Art of Natural Living

Enjoying the Green Life

Dill Pickle Relish

By Inger Jul 5, 2026 Condiments, Preserving & More No Comments

Tart, flavorful and a perfect addition to many dishes, Dill Pickle Relish is a fun and practical home canning project.

Summer is a great time for fun fresh food experiments. With the seasonal bounty of healthy fruits and vegetables… well, the opportunities are endless.

And it’s not limited to classic health foods like Tuscan Kale Salad or Seafood Kabobs. Even classic snack and picnic foods can get in the act.

Yes, dip some chips in Tangy Mango Pineapple Salsa. Or top your July 4^th or picnic hotdog with today’s homemade Dill Pickle Relish. It’s a handy condiment that adds flavor to so many dishes from egg salad to thousand island dressing!

Yum! Read more

4th of July Fruit Kabobs

By Inger Jun 27, 2026 Desserts & Snacks, July 4th/Memorial Day 7 Comments

Pretty in red, white and blue, these 4^th of July Fruit Kabobs are a perfect family snack or dessert. Serve with a cream cheese yogurt dip for even more fun.

Summertime and the living is… well, not always easy. So it’s not surprising that hot dogs, sweet snacks and frozen cocktails can sometimes dominate the summer cookout scene.

But, with a little creativity, I’ve found that healthy, easy, and tasty are not so out of reach. And they can even look cute, all dressed up for the July 4^th holiday.

So today I made fruit skewers using bite-sized strawberries, whole blackberries and some striking white and black dragon fruit. And just in case that’s being too good, there’s an optional yogurt cream cheese dip to put it over the top.

After all, you only turn 250 once! Read more

Tropical Pineapple Martini

By Inger Jun 20, 2026 Cooking & Recipes 7 Comments

A Pineapple Martini is a fun summer cocktail with just a touch of elegance. Perfect for a cocktail party or a simple evening drink on the deck!

Is your summertime coming up easy? Whether the answer is yes or no, this tasty Pineapple Martini can help you get it on track.

Flavored with pineapple, lime and orange, it is the essence of summer.

And with its casual elegance and easy preparation, the only excuse you need to make one is “because.” Read more

Cajun Shrimp Kabobs

By Inger Jun 13, 2026 Main Dish, Seafood 7 Comments

Just assemble and grill these easy Cajun Shrimp Kabobs–no marinating! Loaded with flavor for a perfect casual or elegant dinner.

Summer is fun. But with all of the varied activities, it can mean conflicts. Do you soak up relaxation or move projects (and dinner!) forward. So, I was happy to make these easy Cajun Shrimp Kabobs on a busy night.

Yes, easy is the goal here. And summer is too short to marinade! So just assemble, sprinkle with spices and grill. Even better, you’ll have both protein and vegetable courses on the same skewer!

Now with tasty spices and andouille sausage, Cajun Shrimp Kabobs are also loaded with flavor. And adding shrimp means you can serve them for special occasions. Or to a picky daughter home from college. Not naming any names…

Yes, sometimes you can have it all! Read more

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