Art of Natural Living

Southwest Chicken Salad

By Inger Jul 25, 2026 Main Dish, Salads No Comments

Southwest Chicken Salad is a main dish salad that’s easy, healthy and loaded with flavor.  Perfect for summer–or all year round!

Southwest Chicken Salad

Recently, a favorite restaurant of ours closed.  And although I enjoy the replacement, there is a dish from the original I can’t stop missing–a Southwest Chicken Salad.  A perfect combo of healthy and tasty, it was always a favorite for healthy eating.

Guess it’s time to try making it myself!

Happily, I learned that homemade is just as tasty and not hard at all.  You just whip together a spiced-to-taste yogurt dressing (so you can indulge without guilt).  Then pile up pre-washed lettuce and add easy-to-source toppings. There’s even a little crunch from some corn chips.

Now with the lettuce contamination scares now, I’m not buying mine in the store.  Instead I wash and spin local lettuce from the farmer’s market or my CSA.  It’s still super easy and ready to eat! 

Even better, with summer’s heat upon us, a flavorful entree salad means no heating up the kitchen!

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All Natural Chocolate Delight Dessert

By Inger Jul 18, 2026 Desserts & Snacks 6 Comments

With a pecan-cookie-flavored base, topped with layers of chocolate and cheesecake, Chocolate Delight is a special summer dessert.

Chocolate Delight

I still remember the first time I tasted Chocolate Delight.  It was at a family picnic, and my husband’s aunt brought a big tray.  After the first bite, I realized it might be the best potluck dessert I’d ever had.   

There was a layer of chocolate pudding, a cheesecake-like layer and a whipped topping that were delicious.  But the best part of all was the base.  Similar to a pecan cookie, the nutty flavor made it unique–and absolutely delicious!  Read more

Peanut Butter Ice Cream

By Inger Jul 14, 2026 Desserts & Snacks 12 Comments

This Peanut Butter Ice Cream is cool, creamy, tasty–and super easy.  Add a fudge ribbon for even more fun. Sugar free option included.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Summer hot enough for you?  Even in Wisconsin, where we usually avoid the worst of the heat, there have been multiple days in the 90s.

It takes me back to my childhood where temps over 90 meant special treats.  Things like running through the sprinkler or taking out the wading pool.  And the best treat?  Ice Cream!

Today’s Peanut Butter Ice Cream (with an optional fudge ribbon) has all the flavor of a peanut butter cup but is cool and refreshing for summer.  And it’s a no cook recipe so it’s also easy.  Just blend the ingredients in a blender and freeze per your freezer’s instructions.

So good, I’d even eat it in winter!  Read more

Homemade Pan-fried Perch

By Inger Jul 11, 2026 Main Dish, Seafood 29 Comments

Pan-fried perch are the darling of the Wisconsin fish fry.  Did you know they are easy to prepare at home with some simple instructions?  

Pan Fried Perch

I love eating out.  But sometimes eating at home feels even better. 

Like when I’m watching my pennies.  Or having a bad weight week.  Or when I’m in a cozy mood and dinner on the deck or by the fireplace just feels right.

Now recently, my husband and I tried out a new restaurant–and got a terrible fish fry. This made me wonder…  How hard would it be to make pan-fried perch at home?

Perch are the darlings of the Wisconsin fish fry.  Small, tender and flavorful, they go for a premium price—and are well worth it! 

Of course for the best perch you don’t want to overwhelm their delicate flavor with thick breading or heavy oil.  Time to experiment!  Read more