Rating: 
Summary: Vegan Comfort Food
Review: Forget for a moment whether vegan and vegetarian diets should be adopted for health reasons, animal rights reasons, or not at all, and take a close look at this cookbook. The basis of this volume is comfort food. Some of the titles include Amazing Apple Pie, Chocolate Pecan Brownies, Banana Bread, Momma Sarah's Matzo Ball Soup, Sarah's Delicious Chili, Classic Spinach Lasagna, Savoury Shepherd's Pie, and Vegan Sloppy Joes. This is all hearty food that's easy to prepare. Even hardcore meat eaters will identify with the normalcy and lack of weird recipes or ingredients in these recipes .Generally quick to prepare, these recipes require no difficult-to-locate ingredients. The presentation is quirky and fun, with retro graphics and helpful tips including how to serve meals that will make the family want to eat together, getting kids interested in new foods, and a general (but very thorough) overview of veganism. There is also a section on making your own household cleaners (including 45 things to do with vinegar), creating your own health and beauty products, a great alternative ingredient and substitution list, and a complete appendix listing vegan "no-nos". For seasoned vegans and vegetarians alike, "How it all Vegan!" is a manifesto of great tasting, fun to prepare recipes that are both thought-provoking and consciousness-raising, but the lack of preachiness will leave Mr. and Mrs. Meat-and-Potatoes coming back for more.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: So many people make the assumption that if you're a vegetarian or vegan you only eat healthy foods with weird ingredients. That's not the case and many would rather die than make a chocolate cake with the main ingredient being dates (and trust me, I've seen a TON of recipes like that). For those people, there's this book. While the authors certainly don't overlook health, they do offer options for those that want to eat food that's pleasing to everyone, regardless of dietary choice. Many of the recipes can be made with household basics, instead of having to plan a special shopping trip, and most are very simple to make (so if you're looking for gourmet, this probably isn't it). While I usually try to look for at least one negative quality when I review, I'd say this doesn't *have* negative qualities. There's something for everyone while still adhering to the qualities of a vegan diet. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have the nutritional contents of each recipe, however, for those who *are* health-conscious. Eat up and enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: helpful
Review: this book was quite helpful to me when i first became vegan seven months ago. it was very nice to have something to read through to get the basic idea of how to make vegan food, when i have always been just making vegetarian food previously. it was very beneficial in getting over the initial frozenness of not knowing where to start. truthfully, though, i believe i have only used one or two recipies in this book. granted, i don't cook much and like to improvise when i do, but it has been mainly gathering dust on my shelf ever since. the recipies often seem too simple for my more sophisticated adult tastes. however, when my boyfriend picked it up he was extremely excited and planning on using it very often (although that hasn't happened yet). i would say that the recipies are great for people who would rather put fewer ingredients into something, good for those with naturally simpler tastes, great for many younger or single guys, and probably great for those with kids. however, truthfully whenever i ponder using a recipie from this book, i find myself deciding that it just looks like it wouldn't be as interesting to my palette. don't get me wrong, i'm not a chef and don't even enjoy cooking much, i just like to have interesting and different things when i cook for myself (yes, i love gourmet food), and i'd rather cut up and throw in one or two more items real quick than call it quits when i've done the minimum to make the recipie work. however!
