Art of Natural Living

Enjoying the Green Life

Strawberry Rhubarb Shrub

By Inger Jun 30, 2024 Beverages, vegan, Vegetarian Recipes 15 Comments

With a sweet-tart fruity flavor, a Strawberry Rhubarb Shrub is a delicious alcohol free beverage or a trendy cocktail.

Today I’m updating an old recipe that has just come back into my life. In abundance.

You see about a year ago, I tested as pre-diabetic. And after some simple lifestyle changes, my new test results came back… worse!

Which means it’s time to get serious. No more beers around the campfire or sweet cocktails on the deck. Yup, it’s time for some tasty alternatives.

So, bring me–a shrubbery! Okay, not a bush like Monty Python’s King Arthur sought. I’ll just have a nice strawberry rhubarb shrub beverage. Delicious without alcohol (or with) and lower in carbs, it just might make my summer! Read more

Tasty Chopped Moroccan Salad

By Inger Jun 16, 2024 Cooking & Recipes, Salads 16 Comments

Tasty and nutritious, this unique Moroccan Salad is flavored with curry and lime. Delicious as a complete dinner salad or as a side salad.

Last month my husband and I took a really fun road trip! We drove all the way from Wisconsin out to Seattle to visit our daughter and son-in-law. About 5000 miles in all!

We made lots of really fun stops along the way–at places like Badlands and Yellowstone National Park. And we got to spend a few fun days visiting in Seattle. Follow my Instagram for the upcoming travel reels if you’re interested!

Now one of the food highlights of the trip was a Moroccan Salad they served us. From the restaurant Green and the Grain in Minneapolis by way of the So Glad You Liked It blog, they changed it slightly and I changed it a little more.

Their addition was some chicken, which was great for making it a complete dinner salad. Then I swapped out the couscous for healthier wheat berries and omitted the pita chips for some additional carb reduction. Finally, I used pistachios instead of sliced almonds to add back some crunch in place of the pita chips. Read more

Hearty White Whole Wheat Biscuits

By Inger Jun 10, 2024 Breads & Muffins, Breakfast 12 Comments

White Whole Wheat Biscuits are just as tasty as the original but made with whole grain. Quick and easy, mix them up in no time, while your coffee brews!

Carbs take a lot of abuse. Which is why I decided to try making biscuits from scratch using white whole wheat flour. As nutritious as regular whole wheat (see below), it has a lighter flavor which is perfect!

Now, it had been a while since I made homemade biscuits–and I’d forgotten how doable it was. Just mix up in a food processor, knead a couple times, cut, and bake! Easy-peasy!

Of course no sooner did I have this done than I spotted a NEJM report about the health benefits of whole grain. “The highest dietary fiber intake was associated with a 15% to 31% reduction in mortality, coronary heart disease (CHD), colorectal cancer, and type 2 diabetes… Higher whole grain intake provided similar benefits, while a low-glycemic-index diet did not.”

Sounds good to me! Read more

Tasty Homemade Fudgesicle

By Inger Jun 1, 2024 Cooking & Recipes, Desserts & Snacks 10 Comments

Creamy, chocolatey and frosty, a Homemade Fudgesicle is a delicious summer dessert or snack. And so easy to make at home!

Okay guys. I admit it took me a few tries to get this right.

You see, I’m from Wisconsin–and we’re picky about our ice cream. And while technically this isn’t ice cream, it’s still a frozen dairy product. And that means I’m not giving you a bar of ice crystals. Not a chance.

So four tries later, I think it’s creamy and delicious. Yes, it’s not quite as light as the commercial fudgesicle. But then I don’t use any ingredients that you can’t identify without a degree in food chemistry!

I’ll take it! Read more