Art of Natural Living

Enjoying the Green Life

Tropical Blue Hawaii Cocktail

By Inger Jun 12, 2025 Beverages, Summer 9 Comments

With the beautiful blue color of a tropical sky, this Blue Hawaii Cocktail is tasty, refreshing and a perfect summer drink.

I can’t remember where it was, but the family was sitting on a restaurant patio, drinking tropical cocktails. My daughter ordered something called a Blue Hawaii, and everyone was awestruck by the color. It tasted good too!

The menu told me that the drink owed its brilliance to Blue Curacao, an orange flavored liqueur. Tasting of bitter orange (similar to Triple Sec), it hails from the island of Curacao and comes in additional colors including red, green and orange. Just for fun!

The addition of rum, vodka and pineapple juice complete the vibe to create a fun tropical cocktail.

Cause who’s ready to celebrate summer! Read more

Frosty Bourbon Slush

By Inger Jun 8, 2025 Beverages 12 Comments

Frosty, citrusy, sweet, and boozy, a Bourbon Slush is a frozen drink that’s easy to make in advance. Rock your summer cocktail hour.

I don’t know why, after so many years, I recently started thinking about my mother’s Brandy Slush again. I even texted my siblings to see if either of them had the recipe.

A favorite party beverage back in the 70s, Mom would make up a giant tray then scoop out glassfuls as party guests conversed on the patio. Similar to today’s Bourbon Slush, the refreshing frozen drink was always the hit of a summer party!

So it must have been fate when my daughter and I went to Mackinac Island over Memorial Day, popped into Mary’s Bistro Draught House and found they were serving up Bourbon Slushies.

Even better, the bartender confided that they were made simply of Orange Juice, Lemonade, Sweet Tea and Bourbon. Yup, can’t argue when life gives you a Bourbon Slush, complete with ingredient list! Read more

Goat Cheese, Caramelized Onion Pizza with Pears

By Inger Jun 7, 2025 Appetizers, Main Dish 16 Comments

Goat Cheese and Caramelized Onion Pizza with Pears serves up a unique flavor combo that is delicious both as a tasty appetizer or fun dinner.

Pizza is a favorite food and for good reason–it’s always a crowd-pleaser! From family mealtime to college exam break to late night tech team meal, it’s one of life’s major comfort foods, as well as a favorite practical dish!

And I especially appreciate that pizza is delicious with a wide variety of toppings. Go classic with cheese and sausage for dinner. Or get creative by making a White Seafood Pizza or today’s Goat Cheese Caramelized Onion Pizza with Pears. No boredom here!

I created this pizza a few years back to use up a cupboard full of onion jam–a caramelized-onion-like condiment. And at the time I wrote,

The pizza was a great success in our household–except for my youngest who took just one piece, then ate it entirely with a wrinkled up nose. Daughter #2 actually asked if I could make a second pizza, and declared that if I kept cooking foods like this, it would be hard for her to go away for college. I told her that I’d be sure to make some bad things too.

While we sometimes eat this pizza for dinner, I think it really shines as an appetizer. Yes, cut it into 2-inch squares and watch your guests go wild! Read more

Spicy Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Veggies

By Inger May 31, 2025 Main Dish, Poultry 6 Comments

Spicy Peanut Noodles (with Chicken and Vegetables) is tasty and balanced, with an Asian-inspired sauce and lots of veggies.

This summer I’m on a mission to streamline my cooking. And I knew right away that the popular Meal Prep wasn’t the answer since I tend to be impulsive when dinner time arrives. Yes, if I don’t feel like burgers, I’m not making burgers.

But give me a dish that is tasty served hot, and then delicious served cold as leftovers, and I’m all over it. Especially if the recipe is a complete meal by itself, like these Spicy Peanut Noodles (or my recent French Lentil Salad).

Doused in an Asian-inspired spicy peanut sauce, it makes getting your 5-a-day (servings of fruit and vegetables) realistic–and delightful. Read more