Taco Baked Spaghetti Squash

Wow, we have been gone all summer, so I have 
been MIA for blogging.  We were home a week 
and then gone a week, and it seemed like there 
was just enough time to unpack, do a little gardening 
and cleaning, and then repack.
But I did keep the garden going, as a matter of fact,
it was my best garden ever.  This spot that never 
does very well was chosen for spaghetti squash, 
and wow, that plant has taken over and produced 
some of the biggest spaghetti squash I have 
ever seen.  
So I decided to try something new with the spaghetti 
squash, and it is so delicious. I hope you try it.

First cut the squash in half and clean out the seeds.  
Then brush olive oil on it and place it cut side down 
on a baking sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees for 45-55 
minutes, or until fork tender.  Let it cool a little and then 
shred the insides with a fork.  

Add the spaghetti squash to your prepared taco mix.
Taco Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe
1 lb. hamburger
2 pkg. taco mix
1 C. water
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 C. frozen corn
1 whole spaghetti squash, cooked
1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese

Brown the hamburger and drain the grease.  Then add 
the taco seasoning and water and cook 5 minutes.  Stir in 
the beans and corn and heat through.  Gently stir in the 
cooked spaghetti squash.  Refill the spaghetti squash 
halves.  You may have some left over.  Top with cheese 
and bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until heated through.  

This makes such a fun summer into fall dish.
Hope your gardens are bounteous too.
Thanks for visiting Purple Chocolat Home!!!

Summer is in Bloom Tablescape

It is a beautiful sunny day, finally, after 

all of our rain.  We wondered if summer would 

ever arrive. 

Welcome to my first tablescape of the summer out 

on our back deck.  

I had to celebrate the gorgeous blooms before 

they were all gone.  

I decided to use my wonderful bowls and plates 

that look like flower petals.  I got these years 

ago at Home Goods.  They are still some of 

my favorites, although they don't stack well.

I started with square wooden chargers from Pier 1, 

then topped it with a pink plate from Home Goods, 

and a white plate from Tai Pan, finishing it off 

with the flower plates and bowls.

I used my cute flower spreaders that my DIL gave 

me last year for Mother's Day and paired it with 

simple gold flatware that I have had for years.

The tablecloth is a rose design and the napkin 

follows the theme with a simple twist of a silk flower stem.

I used my mother's pink stemware paired with 

my bubble glasses. 

The peonies were beautiful this year, but I only got a few.  

These Fire and Ice roses are my favorite and they 

loved the cold rainy weather.  I had an abundance 

of these.

I had to show you our views - 

Mountain Timpanogos to the north, 

and Squaw Peak to the east.  The snow is usually gone 

by July 4th, but we had so much snow this year, 

which we needed.  

I am glad I could share my pretties before they 

all disappear.  Thanks for coming to visit.

I will be posting this with

Tablescapes Thursday

Dishing It and Digging It

Romantic Gazebo Redecoration

Welcome to my romantic She Space!

Rather than a She Shed, I have created this

romantic gazebo - my She Space, in the garden.

The basic structure has been there for 16 years,

and has always had a table in it, and it has

been featured in many of my summer tablescapes.

Here is a picture of what it looked like from day to day

before.

The chandelier was added a few years ago when

the clear crystal one became too rusted.

I guess that was the color inspiration.

Two summers ago it was featured in 

our Mother Daughter Garden Party,

and I brought this hutch down for the serving.

It was also the backdrop for a wedding reception 

a week before that.

You can tell the gazebo is well loved in our garden,

and now it is a romantic, girly spot for sitting

or even napping.

 The tufted pink velvet sofa even folds down into a bed.

The sofa is flanked by a pretty pink garden stool

and a gold and mirrored end table.

I have two antique columns that have been out under

the deck and I moved them in the gazebo.

I added pillows, a shag rug and some

acrylic legged ottomans.

 The hand painted backdrop was left in place, but sheer

curtains were layered over it.  I got the netting panels from IKEA.

I have used them in the gazebo before.  They are so inexpensive, and

come two in a package (around $6 for the package),

and I used 12 panels on the back.  The backdrop has

aged over the years, but it is a great wind break.

 The corners were also draped in netting and tied

off with artificial peonies.

Potted urns flank the front entrance.

 Hubby loves it just as much as I do.  Now he is asking

when we are going to have a party here.

Tonight I added two acrylic chairs in the front corners

but didn't get a picture.

Of course it has sprinkled almost every afternoon

since I got it decorated, but I bought a waterproof

outdoor sofa cover to keep it dry, and I grabbed

the rug and put it in the house.

If you can't get ahold of me, come into the garden.

You may find me here!

Thanks for stopping by to relax in my She Space with me.

I will be bringing my She Space to the

Garden Party with my dear friends

Linda, Liz, and Jann and others.

Mermaids in my Garden

Mermaids are popping up everywhere this week!

Today they are in my garden -

my FAIRY GARDEN, 

and they love getting to be a part of the

action.

My friend Brianne told me that one of our

local nurseries, Cascade Nursery,

 had Mermaid Fairy Garden supplies,

so I headed on over and got the last three

mermaids.  They said they were getting more,

but I haven't been back.

Of course, when I saw the pirate ship with

the shark swimming out of it, I had to

get that for the boys.  I try to include

them in all of the Fairy Garden fun too!

I love this little leave sail boat.

and the Mermaid Wishes and Starfish Kisses

stand.  

We had to have this treasure!

This garden was made in one of my cement

flower pots.  It is so easy to make a fairy garden.

Pick any container or spot and use small rocks,

shells, glass bits and moss to create the areas.

Pop in the darling little fairies and accessories.

You can just picture the grandkids eyes when

they saw this!  I am always trying to make magic

for them, and they thought this was pure magic!

This is definitely my new favorite addition to the

fairy garden.

I will be posting this on

Mosaic Monday

A Frog Prince Table

As soon as I finished sewing my 

Round Ruffled Burlap Tablecloth,

I knew that I would be wanting a

second one for my other table out on

the deck.  

So here it is!  They look so beautiful together,

it just wasn't right to have one all dressed up

and the other one naked.

I was hoping that with the experience of having

made one already that the second one would

go a lot faster, but alas, that didn't happen.  It

took about the same amount of time.

The nice thing was that I didn't have to buy any more

fabric.  I had enough left to make the second one.

Our new Frog Prince (found at Home Goods)

hopped right up on the table and decided

he wanted to enjoy the new tablecloth.

Since, he is a true prince, I set the table with my

favorite crown plates in a simple stack, placing

the crowns at the top.

The bowls finish the stack off, and they

are a pretty crown shape too.

Our Frog Prince is standing right by

his castle to center the table.

It is a beautiful day to have him come and

visit Purple Chocolat Home.

The garden is becoming green and beautiful.

 Just a few white tulips from the garden

to beautify his table.

And of course, what would be more princely,

than pewter goblets!

One of his little Frog Prince friends

were invited to join the tablesetting too.

Two sparkling crown bottles

look pretty on the table.

Glittering napkins and rings fit the

white and silver table setting.

This set of salt and pepper shakes couldn't 

have been more perfect at his royal table.

And the final royal touch to 

His Majesty's table are the

Padova Flatware, which remind me

of a crown.

So glad you came to visit today

and the Prince and I hope you enjoyed 

your stay.

I will be posting this with

Tablescapes Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday

Home Sweet Home