Customer Reviews
an old friend that's never let me down - By: Veggie Girl, 27 Mar 2007 
I first came across rose Elliott's Bean Book when I was at University & I literally taught myself to cook from it & survived on a very slender budget by cooking all her wonderful, cheap & tasty bean recipes.
My original copy was falling to pieces so I've just bought this new edition -- & i still love it! The warmth & friendliness of the book are very encouraging & the recipes are lovely.
This book was the genesis for my interest in vegetarian cooking - By: John W. Irvine, 03 Jan 2007 
I see above that some purchasers are unhappy with the book. That is their right. I think one thing needs to be taken into account with vegetarian cooking: it's mostly bland. That's my experience. But the concepts are fine, & the meld of unknown & unfamiliar ingredients is excellent.
Any cook worth their salt can take a recipe that is sound & ponce it up to their personal tastes.
I bought Rose's book 25 years ago during an intense relationship with a vegetarian lady. I was already a pretty fair cookin the meat style, & I saw this as a challenge. Rose's recipes weren't hot/spicy enough for me, but her constructions are superlative. You want chili? Add some. If you are a rigid cookbook cook, the maybe you need The Woman's Weekly cookbook & not this one.
I still have the original paperback book I boughtin Australia--used it tonight,in fact-- but the pages have begun to fall out from use. This wee book has been a mainstay on three continents for me, & now I'm forced to purchase a new one.
For you knockers out there I say.... learn to cook.
Cheers, John Irvine
Everything that's wrong with vegetarian cooking - By: S. Gray, 25 Sep 2006 
I bought this book hoping for a bit of variety & inspiration with bean cooking but I have been sorely disappointed.
Every recipe I have cooked from it has been needlessly long, complicated & "faffy" & the results have always, without exception, been bland, homogeneous & uninspiring plates of beany mush that look & taste like something out of a 1960's comedy hippy cafe.
Good food should be about the joy of excellent quality ingredientsin interesting combinations that delight your taste buds & your eyes at the same time. Instead these recipes offer unappetising, textureless, bland & ugly concoctions. Cooking has moved on from this kind of rubbish.
Avoid.
Full of beans - By: The Warbler, 23 Apr 2006 I wanted to do more with beans & pulses & this was the ideal place to start. The book is packed with easy to follow, well presented recipes. I notice one reviewer complained of the lack of photographs, but let's face it - this type of cookery isn't about beautiful food. The book is still attractive, easy to read & well laid out. Also, everything I've tried so far has been simple to cook & a great success.
A bit disappointing - By: , 27 Oct 2004 
I have just received this book & I am not thrilled. One thing I do likein a cookery book are photos of the dishes. This bok does not contain one. A bit cheap I feel.
