Art of Natural Living

Enjoying the Green Life

Pumpkin Biscotti with Cranberries

By Inger Oct 3, 2026 Cookies & Candies, Desserts & Snacks 22 Comments

Sweet, cinnamon-spiced and seasonal, these Pumpkin Biscotti with Cranberries are made with whole wheat flour but just as tasty!

When I first started eating more whole grains, biscotti were a great find. Crunchy and flavorful, they are supposed to be crisp so there is no need to attempt the airy rise or tender crumb that white flour does so well.

And this was certainly handy the first time I made these. My youngest was in the school musical–and the final week was a killer. The request went out for treats to sustain the cast and crew and I wanted to provide something both healthy and appealing.

But the restrictions were fierce–no nuts (kids with allergies) and no chocolate (tough on costumes). The prior year my apple streusel muffins made the cut but I wanted to shake it up a little. No self-respecting foodie serves the same food twice!

Happily it was a hit. And homemade beat out packaged food one more time! Read more

Forgotten Chicken (Chicken and Rice Casserole)

By Inger Sep 26, 2026 Main Dish 4 Comments

A One Pan Meal with a 60s comfort food vibe, Forgotten Chicken is a Chicken and Rice Casserole that can be made natural with brown and wild rice!

My kids always love it when I make one of Grandma’s recipes. And I have to admit that many of the old classics rank higher on the comfort food scale than say, Tuscan Kale Salad (though we love that dearly).

So today I’m passing along a re-creation of my mother’s Forgotten Chicken–one that uses more natural ingredients. Happily I had a leg up, since my mother got on the healthy eating bandwagon early and used Uncle Ben’s rather than the more common minute rice.

Now in the spirit of true confession, I did keep the Cream of Mushroom soup from the original. I don’t think that this is particularly unnatural per the ingredient list. And it’s cheap and easy to work with as well as keep in the pantry. But if you’d like to sub that too, you can find plenty of online advice.

Here’s to fall comfort food. And to Grandma! Read more

Yogurt Dill Dip (or Dill Sauce)

By Inger Sep 17, 2026 Fruits & Vegetables 10 Comments

Creamy and flavored with dill, lemon, and onion, Yogurt Dill Dip is perfect for everything from carrot sticks to salmon.

Gotta love the bountiful autumn. With all of the beautiful vegetables, it’s hard to decide what to eat first!

But wait! You can eat them all with this tasty and healthy Yogurt Dill Dip. It’s a perfect way to make great progress toward your five-a-day servings of vegetables.

You might even get your kids to chow down if it’s the first thing they see when they come home from school (famished and vulnerable)!

Today’s Yogurt Dill Dip recipe is based on my well-loved Tzatziki sauce. I just left out the cucumber and olive oil and used dill instead of parsley. It’s as simple as it is healthy!

Maple Pumpkin Creme Brulee

By Inger Sep 15, 2026 Desserts & Snacks 71 Comments

Maple Pumpkin Creme Brulee is sweet and creamy with a crunchy, caramel-y sugar top. And you even don’t need a torch to make it!

It’s fall! That means beautiful colors, falling leaves, haystacks and … Pumpkin Everything!

Yes the time is right for all the tasty treats like Maple Pumpkin Creme Brulee. The creamy custard and crunchy sugar topping taste especially sweet and caramel-y with the added pumpkin.

And despite it’s reputation as a special restaurant treat, creme brulee is something you can make at home. Even if you don’t have a torch–because you can brown it under your broiler.

Yup, this will really make you say Happy Fall! Read more

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