Art of Natural Living

Tasty Shrimp Roll

By Inger Aug 23, 2026 Cooking & Recipes, Sandwich, Seafood No Comments

The classic New England Lobster Roll gets a budget friendly makeover in this tasty Shrimp Roll sandwich.

Shrimp Rolls

Today’s Shrimp Roll is based on the well-known Lobster Roll, a delicious and classic New England sandwich.  The darling of sea-side events, I decided it’s also perfect in the Fresh Coast Midwest.

Well, truthfully, I’d be happy to eat one anywhere.

You start by making a chunky, light shrimp salad.  Then you stuff the tasty mixture into a buttery grilled hotdog bun.

With a light, lemony dressing, creamy seafood and buttery crunchy bun, a Shrimp Roll may be the perfect summer sandwich.  Read more

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

By Inger Aug 13, 2026 Appetizers, Condiments, Preserving & More, Cooking & Recipes 8 Comments

Savory, rich and unconventional, Sun Dried Tomato Pesto is an easy condiment or dip.  Add to pasta, sandwiches, crostini, and more.    

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto serve on french bread

It was probably a decade ago when I first tried Sun Dried tomato Pesto.  One of my CSA owners brought it to an event–and I had to have the recipe.

Alas, when I tried it myself, it wasn’t as good. So I put the recipe away.

Thankfully when I decided to revisit it for today’s Farmers Market Week post, I managed to find the recipe–and my notes.  A few small tweaks later, it got a unanimous thumbs up at last weekend’s Saturday brunch!

This recipe can be made with commercial sun-dried tomatoes in oil (drained) or your own dried tomatoes (rehydrated).  Read more

Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

By Inger Aug 11, 2026 Cooking & Recipes, Salads 9 Comments

Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad is tasty, impressive and easier to make than you think. Life’s too short for boring salads!

Strawberry Goat Cheese Salads

On busy days, I’m always tempted to take short cuts.  Use a bottled salad dressing, skip the salad toppings. 

But it truly reduces the flavor experience.  And isn’t life too short to eat boring salads?  

So what if minimal toppings and a simple dressing could give you both ease of preparation and a special salad experience?

Today’s Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad does just that.  By using only a scant 3-4 toppings and just over a half dozen dressing ingredients.  Yes, you can have a nice salad and time to eat it too!  Read more

Tuscan White Bean Soup with Kale

By Inger Aug 9, 2026 Cooking & Recipes, Soup, vegan, Vegetarian Recipes 9 Comments

With a bright fresh flavor, this Tuscan White Bean Soup with Kale is easy, healthy and delicious all year round.

White Bean Kale Soup

Like many natural foodies, I enjoy cooking locally.  And this means I get excited about recipes that work with local ingredients all year long. 

Like this hearty Tuscan White Bean Kale soup, full of kale, tomatoes and hardy keepers like onions and carrots.  Tasty and versatile, it will take you seamlessly from late summer into winter. 

Now I hate to say it, but sometimes I find vegetable soups a little bland.  But not this one!  This is thanks, in part, to an ingredient combo known as mirepoix . Mirepoix is a classic mixture of minced carrots, celery and onion that is sauteed to flavor a soup base. 

And it requires minimal effort if you use a food processor!  Hooray for natural goodness made simple!

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