this book is a great resource for ideas on how to make natural homemade house cleaning and body products, etc. that are simple and vegan. there is a surprising variety of recipies for a wide variety of items, such as lotions, shampoo, facial masks, deodorant, bug repellant, etc. the book also contains a few animal treat recipies, and a list of 45 household and health things to do with vinegar. it has 9 pages of vegan no-nos to look for in products, things that we wouldn't necessarily recognize otherwise, along with what they are normally in and alternatives. i really didn't like the staged old-timey pictures...they generally depicted a woman doing the household work with a smiling male counterpoint standing by and watching. however, i'm sure it was more in the spirit of trying to be old-fashioned than anything. a book i have used more (and which i have found to be wonderful and invaluable--i am never concerned about not finding something i'd want to make) is vegan planet by robin robertson. however, how it all vegan is a really good thing to have around, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Not so hot
Review: I have tried many of the recipes in this book, and the vast majority of them have been in the range of mediocre to downright awful. The entrees and sauces I've tried were bland. The chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, and pancakes were OK, but I've made MUCH better versions using recipes from other sources. The vanilla cake and tofu whipped cream recipes were dreadful, and the soy milk whipped cream and vegan mayo turned out runny and yucky. The recipes are generally easy to make, but many of the them call for ingredients that are harder to find or too expensive for a poor college student like myself (vegan parmesan cheese, etc.). The only recipe that was really great was the chocolate pudding, which was delicious. Still, I can't help but wonder why so many people recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best vegan cook books ever
Review: Even though I am in England, and I don't have access to all the ingredients mentioned, the recipes are so well written, and so accessible that I simply can't recommend it enough. In particular the healthy, tasty food for kids is outstanding. Smoothies, and icecreams, which are full of vitamins (instead of e-numbers) and vegan meals which tempt meat eaters to veg out! We do food fairs and give out lots of free food to promote veganism - these recipes go down a treat with all and sundry. Now I hear they have done another book. Halleluia! I know I will be buying that one.
Rating: 
Summary: So HARD to reference!
Review: I love cookbooks. I use them all the time. My major gripe with this book (and its sucessor) is the fact that there is NO index! The recipes aren't even indexed on a main front page! How do you say "I want to make that cool blueberry muffin recipe" without going through half of the book looking for it? I never use these 2. Ever. They could have excellent recipes, but I can't find them in a reasonable amount of time. I just can't get my thumbs around them when I'm ready to cook. Very bad UI design.
Rating:
Summary: Try it, you'll love it!
Review: How it all Vegan is a wonderful cookbook! A must for anyone who is vegan or thinking of becoming vegan. The index in the back of the book is very helpful for those who are searching for alternative ingredients to use. The chocolate pudding cake is amazing, you won't believe your tastebuds! I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: I can make French Toast Again!
Review: Thanks to the two authors, they have cracked the mysteries for me with converting my favorite everyday recipies to vegan ones; such as scrambled eggs (tofu scramble), and tofo turkey. I was supprised to even see french toast, a recipie I only thought you could make with eggs, no exceptions; but these girls have done it. I use this book 95% of the time I'm using a recipie book. Sadly, there are no pictures ( which I usually find as a staple for any decent cookbook ), but I have to admit that I do not miss them in this book. All the helpful hints have really come in handy to understanding vegan cooking and the appendix in the back also helps me undestand more about additives and the ingredients in some non vegan friendly foods and products. I love the additonal info on keeping a more earth friendly home as well. Trust me, this is a good vegan/vegetarian staple to have in your home.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this one, just check out other books from the library
Review: Despite the name, this is a great book. Its a great compact how-to introduction, and its not as wordy as all the others. You'll find a few amazing recipes that will make you glad to be vegan, and ton of other great recipes, and tons of useful stuff like kids recipes and cleaning and beauty recipes. I recommend Gerry's Creamy Sauce, the Peanut Butter Cups(!!!), and the Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies. Kudos to hear they are bee-free in the new millenium!
Rating:
Summary: Best Vegan Cookbook Ever!!
Review: This is the absolute best vegan cookbook ever!! These girls really know how to cook. The book starts out with a short bio from each of the authors of how they switched to a vegan lifestyle. This book is full of delicious recipes. Even if you're not a vegan, this book will introduce so many new tastes for your palate. The Chocolate Bars are to die for! I even made a Chocolate "Cheese" Cake that has tofu instead of cheese and fooled everyone. There's even a section about making your own household & beauty products. You can't go wrong with this book! It's a must for any cook's collection.
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