Rating: 
Summary: Simply elegant. A pleasure to read, enjoyable to cook from.
Review: "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone" by Deborah Madison is one the finest cookbook, vegetarian or otherwise, I've ever used. Ms. Madison writes with simple elegance. "Vegararian Cooking..." is easy to read and a joy to use. My first criteria for cooking is how available are the ingredients. Relying on fresh and commonly found ingredients Ms. Madison has put together a cookbook that anyone can use. As I read the book, my first impression was the receipes might not be overly flavorful, however, cooking techniques and creative use of subtle flavorings creates dishes which are richly satisfying without being overwhelming. I was especially glad to read her comment about sensible eating of fat. With no fear of the Fat Police, Ms. Madison's common sense approach to cooking and eating fat results in a fine balance between healthy eating and moderate indulgenge. This book should be in the kitchen of anyone who enjoys good eating. This is truly a first-rate cookbook for vegetarians and meat-eaters like.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST vegetarian cook book I own
Review: Whoa this is a BIG book of over 700 pages and the best vegetarian cookbook I own. The author not only discusses what a good cook is but is on par with Julia Child and James Beard when it comes to recipes for all occasions. And I mean all occasions. Many are kosher as well as ethnic and my men find the dishes filling, delicious as well as nice to look at. We also found her sandwiches section interesting since this seems to be an area most frustrating for new and even some old time vegetarians and vegans alike. Her salads for all seasons is wonderful, as are her vegetable stews and soup section. Beans plain and fancy is a favorite since we love beans both for the health aspect and because there is such a variety of beans and they can make inexpensive or exotic dishes. On page 327 the author begins a massive section on vegetables and how to prepare as well as buy them. The roasted-braised vegetables recipes are out of this world. And as she notes there is a plethora of vegetables to choose from. In fact the price of the book was worth this section alone. And I am someone who craves roasted garlic almost daily. And the tossed spinach lasagna and goat cheese gratin on page 465 is as awesome as the photo of it in the book. And the dessert section with the compotes is delicious.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I love this book. It's filled with sophisticated combinations of flavors and the recipes are quite simple to follow. I have many cookbooks, but when I'm looking for gourmet vegetarian cooking, I use this book. The author also adds interesting and very helpful comments in the margins. You can tell she's passionate about her cooking. Additionally, it is visually appealling and easy to read.
Rating:
Summary: The cookbook I use more than any other
Review: A fabulous reference book for the kitchen. I'm a sloppy, what-looks-good-in-the-farmers-market-right-now? kind of cook, and I tend to use cookbooks more as a springboard for a meal than for the recipes themselves. Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone is great me because it's so comprehensive--pick any ingredient under the sun, there are not only recipes but myriad techniques and suggestions to spur the imagination and get you thinking creatively about the food you have on hand. As far as the recipes themselves go, I find that the best ones by far are the Mediterranean-inflected dishes. Madison has a wonderful feel for this kind of simple cooking that showcases fresh ingredients. In contrast, I sometimes think the Asian-inspired dishes are a bit bland. (If you're looking for bolder flavors, try one of Madhur Jaffrey's vegetarian cookbooks--wonderful and equally inspiring, just different.)
Rating:
Summary: extremely informative plus tasty recipes!
Review: i recently bought this book after reading the 30 plus reviews about it on this page. i knew that there would be no nutritional info, and the layout would be weird. so, i was fully prepared not to buy it. instead i fell in love with it. i think someone called it the vegetarian joy of cooking and i have to agree. it gives basic information like how to use a knife, etc., then onto appetizers, soups, salads... she also includes recipes for tofu and tempeh and tips on how to use marinades for both. some of the recipes are basic, but many have tantalizing flavor combinations that i find unique and refreshing. what i really like about this cookbook is that the ingredients are easy to find in a good supermarket or natural foods store, or better yet, farmer s market. this cookbook can't be THE cookbook for everyone, but it certainly is for me.
Rating:
Summary: An indispensible resource!!!
Review: I love this cookbook. I really, really do. I'd recommend it to anyone. What's so good about it? Well, it's just so BIG. It's got a fabulous number of recipes, as well as really helpful tips about cooking techniques. For example, there's a large section in the book devoted to vegetables--how to store them, how to prepare them, how to handle them, and a few recipes to boot. Nearly all of my cooking questions ("How do I peel this?" "What's a good vegetarian way to cook 'X'?" "What tastes best with this vegetable?") are answered in this one book. Since the book covers so much territory, you can find just about anything inside. 30-minutes suppers are listed alongside elaborate 3-hour ordeals. High fat, low fat, whatever--you're bound to find something in here you'll like. My only complaint is that it seems, at times, to be poorly organized. Once you've used it long enough, you know your way around its many chapters, but it can be a little confusing at first. Southern-style black-eyed peas are tucked away at the end of the lentils section. Other recipes are squirrled away in places you might not expect. But this is, honestly, the only fault I've found thus far. I provided the vegan dish at both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, and both were smash hits. I use this cookbook several times a week, and I never tire of it.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Cooking Resource
Review: I am not a vegetarian, far from it in fact. So why is it that I use this cookbook more than any other? Simply put, because it has all the information I've needed as a rookie chef. It has comprehensive details on the huge variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, and beans/legumes available; everything from their history to their appearance, as well as which flavorings best complement them. Attractive hand drawings illustrate the process of preparation in the case of "tricky" foods, such as artichokes. The recipes are fantastic! Meat and bread is easy to make tasty; vegetables, fruits, and plain grains take some culinary knowledge. All of the recipes I've tried are simple in ingredients and preparation, tasty, AND light in the stomach. Best of all is her attitude. Unlike some vegetarian authors who follow their diets for dogmatic reasons, she simply eats and makes what tastes good to her. That's why some recipes include butter as an ingredient, and her emphasis on local produce above the "organic" produce that's supposedly so much better. Based on my experience, this is the single most important cookbook for a budding culinary expert. You will not be disappointed!!
Rating:
Summary: Great Information
Review: Even though I am not a vegetarian, I really like this cook book and use it extensively. Information about the vegetables is great. Also the recipes are not boring, low fat, vegetarian recipes. She actually uses butter appropriately according with its reputation in cooking.
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: This cookbook is very helpful, especially for new vegetarians. Its recipes are delicious and pretty simple to follow. There is so much information in this book that regardless of your taste, you are bound to find something you like. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Kept It Out Of The Library As Long As I Could...
Review: ... just have to break down and buy it! I am a beginner veggie cook, though have been cooking for years; this boook made the whole veggie "thing" much less daunting. In fact, after keeping it for over a month ,and using the author's excellent tips and info on various ingredients, my kitchen has been switched over, and this feels like second nature now.
| 
