Art of Natural Living

Enjoying the Green Life

Pork Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

By Inger May 13, 2025 Cooking & Recipes, Main Dish No Comments

Healthy, easy, and fun, Pork Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce is a complete meal (just add rice or bread) that will rock your grilling season!

I still remember when I realized you don’t need to marinade shish kabob before grilling. It was like a light went on!

Yes, kabobs had always been an I can’t do this since I suck at prep kind of recipe for me. And suddenly they became an I’m into Something Good (boomers sing along) dish!

Flavorful, easy, festive, and healthy—even pretty, it’s a tough dish to beat.

Today I added a tasty chimichurri sauce (a fresh Argentinian herb sauce–simplified from my Chimichurri Burger recipe) to my Pork Kabobs, making this an over the top summer meal. BBQ tonight? Read more

Cheesy Corn Dip

By Inger May 11, 2025 Appetizers 7 Comments

Full of cheesy goodness–plus golden corn and savory peppers, this Cheesy Corn Dip will rock your appetizer lineup. Even better, it’s guilt free.

I may be getting spoiled. But ever since posting my Horseradish Cheese Spread, I’ve started feeling that appetizers should offer more than just flavor.

Like maybe a little calcium? A bit of veggie goodness? Perhaps both?

I made this Cheesy Corn Dip primarily to meet this objective. But I had another goal too–the classic locavore dilemma of needing to finish the prior season’s bounty (in this case corn and peppers) before the new harvest arrives. Hooray, two goals in one dish!

Even better, on the cusp of summer, it felt so welcoming to dip in a chip and know that BBQ season is just around the corner. Read more

French Lentil Salad

By Inger May 4, 2025 Salads, Side Dish 14 Comments

Flavor up lentils with vegetables and herbs to create the healthy and tasty side dish, French Lentil Salad.

Do you have a recipe Achilles heel? Well, mine is a lack of side dishes. I blame this on my CSA–and my own Potato (Cage) Garden.

You see, a beautiful potato harvest means bags (and bags) or potatoes waiting to be turned into sides. ‘Nuf said?

But luckily, sometimes things happen to shake up your routine. Which was how I made this lovely French Lentil Salad. Wholesome and flavorful with a toothsome chew, it could be the poster child for the benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone.

The recipe originally came from another Wisconsin blogger, Bowen Close of Bowen Appetit,. A few years back, a number of local bloggers decided to review some of each other’s recipes. Since she’s also a chef and cooking instructor, I figured I wasn’t taking much of a risk.

Happily, my analysis was correct. And the whole family enjoyed a unique and tasty side, while I got one step closer to conquering my nemesis. Read more

Festive Purple Margarita

By Inger May 2, 2025 Beverages, Cooking & Recipes 2 Comments

Brightly colored and flavorful, this Purple Margarita will rock your events from Cinco de Mayo to cocktails on the deck!

I never met a Margarita I didn’t like! Blended, on the rocks, straight—all good. Tart, fruity and festive, they always seems to start an evening out right!

And whether you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo, doing a Mexican or Southwest dinner, or just enjoying a fun cocktail, you can’t beat a Purple Margarita.

Deriving its color, and flavored (lightly) from the butterfly pea flower, I first encountered this at a local restaurant. Served on the patio, it was a perfect start to lunch! So I knew I had to recreate it.

Yes, so many Margaritas, so little time…. Read more

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