Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook Hardcover – 4 Jun. 2007

Really interesting as a book to read as well as to cook from!

I bought this book because my husband gardens enthusiastically by Sarah Raven's The Great Vegetable Plot, a present from his daughter.I have a lot of cookery books on my shelves. But having just browsed through Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook, I can tell you at once that I will be using this book often. Some of her recipes I have already used; she is generous throughout with other people's ideas (and acknowledges them). It is tremendously useful to have, gathered together in one volume, so many things to do with the sometimes over-abundant produce of the potager. And indeed to showcase those first delicate broad beans, asparagus spears, peas and new potatoes.The emphasis here is on vegetables and fruit, but the book is not vegetarian. Where a few slivers of raw ham will make things more delicious, there they are. And delicious the recipes look. Ms Raven's days working at the River Café shine through her use of fresh garden produce.But if you have no garden, the book will still give you plenty of ideas. And I mean plenty. This is not one of those cookbooks with only one recipe to a spread. There are lots, and lots. And the introduction to each fruit or vegetable contains still more ideas, often simple and quick, always mouth-watering.The book is well produced with thick pages and two ribbon markers (already in use chez moi - and the book only arrived here where I live in rural France with the postman around midday today).The index looks excellent (really important if you are searching for a way of using a glut of a particular herb, or lesser ingredient). I would have enjoyed a bibliography, but the generous acknowledgement of sources throughout the text adequately replaces one.

Whilst not strictly a vegetarian cookery book, there is a very strong bias towards vegetable (and fruit) recipes. This book has helped to significantly expanded our repertoire of healthy and delicious recipes.We no-longer have a garden, but at the market we buy whatever is in season and looking great, and always find an inspiring recipe in the book to make good ingredients taste wonderful. The recipes are generally easy, and the photography beautiful.I love this book so much (I've had it from when it was first published), I bought this second hand copy as a gift. It is very hard to get hold of the new books at a sensible price. The recipient also loves it.I also have Sarah Raven's Cooking for Family and Friends, which I probably slightly prefer, but these two books are the ones I would keep if I had to throw away all of my other cookery books.

Not exactly what I thought it was going to be - thought it might have a bit on gardening as well as recipes - which is why it is not a 5.However I have read through a lot of it and I like the fact on each section she does write a bit about them and then follows on with some recipes - telling you where they came from too.Nicely written, great photos and interesting - probably never going to love every one (I loathe celery for a start) - but plenty of interesting and a few different from the norm added in.On the whole a good book. I had had a brief look in WH Smith were it was about £30 – so much more reasonable here – though to save a little extra I ended up buying it from the used section – great condition and arrived quickly!Good read and quite a few things I am going to try this year.

I bought this as a gift for my parents who have taken up veg growing. I have it myself and it's one of my all time favourite cook books. In fact, mine is pretty tatty now, it had such a lot of use. Working through the year, there are some fantastic inspirational recipes and beautiful photography. It's been around a while, but is practical and relevent. Highly recommended.

This cook book was highly recommended by a friend who loves to cook and grow her own vegetables too. I have used it half a dozen times already and it has reinvigorated my desire to cook! The recipes are as simple and easy as could be, no fuss, and the results have been utterly delicious.Very good use of herbs and spices.As different sections of the book feature various fruits and vegetables, suitable and preferred varieties for growing your own are suggested, which I found very interesting and will consider as we plant this year in our own garden. I will definitely be paying more attention to growing a wider selection and larger quantity of herbs.We had a large raised bed put into our garden last autumn. I shall have a look at SR's veggie growing book as well for some guidance. We live not far from Perch Hill and have visited it several times; Sarah Raven's garden is inspiring even if we are unlikely to achieve such perfection with mixed vegetable and floral planting!

This is my all time favourite cookbook, the recipes are easy to follow and very tasty indeed. We are not vegetarians but like veggies a lot, and this book has given me a lot of new ideas. We have tried and love lots of recipes but the uncooked apple chutney is an absolute star in my family. And so are the baked tomatoes with cream, yumminess for a cold, winter night.

I bought this for a friend (I bought my own copy last year) who grows lots of veg, but who never knows what to do when the inevitable overproduction takes hold. There are loads of recipes for most types of veg, conveniently sorted into seasons of the year. So when you have a glut of courgettes or runner beans or tomatoes or kale or whatever else you grow, you'll find a variety of fresh new ways to cook and serve them.Outstanding photography and an easy, chatty style make this book extremely user-friendly. It's also beautifully printed and bound. It has changed mealtimes forever in our house.This isn't a book aimed at vegetarians (although they would relish it) it's a book for anyone who enjoys vegetables, but would like to be able to enjoy them in new ways. Money well spent in my view.