Not very many people know about this trail, and it’s a real gem! It’s actually a spur trail that starts about 1 mile from Granite Park Chalet on the Highline Trail , (you can also reach this lookout via the loop trail that leads up to the Granite Park Chalet). The trail is about 1 mile from the Highline Trail to the top of the overlook, but trust me, 1 mile never seemed so long!...

Easy to make, this Mashed Butternut Squash is the perfect winter side dish. It’s wonderful served with simple main dishes like chicken or pork chops. But it’s also great to add to your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table. Keep it super simple by adding a touch of butter and cream, or try my variations with some garlic and rosemary or sage. We love all sorts of mashed vegetables in this house, from Mashed Potatoes , Mashed Sweet Potatoes , to Mashed Cauliflower ....

I teased you a while back with a picture of these right around Christmas time, and I fully intended to get you the recipe right away. But… I got distracted with these Flourless Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins and then there was some Chocolate Fudge Skillet Cake . And somehow 10 weeks flew by, so you’ll have to accept my full apologies for making you wait so long! These brownies are definitely different than the usual, and for normal brownies be sure and check out my flourless Brownie recipe ....

I love getting recipe requests from you guys, I feel like it helps me to be more creative, and it’s definitely required some thinking outside the box at times! Around New Year’s I got a request for a ‘casserole-like dish packed with protein and veggies’, and here it finally is in all it’s spring-y deliciousness! Seared chicken thighs bake together with veggies and herbs d’ Provence, with a little fresh lemon juice and asparagus added in towards the end of the baking time for crisp-tender spears!...

The beginnings of this recipe started off like most of my recipes, with a surplus of produce. We like to try and buy it in bulk when we can because it’s a great way to save money when you’re trying to eat more fruits and veggies. So in this case, I had 10 pounds of pears, and just 2 people to eat them. My go-to recipe is always my Ginger Pear Green Smoothie ....

Baked eggs are so easy, I mean you can make them with your eyes closed/barely peeled open on a Saturday morning! You can throw them together in 5 minutes flat – no exaggeration, and they taste like you’ve slaved away to make this amazing brunch! There are so many variations of this dish floating around – every country seems to have it’s own version with different ingredients and spices. I knew that Italian style would be the way to go for us because we love the flavors of Italian food....

We’re definitely in the middle of spring around here, one day it’s all fresh tasting quinoa salads and sunshine, and the next it’s raining and I’m baking Double Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies – but… what can you do but enjoy the ride? I actually love spring, maybe it’s because the winters around here are rather long, but the first produce of spring fills me with more ambition in the kitchen than the last several months combined!...

This Strawberry Cobb Salad is the perfect early-summer dinner, topped with grilled chicken and a mustard vinaigrette. If you’d like to add cheese, the classic blue cheese or even feta is really great with this. Strawberries in a salad are always a good bet. Every time I put them in any salad, I always wonder why I don’t use them more often. They’re also great in the spring while you wait for tomato season....

Where do you even begin to start when you’re planning a trip? For us, we like to start with brainstorming, which is always the fun part, where everything seems possible on your grand upcoming adventure. But from there you really need to start putting together the logistics. So I hope today’s post on our tips for traveling in Iceland will help you if you’re planning a trip there, but also for any trip you might take....

I make smoothies almost everyday with all kinds of combinations, but every once in a while I make one that I could drink everyday, and that’s when you get the recipe! This smoothie is one of those exceptional combos, and it’s so good I could drink it for dessert! I always know a recipe is ‘a go’ so to speak when I find myself talking out loud to myself about how good it is – good thing there’s no one to hear me self endorse!...

These Almond Flour Cranberry Orange Muffins are easy to make, perfectly moist, and gluten-free. The classic cranberry-orange combo is so tasty in the colder months and great for festive occasions. They can also be made ahead and frozen to make holiday or weekend breakfasts even easier. They’re simply loaded with fresh cranberries but not too tart thanks to the maple syrup that pairs perfectly with the orange. Then to top them off there’s a refined sugar-free orange glaze that rounds out the flavors....

This Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Chicken Soup is just the thing when you’re not feeling as well because it’s packed with immune boosting goodies, and loaded with vegetables! This soup is my favorite kind of cozy because it’s packed with vegetables, but full of flavor. Plus, what’s more cozy than a chicken soup? Well, for me, the answer is chicken soup with an Asian twist – just add some garlic, ginger, and turmeric, and I can’t stop eating it!...

Easy to make, this Apple Cider Chicken is the perfect skillet dinner paired with the Best Mashed Potatoes . It’s a family-friendly favorite, but looks gorgeous enough for entertaining as well. It’s naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. The sweetness of the apples goes wonderfully with the onions and rosemary, and it’s all complemented by a little honey mustard glaze. Apple season always brings joy to my heart every fall when countless varieties begin to arrive....

The traditional Caprese Salad is a flavor inspiration for so many dishes in our house. The trio of vine ripe summer tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil simply can’t be beat! And while I’m not sure that anything can come close to the original classic, this burger really is outrageously good. Chopped fresh basil infuses the burger which sits perched atop a grilled portabello and sliced red onion. The mozzarella gets all melty delicious in the last few minutes of grilling, and the whole thing is topped off with fresh tomatoes and basil, with a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar....

Our local Flathead cherries are in season right now, and they’re making their way into everything from breakfast to dessert. Every year I buy at least 10 pounds just for eating, but after I’ve gotten my fill, I start creating recipes to capitalize on the sweetest cherries I’ve ever tasted. And… since my love of smoothie breakfast bowls hasn’t slowed down in the least, it follows from simple logic there would be a cherry version....

Easy to make and creamy, this Chicken Broccoli Soup is a one-pot comfort food meal. It’s naturally gluten-free with 2 dairy-free options as well. It’s quick to put together with cozy simple flavors that will keep you coming back for more. So try this healthy dinner option the whole family will love. The leftovers reheat perfectly for lunches, and we even love it for breakfast as well. I’m back with another soup by popular request!...

Easy to make and packed with flavor, this Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette copycat recipe is perfect for so many Mexican-inspired dinners. Try this vinaigrette over a salad, burrito bowl, tacos, or quesadillas to add even more flavor. Or try making it into Chipotle’s ‘secret sauce’ version below that isn’t on the menu at Chipotle, but makes everything taste amazing! This vinaigrette also works as a dipping sauce or a marinade for chicken or pork....

I’ve always loved the smell of orange and vanilla together. It must go back to my childhood love of creamsicle popsicles and orange sherbet. So I knew I wanted to create a body lotion with those poignant smells in mind. I was also thinking of natural ways to make it a nice golden color, when I finally came up with the idea of adding a calendula tisane to the mix....

Do you ever feel like your life is way out of balance? Hello… my name is Kari and I’m a workaholic, and you know what… life has a way of egging me on. I’m working on some balance in life but it sure doesn’t come naturally at all, I’ve always tended towards the extremes even when I’m not working. Case in point: I was talking to my mom about her upcoming trip to Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon, and she was saying she wanted a good solid day after she came back from vacation to get life in order before going back to work....

These Garlic Butter Mushrooms are a super easy and versatile side dish that can make an ordinary dinner seem special. They’re naturally gluten-free with dairy-free and vegan options as well. Try adding them to everything from freshly cooked pasta, or to your next steak night. These Garlic Butter Mushrooms are definitely not another boring side dish. In fact, they quickly become the star of the show, they’re just so flavorful....