Paramount Granite Blog

Recipe: Queso Blanco Dip

Barb — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:00:29 +0000

Here’s a good recipe to try, I found on Pinterest, if you are one of those people that likes Mexican food. It is easy to make and works great for a party, or gathering with family and friends.

Queso Blanco

Yields: About 2 cups queso

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup white onion, finely diced
1 large jalapeno, seeds and stem removed; finely diced
12 oz white American cheese, shredded
4 oz Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded (don’t use pre-shredded)
1/2 to 1 cup cream, half-and-half, or whole milk
1 – 2 roma tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
1 small bunch cilantro, roughly chopped

Heat the oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Saute the onion and pepper until softened and reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in the shredded cheese and 1/4 cup of the cream. Quickly stir until the cheese is melted. Add the tomatoes, cilantro, and additional cream a little at a time until you reach desired consistency. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, tortillas, or on tacos, burritos, etc.

Enjoy!

Barb

Have A Happy & Safe Memorial Day!

Barb — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:31:07 +0000

Have a Happy & Safe Memorial Day everyone!

Please note that we will be closed on Monday, May 28th in observance of Memorial Day. Please keep those that have died, in your thoughts and prayers, especially our veterans.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Sealing Soapstone…

Barb — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:43:20 +0000

I know I just wrote about soapstone, but our installers took a couple photos at an install the other day, which I wanted to share. Soapstone slabs look lighter in appearance before they are installed. That’s because after installation, they are sealed with a mineral oil. The mineral oil is applied and left on the countertops to oxidize, which may take several days. Sealing with mineral oil is recommended every few weeks for the first year, to enhance the oxidation process after installation. The home owner is typically instructed on how to apply the mineral oil and performs the rest of the process themselves.

Here are a few photos of some soapstone with the first application of mineral oil:

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Can I Cut On My Granite Countertops?

Barb — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:01:18 +0000

A question we hear frequently in our showroom is…

“Can I Cut On My Granite Countertops?”

While this really isn’t that surprising, as many other countertop materials do not recommend it, it still takes me a little off guard because I cut my granite countertops almost every day. I know many suppliers and some fabricators will tell you not to cut on your granite, but it isn’t because it will harm the stone. Cutting on your granite countertops will dull your knives, but if you don’t have a problem with that, than I would go for it. Personally, I just find it easier, many times, to just cut on my granite countertops. Yes—my knives get dull from time to time, but they can be sharpened and using my countertops for cutting makes my working space for cooking bigger, which I like. While this may not be important to everyone, it is nice if you are doing multiple things at once, like chopping a variety of vegetables, cutting meat, and slicing bread. The way I look at it, why wash a cutting board multiple times between preparing several entrees, or dishes if you don’t have to. Again—it is up to you, just don’t get hung up on the idea that you could scratch your granite, as this really is not the case.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Soapstone Kitchens…

Barb — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:29:34 +0000

When most people think of natural stone, for countertops, they usually think of granite, or marble. Soapstone however, is also a fairly popular choice. Soapstone has been used for centuries for tools, sculptures, vases, fireplaces, etc. because it is relatively soft, which makes it a good material for carving. More recently, soapstone has been popular for sinks and countertops. Soapstone is a steatite stone that is primarily composed of the mineral talc, which is rich in magnesium and feels soft and/or soapy to the touch.

Soapstone is a material that is inert and unlike granite, marble and most other natural stones, acids and alkalies won’t affect it. That is why soapstone has been popular in science classrooms and labs over the years. Soapstone is also popular for fireplaces, wood stoves and pizza ovens because it tends to heat quickly and distributes heat evenly.

Soapstone tends to be light gray in appearance and takes on a darker appearance with aging, as it goes through an oxidation process. Sealing with mineral oil is recommended every few weeks for the first year to enhance the oxidation process after installation. Abrasive cleaners such as Ajax are not recommended for this product.

Let’s take a look at a soapstone kitchen:

Soapstone Kitchen installed by PGC

If you are looking for something unique for your countertops and like an aged, or weathered look, soapstone might be a material that is appealing to you. Feel free to stop by our showroom to take look.

Here’s a photo of our current stock:

Soapstone

Thanks for reading!

