A Soothing Broth (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Good things do indeed come in small packages. Pat Willard's A Soothing Broth is a book barely bigger than a saucer, but it overflows with recipes, personal stories, and a fascinating look at what used to be called "invalid cooking." Willard became intrigued with healing foods while nursing her critically ill husband. Searching for something more fulfilling than canned soup and saltine crackers, she looked to the works of Florence Nightingale, medical doctors, and housewives of the 19th century. Here she found recipes both quaint and useful, plus helpful advice on caring for the ill. Willard balances an appreciation for the virtues of forgotten standbys like nutritious Oyster Broth and gentle Curds and Whey while adding 20th-century common sense to the mix--for example, by cooking eggs to 160 degrees F. Some recipes are included for "historical relevance only": Willard reminds us that cocaine was once commonly used for treating nymphomania and other "female complaints."

You might serve an invalid on the mend Queen Victoria's Favorite Soup, a restorative blend of broth, chicken breast, cream, hard-cooked egg yolks, and cracker crumbs. Then, soothe yourself with tea made of rosebuds, wine vinegar, and sugar, which was recommended in 1819 for comforting a headache. Although today it is often hard to find time to make these dainties and delicate dishes, Willard still enchants with her collection of jellies, broths, gruels, and tonics.

Through touching personal stories, Willard also offers support for stressed caregivers. These passages, and her healing discoveries, are presented in an earthy, modest, graceful prose that makes A Soothing Broth a petite treasure. --Dana Jacobi

Review

"The simple lessons I have learned from the pages of old and weathered cookbooks have taught me much about heeding the necessary conditions of life and the humble wisdom that resides in the balm of a soothing broth."
--from the introduction to A Soothing Broth

"Buy this book and keep it in your medicine cabinet.  Its simple wisdom will transform the way you treat headaches, stomachaches, colds, coughs, and, in fact, your entire body."    
--Judith Benn Hurley, author of The Good Herb and Healing Secrets of the Seasons -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1 edition (December 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767901487
• ISBN-13: 978-0767901482
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #849,366 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book happens to contain a lot of intriguing history., April 1, 1999

By A Customer

My wife the cook swears by this book, and though I'm not competent myself to answer questions about cooking, being all thumbs, I do teach history, and I find this book fascinating on historical grounds. Its account of the history of nursing, interwoven with recipes, is judicious, lively, insightful, and an excellent read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comfort & Joy, March 7, 1999

By A Customer

"A Soothing Broth" is exactly that!! Pat Willard's gem of a book is thoroughly researched & splendidly written. Wrought with witticisms & wise cracks, Willard's tone brings as much comfort as the numerous concoctions she describes & it is a joy to have so much healing humor added to the mix as in the eel vs. vipers debate & the pig Miss Glover knew personally. The historical recipes are utterly compelling & crammed with great stuff including the truly useful & the just plain fascinating like the cure for nymphomania! (Ah, the good ol' days when cocaine & marijuana weren't yet controlled substances...) The wonderful introductions to each section are mini memoirs with an array of colorful characters & their various approaches to attaining and/or maintaining good health like Willard's maternal grandmother's seaweed soup & Miss Glover's kidney-cleansing dandelions. Structured around a firm foundation of an amazing & practical collection of tonics, treatments & cures, "A Soothing Broth" is imbued with the spirit of Florence Nightingale whose important contributions to the health-care field continue to influence modern-day medicine. This book is a real pleasure to peruse with its impressively wide range of info for whatever ails you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the health care perspective, December 15, 1998

By A Customer

This is an endeavor written by my sister with lots of advice from me, the nurse. I have enjoyed reviewing each recipe while holding the perspective of the patient in mind. I have found in my own clinical practice (HIV/AIDS) that sometimes caregivers are at a loss in some of the most needed things of the patient - nourishment. The caregivers have a great deal of satisfaction in fulfilling the most basic - food - for their patients. This book will be a help to them as well as for other health care providers who are often at a loss with this most basic request. This book is not to be a substitute to professional health care and the recipes should be shared with your health care provider as you strive to partner with them in the move to wellness. Enjoy and be well!!