Art of Natural Living

Tasty Beet Pesto

By Inger Sep 13, 2026 Appetizers, Pasta No Comments

A unique and healthy take on pesto, this Beet Pesto is easy to make and a delicious spread or pasta topping. 

Beet Pesto used as spread and pasta topping

Today’s Beet Pesto may very well be my favorite recipe of the year.  I mean how do you beat (no pun intended) a dish that can serve as a healthy appetizer, as well as a unique and tasty pasta topping!

Now this colorful variation benefits from many of the same ingredients as your classic basil pesto.  But instead of a profusion of basil flavor, it has just a hint, with the bright, slightly sweet beet taking over as the dominant note.

The sweet savory concoction is delicious as a spread, especially smeared over toasted French bread.  

Then, as a bonus, it’s tasty–and I think beautiful–stirred into pasta.  My husband, who normally won’t touch beets, loved it this way, making me fight him for a taste.  Read more

Homemade Pizza Sausage

By Inger Sep 12, 2026 Main Dish No Comments

Use this tasty Homemade Pizza Sausage to give your pizzas the authentic flavor of a local pizza parlor or take-out joint.

pizza sausage with other pizza ingredients

I have a Homemade Italian Sausage recipe that I love.  I use it for bomber sandwiches, for stuffed mini peppers and for an amazing Italian Meatball Appetizer.  And it’s totally delicious!

But when it came to pizza, I didn’t love it.

That’s right.  For pizza sausage I wanted something that tasted like my childhood pizza takeout.  Or the classic neighborhood pizza joint.  And as much as I love my Italian Sausage, this wasn’t it.

And so I kept trying online recipes until finally it hit me—they were all too complicated.  A few experiments later, I had it–with about half the ingredients. 

Sometimes simple is better! Read more

Mixed Deli Hawaiian Roll Sliders

By Inger Sep 5, 2026 Cooking & Recipes, Sandwich 3 Comments

Mixed Deli Hawaiian Roll Sliders makes a tasty and easy meal or snack–with enough variety to make everyone happy.  Perfect for Game Day or anytime!

Hawaiian Roll Sliders

Back in my corporate days, I loved team reward lunches.  And one favorite selection was the giant sub sandwich. How cool was it that one huge sandwich came with… like 6 different fillings.  Sometimes it IS all about variety!

Now recently I had an almost déjà vu experience when we were visiting my stepsister and she served up some hot slider sandwiches.  She was cleaning out her refrigerator she said, almost apologetically, so they were a collection of different deli meats and flavors. 

And right then, my mind started firing on all cylinders: This. Is. Genius!  I’ve always loved my Ham and Cheese Sliders, but how fun is three (or more) kinds of meat!

And just in time for football season!  Read more

One Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup with Kale

By Inger Aug 29, 2026 Cooking & Recipes, Soup 6 Comments

Like an extra rich, creamy Chicken Soup, Chicken Gnocchi Soup with Kale takes comfort to the next level.  Make it in one pot even!

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

With fall coming up (shhh), I’m starting to think about soups again.  Perhaps it’s because we just finished our final lake vacation…  and the evening fun came with a notable chill.  Perhaps it’s that northwoods trees just starting to turn.

But whatever the reason, serving up a steaming bowl of soup with a slab of bread is starting to sound… delicious! 

The soup is based on one from the Savory Moments blog and reminds me a lot of my Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with Sage–but with gnocchi and kale instead.

Now for true confessions, I am one of three people in the world who doesn’t like your basic chicken noodle soup. But enrich it with some cream and a few more ingredients (um, like kale and gnocchi) and I’m in! 

‘Cause this variation is delicious!  Read more