Art of Natural Living

Enjoying the Green Life

Mini Key Lime Pie Tartlets

By Inger Mar 8, 2026 Desserts & Snacks 8 Comments

Mini Key Lime Pie is a special treat–and it’s deceptively easy to make! With or without meringue, these cute tartlets are perfect for Pi Day, or any time.

Hooray, it’s almost Pi Day! I am always excited because pie is one of my favorite desserts! And while it can sometimes feel intimidating, many pies are super easy to make. For example these Mini Key Lime Pie Tartlets.

Yes, all you do is squeeze lime juice, mix with a couple other ingredients and bake (briefly) in a (pre-made) graham cracker crust. So simple, it even falls into the 5-ingredient recipe category!

And today I’m also giving you an option to take it to the next level by adding a meringue pie topping if you’d like. You can even make the Pi symbol with meringue! But with or without meringue, this pie is totally going to be a hit.

Homemade Trail Mix

By Inger Feb 28, 2026 Desserts & Snacks 5 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!

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 5 Comments

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!

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!

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!

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