Art of Natural Living

Easy Gluten Free Molasses Cookies

By Inger Dec 2, 2025 Cookies & Candies 10 Comments

Tired of mixing little bits of this & that for a gluten free flour substitute? Then try these tasty and easy Gluten Free Molasses Cookies!  Perfect for the holidays–or anytime.
gluten free molasses cookies

Have you jumped on the gluten free bandwagon?  Or perhaps you have friends or family who have?  While I eat anything, I love being able to share tasty foods with, well… everyone. 

Because who doesn’t deserve fun foods like Gluten Free Molasses Cookies?  Especially around the holidays!

I previously made some delicious Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies from the same Camila Saulsbury cookbook these are in. I love that both of these recipes require just a single flour—chickpea!  Even better, I think they’re indistinguishable from the originals, both in taste and ease of preparation!

Now because it’s the holiday season, I decided to take some of my cookies and dress them up. I used holiday stencils and sprinkled powdered sugar for a festive look that was also easy!  Read more

Peppermint Shortbread, Two Ways

By Inger Nov 30, 2025 Cookies & Candies 5 Comments

Cute and tasty, this Peppermint Shortbread is easy and gives you two fun ways to style the cookies!  A festive holiday treat!

peppermint shortbread, one side embossed, the other sliced

If you saw my recent Peppermint Ice Cream, you know that peppermint’s a favorite of mine.  Especially for the holidays.

So when I bought a new embossed roller for cookie making (from PastryMade, not sponsored), I knew I had to try it with some peppermint shortbread! 

An embossed roller helps you make really cute cookies with absolutely zero decorating talent.  You just roll it over your dough and it presses in a design (above on left).  Count me in!

But for anyone without an embossed roller, I also have simple slice and bake cookie instructions.  And I think these come out really cute too (above right)!  Read more

Caramel Apple French Toast

By Inger Nov 22, 2025 Breakfast 5 Comments

Creamy sweet and rich, caramel apple French toast will make you revel in the bountiful fall. Get it before the snow flies! 

Caramel apple french toast in restaurant

As Christmas approaches, there’s still time for a one more fall recipe. Hooray! 

Of course, we do have Thanksgiving which will give us a full quota of entrees and sides (like the classic Betty Crocker French Apple Pie).  And for breakfast how about a nice Apple French Toast!

The inspiration for this Caramel Apple French Toast came from breakfast (shown above) at the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek, WI, a favorite breakfast spot.  One bite and I knew I had to do something similar.  With flavors of apple caramel and pecan, it’s warm sweet and filled with the essence of the season.

I decided to change things up a bit and “stuff” my version with apples and cream cheese.  I love the way that the tangy cream cheese balances the warm sweet flavors of apple and caramel!  Yes cream cheese does makes everything better!  Read more

Tom and Jerry Batter

By Inger Nov 21, 2025 Beverages 5 Comments

There’s nothing quite like a hot toddy to warm you when winter sets in.  Here is a recipe for Tom and Jerry Batter to make the classic alcoholic beverage.

Tom and Jerry

They say every cloud has its silver lining.  And one of winter’s has to be the hot toddy—a warm, often sweet, alcoholic beverage.  Like Hot Buttered Rum, spiked hot cocoa, or today’s Tom and Jerry cocktail.

The boozy drinks always take me back to my youth when we had a cabin across the street from a Wisconsin ski hill.  I didn’t ski but that didn’t mean I didn’t have fun.  I used to watch my father’s bright orange hat go up and down the ski hill as he did a series of runs.  Then as soon as the motion stopped, I’d slip on my boots and head for the attached restaurant. 

My father would be seated at the bar sipping a hot toddy.  And before you knew it there was another bar stool and a drink for me.  Yup, who needs skis!

Cheers!  Read more

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