Barb

White Kitchen Options…

Barb — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:45:18 +0000

While there are many colors available these days for countertops, there are still many consumers that attracted to the color, white, and why not? White portrays a sense of elegance, is neutral and reflects cleanliness and purity. When it comes to granite, there are white options, but none are pure white. Often they will include other tones including gray, black, brown, etc. If you are looking for something a little whiter in a natural stone, you may want to look at marble. Although white marbles will often contain other tones too, there are a few options available that are “more white” including Statuatory White, which is very white.

If you are looking for a very white countertop, you might want to take a look at some engineered stones. Many engineered stones provide a more “pure” white in their product line.

Let’s take a look at a few options:

Difiniti Pearl

Yukon Blanco Silestone

Snow White Dupont Zodiaq

Pure White Caesarstone

Whether you are looking for a white countertop, or some other color in natural stone, or engineered stone, make sure you stop by our showroom and check out our color selections.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Recipe: Asian Chicken Kebabs

Barb — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:48:02 +0000

Here’s a good looking recipe I found on Pinterest, that has my mouth watering. I am going to give it a try this weekend. If you like chicken, sesame and a little heat, you will probably like this one!

Asian Chicken Kebabs

Marinade Ingredients

1/4 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons honey
1-2 teaspoons Sriracha (or other hot sauce)
3 slices fresh ginger root
2 cloves garlic, crushed

Kebabs

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cubed
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 red onion, cut into wedges
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces

In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the soy sauce, oil, honey, Sriracha, ginger root, and garlic. Heat in microwave on medium for 1 minute, then stir. Heat again for 30 seconds, watch closely so it doesn’t boil. Set aside.

2. Thread the chicken, green bell pepper, onion, and red bell pepper pieces onto skewers alternately. Place skewers in a shallow baking dish and cover with marinade. Cover dish and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

3. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill Asian Chicken Kebabs until chicken is just cooked through, turning occasionally, about 9-12 minutes. Serve with rice and asparagus, or another vegetable.

Enjoy!

Barb

Learning Links— Backsplash Options

Barb — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:38:15 +0000

When it comes to designing a kitchen, there are a lot of options to take into consideration. One option that is sometimes overlooked, in the kitchen, is backsplash. Many consumers get so focused on the countertops and cabinets, etc., that they may not consider a backsplash from the start. Backsplash options however, can play a dramatic role in the overall look that you are trying to achieve. Keep in mind that there are literally hundreds of choices available for backsplash options, especially if you are looking for tile. Many consumers, these days, combine both tile and a backsplash that matches their countertops. This option works well to establish a uniform flow from one material to another and also helps in preventing staining on tiles from spills, or splatters when cooking. Full height backsplashes are also quite popular, especially behind stoves and cooktops. A full height backsplash, provides for a consistent flow from the countertop up through the back wall.

Following are a few links I wanted to share that provide some backsplash ideas:

Thanks for reading!

Barb

A Toast With Silver…

Barb — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:56:08 +0000

Today my husband, Chris, and I are celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary. The 25th Wedding Anniversary is considered a milestone by many, as spending a quarter of a century with one person is something to be celebrated and cherished. It is also referred to as the “Silver” Anniversary. In honor of our special day, I thought I would present some silver granites.

So here are a few choices for countertops—and trust me, they will last way longer than 25 years!

Silver Galaxy Granite

Silver Gray Granite

Silver Pearl Granite

Silver Gray Quartz

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Captivate Your Bath With A Capolavaro Granite Vanity…

Barb — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:57:19 +0000

In this blog, I wanted to take a look at a bathroom vanity we recently fabricated and installed using Capolavaro granite. Capolavaro has a unique look with shades of dark chocolate brown. Various other color tones can be seen throughout the stone including green, copper, black and cream. While the stone is dark in nature, it provides an over all neutral look that works well with a variety of wood tones. Notice how the light pine walls and the dark cherry stained alder cabinets work well with this stone. The dark vanity compliments them both.

If you are interested in this color, other darker stones, or want to view other colors available, please make sure you stop by our showroom. We are here to help with all of your selections.

Capolavaro Granite Vanity

Thanks for reading!

Barb