Gracious Vegan

Gracious Vegan is an all-inclusive place for anyone to enjoy great-tasting vegan cooking. Whether you have been a committed vegan for decades or if you are just looking to add more plant-based, whole foods into your routine, the Gracious Vegan aims to provide you with the resources you need.

This site offers a range of tastes and methods of preparation. The recipes reflect a celebration of the wonderful flavors inherent in a plant-based diet.

About Linda

I grew up in Southern California, raised on a standard American diet. When I went away to college, I decided to give up meat as a way to lose weight. It worked, but in the process, I lost my taste for meat and jumped on the vegetarian bandwagon. I got really good at making quiche, mac 'n' cheese, fondue, and other creamy, gooey dishes.

Fast-forward to twelve years ago, when I decided to give up dairy and eggs, going completely vegan. It was another big step in my cooking and eating habits.

My main motivation for giving up eggs and dairy was compassion for animals, but the health dividends have been amazing. I don’t get as sleepy during the day as I used to, my memory and recall have improved, and I get fewer colds than before.

There's so much scientific evidence supporting the health and environmental benefits of eating less meat. I’ve found that the more I eat healthy plant-based, the more I love it.

I live in Portland, Oregon, with my husband, Doug, and kitty-cat, Serge. I teach plant-based cooking at Portland Community College and Mt. Hood Community College. Before COVID-19 shut down stores and venues, I used to give cooking demos all over the Portland metro area. I’ve found the Zoom platform a great way to cook together, with everyone in their own kitchen. Even though I could go back to in-person classes, online teaching lets more people take the classes and allows those who want to to cook along do so in real time. The only downside I hear from my students is that they miss the samples.