Art of Natural Living

Enjoying the Green Life

Oysters Rockefeller at Home

By Inger May 30, 2026 Appetizers, Seafood 17 Comments

Baked fresh oysters on the half shell, topped with a rich spinach mixture, makes Oysters Rockefeller a tasty and special appetizer.

Oysters Rockafeller is a classic seafood appetizer. And back in the day, it was an almost required menu item in fine dining establishments. That’s because a creamy rich oyster, embellished with a savory topping, is a perfect way to start a great dinner.

If you have never had the pleasure, Oysters Rockefeller (per Wikipedia) are “oysters on the half-shell that have been topped with various other ingredients… then baked or broiled.”

Originally topped with a mixture containing herbs like parsley or chervil, today you are likely to find a topping based on spinach.

This now classic appetizer was originally created at Antoine’s in New Orleans, where you can still get it today. We made sure to stop there when we visited and have our authentic numbered certificate to commemorate the experience! Read more

Homemade Raspberry Vinaigrette

By Inger May 23, 2026 Salads 4 Comments

With a bright fruit flavor and creamy goodness, this Homemade Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing is a salad lover’s delight.

Raspberries have been one of my favorite fruits since childhood. Yes, way back in my preschool days, a neighbor had berry bushes and freely shared. Which set up a lifetime of berry love for me!

So I was delighted when I started to see Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing appearing in stores and restaurants.

But the problem was, I couldn’t find any that did justice to the flavorful fresh berries of my childhood. So I decided to make a homemade Raspberry Vinaigrette.

With a higher berry ratio, and all natural ingredients, this is a dressing worthy of the beautiful fresh lettuces and toppings of the season. Read more

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Pie

By Inger May 16, 2026 Cooking & Recipes, Desserts & Snacks 9 Comments

Sweet, tart and fruity, with a rich crumb topping, Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Pie is a fun dessert that’s easy and tasty!

Is there anything that welcomes the new growing season quite as joyfully as rhubarb?

Barbara Kingsolver fans may remember her joy in spotting fresh stalks at a farmer’s market the year she ate locally (chronicled in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle). Fruit? her daughter had scrawled hopefully on the shopping list.

Of course, shortly after the rhubarb, a new ray of sunshine arrives with the strawberry crop. Combine these two delights and the chill of winter is forgotten.

And if that isn’t enough, you can top the combo with a rich crumble topping! Besides being super tasty, I think a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with crumb topping is actually easier than a double crust pie! Perfect!

Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwich

By Inger May 10, 2026 Sandwich 4 Comments

Creamy, rich and cheesy, this Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwich takes the classic comfort food to a new level for a quick and easy lunch.

If you’re a fan of grilled cheese sandwiches but haven’t tried an avocado grilled cheese yet, you’re missing out! Like a cross between a grilled cheese and avocado toast, this may be the tasty, easy lunch entrée you’ve been looking for.

And if flavor and simplicity aren’t enough, I saw something on TV recently that surprised me. It said you could count avocado as a serving of vegetables. Come on, I thought, isn’t that like counting butter as dairy serving?

So I consulted my sister who’s a registered dietitian. While she said they count it as a fat for diabetic exchanges, she noted it does have a lot of fiber and some good nutrition. Yes!

Finally, did I mention that an Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwich is seriously satisfying? Kind of like comfort food for the over-30 crowd! Count me in!

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