Isabel James

See inside pages at http://flickr.com/photos/vegefoodie/sets/72157609173589610/

Isabel James was a lifelong and third generation vegetarian. She ran the Grasmere Vegetarian Guesthouse for many years and published several recipe pamphlets there. Her relationship with the Vegetarian Society grew and she was appointed president between 1987-9.

This recipe book is of its time. It was originally published in 1965 and this there is little evidence of any updates in this third edition.

In chapter 2 she says that vegetarians "are fortunate in that they do not need to go shopping frequently for their basic supplies". Its unclear why this is good fortune especially when you realise she recommends buying up a years worth of some products. The saving in unit price cannot make up for the amount of storage space required, investment in stock and potential wastage if something goes wrong. She acknowledges that vegetables and fruit should be as fresh as possible and looks forward to a time when deep-freeze refrigerators will be available for everyone.

There are a few classic British cookery gotyas; icecream made with evaporated milk (in the freezer box of your fridge), a sandwich loaf coated with cream and mayonnaise, and her attitude to sauces that would horrify any French man or woman. Although sauces are "not necessary" she does include them because they "can make even good food look and taste more interesting".… (altro)