Art of Natural Living

Homemade Trail Mix

By Inger Feb 28, 2026 Desserts & Snacks 4 Comments

Crunchy with a hint of sweet, Homemade Trail Mix is a healthier snack that is perfect for road trips, snacking, or even breakfast on the go!

Homemade Trail Mix

This is really my father’s fault.  He started delivering Valentine’s Day candy to his (adult) children many years ago.  And when his grandkids came along, they got miniature boxes. 

When I took over the tradition–and needed to send the gift box to college, I wanted to include something healthier as well.  And so I added a (relatively) healthy trail mix made with homemade Maple Vanilla Granola, nuts, dried fruit, and Valentine colored M&Ms!  Yum!

Of course, this is a tasty snack outside of a holiday season as well!  Just use regular M&Ms.  Or if you’re not an M&M lover, chocolate chips are delicious too.  This year, I ran into a great sale of mini M&Ms so that’s what you see today. 

Yup, so nice to have homemade trail mix again, just in time for our upcoming “spring break” trip!   Read more

Easy Black Bean Soup

By Inger Feb 22, 2026 Soup 1 Comment

Black Bean Soup is easy, healthy, and delicious!  Add fun toppings like crumbled chips, avocado, and red onion and even meat lovers will rave about this gluten free, vegan soup!Black Bean Soup

Is there a dish you’ve enjoyed at restaurants, but which absolutely refused to turn out at home? For me it was Black Bean Soup.

Yes, I’d tried a few times but, sadly, my attempts at this healthy classic always came up short.

So when the NY Times put out a recipe they swore was delicious and easy, I was all in.  Made mostly with canned ingredients, I can attest it was as tasty and fast as they claimed.

Now true confessions, I did make a couple changes (which you can take or leave) that ramped up both the flavor and nutrition. But if you need to super streamline, just skip my adds.  Read more

Artichoke Salad with Pea Pods & Mushrooms

By Inger Feb 14, 2026 Salads 22 Comments

This artichoke salad with pea pods, mushrooms and toasted almonds in a creamy dill dressing is easy and tasty.  Move over lettuce salad!

Artichoke Salad

I love salad in pretty much any way, shape, or form.  In fact we try to do a “salad-a-day” just like the proverbial apple!  Yes, give me a Spicy Italian Salad or Poached Pear Salad with Goat Cheese and I’m happy as a clam.

But once in awhile, even favorites get old–and sometimes I don’t want even one more lettuce leaf to cross my path.   Which is why I’m excited to announce that vegetable salads can be just as amazing.  Like this Artichoke Salad from my youth! 

Even better, it’s perfect for spring.  That’s because it’s loaded with pea pods, one of the first local vegetables to appear.  And with jarred artichokes, a creamy dill dressing and a little crunch from sliced almonds, it just might be the new salad you’ve been looking for.

After all, brunch season is coming!

Read more

Easy Shrimp Bisque

By Inger Feb 7, 2026 Soup 8 Comments

Rich and tasty, Shrimp Bisque is easy to make at home with this simple hack.  And it’s perfect soup for date nights, company dinners–or anytime!

Shrimp Bisque

I’m always excited when I visit a restaurant and see Seafood Bisque on the menu.  Their version is often made with lobster, but I think that (more economical) Shrimp Bisque is just as tasty.  And it’s easy to make with the simple shortcut I’m sharing today!

You see most recipes on the internet have you make a stock for the soup using the shrimp shells.  But that’s extra work and honestly you aren’t going to get a ton of extra flavor from a handful of shells. 

Instead, by using a premade seafood stock (or oyster liquor or clam juice), you actually start with a richer base.  Even better, this streamlines the preparation of the soup. 

Who’s in!  Read more

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