass or oregano and orange zest, aromatics release their fragrance and flavor to help form the foundation of the dish.

Everyone’s aromatics look different (i.e.: the level of support you may need will vary). If completing Dry January is the goal, find an accountability buddy who will participate with you. If removing alcohol from your life on a larger scale feels detrimental to your mental and physical health, call out for professionals and those who have always had your back. My parents and sister are the reliable rosemary in my recipe that keep me grounded and give me sage advice.

Main Ingredient: Self-love
Whether it’s the chicken in the chicken Piccata or the eggplant in the baba ganoush, every recipe has a star. These central components often define the overall profile of the dish. Its significance is central to the way everything else comes together. 

Before shifting towards sobriety, the main ingredients of my life were self-loathing and regret (plus beer and more beer). I didn’t care enough about myself to make healthier choices, so my character was often overshadowed by shame. If you’ve already got a solid relationship with yourself, you’re on the right track to make healthy choices that foster your sobriety goal. I had to rekindle self-love in order to regain self-trust. This would be a good place for an analogy about capers, but I’ll spare you.

Sauce: AF Drinks
Not all recipes require sauce, and not all recovery journeys embrace non-alcoholic drinks. When a recipe contains a liquid (broth, stock, soy, cream), it’s typically to bind everything together and provide moisture or richness.

For those not triggered by boozy dupes (NA beers, zero proof spirits, alcohol-removed wines, etc.), the AF drink category is as luxurious as a velvety red coconut curry sauce. Nonalcoholic options nowadays are dynamic and impressive, and for me—provide the perfect solution for FOMO of any kind. If you’re an occasion-based drinker and worried you’ll miss margaritas on Mexican night, turn to your trusty Google device for a list of alternatives that offer the burn of tequila without the post-apocalypse of Taco Tuesday.

Simmer Time: Let it Settle
Whether your marinara is bubbling on the stove or your casserole is in the oven, there’s often a part of the cooking process that allows flavors to meld and ingredients to heat through.

In sobriety, simmer time is about reflection and balance. The joy, the discomfort, the re-entry into a world where the focus is a bit sharper and a lot louder. Flowers are brighter, but dancing feels awkward without the encouragement of a few bourbons. Hey, no one said this was easy, but you can always prepare yourself for social situations. Ask for mocktail menus, BYO-sparkling water, make plans for early the next morning, and unapologetically perform Irish goodbyes.

Now is also the time to rev up your childlike delight in simple pleasures and self-care. Life is short. Make time to play. Here is a list of activities you likely once loved, but either paired with drinking or stopped doing because they didn’t involve drinking: 

• Biking

• Bowling

• Roller skating or ice skating

• Going to a movie and buying the big tub of popcorn

• Visiting a zoo

• Going to a museum

• Picnicking at a park

• Drinking coffee outside

• Reading a book in a bubble bath

• DIY crafting

• Walking on the beach at sunrise

• Dancing at a concert and remembering the music

• Cooking with friends

• Exploring a farmer’s market 

Finishing Touches: Pass it on
I believe wholeheartedly that a garnish completes the meal. My food-obsessed family taught me that a beautiful plate usually “needs a little green.” Thanks, mom. A dusting of basil and parmesan on pasta brings everything full circle just as sharing your journey can help someone else. No one will ever force you to add a pinch of parsley, but if it feels right—just go with it.

Almost four years ago, I made the conscious choice to share my sobriety out loud. I knew it would hold me accountable and possibly give voice to another person not yet ready to speak. Maybe my words will give you the confidence to master the month of Dry January. Maybe your choice to opt of out happy hour will inspire your best friend. Maybe we’re all just hungry now. 

Whatever the reason, I’m still happy you’re here.

Fanny Slater is a nationally published cookbook author, sobriety mentor, and the winner of Rachael Ray’s Great American Cookbook Competition. Her cookbook, Orange, Lavender & Figs: Deliciously Different Recipes from a Passionate Eater was published by Simon & Schuster in 2016. Fanny co-hosted the Food Network series, Kitchen Sink and was a regular on Cooking Channel’s longtime popular series, Best Thing I Ever Ate.

Today, Fanny is 4 years sober and working on her second book–a sobriety memoir structured like a cookbook. Using recipe-inspired storytelling and fusing vulnerability with wit, it chronicles her transformation from a self-destructive addict to a passionate advocate for recovery and self-love. She works as a food and beverage writer specializing in recipe development, food photography, and content creation for social media. Fanny uses her Instagram platform @fannyslater to share her story and encourage others to speak up about their struggles.