Paramount Granite Blog

Recipe: Black Bean & Corn Enchilada Egg Bake

Here’s a tasty recipe, I came across, that would be good to try for a brunch, or family gathering. It is easy to make and quite tasty.

Black Bean & Corn Enchilada Egg Bake

10 (6-inch) corn tortillas

1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained, rinsed

1 (11-oz.) can vacuum-packed whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained

1 (10 3/4-oz.) can Campbell’s condensed nacho cheese soup

6 eggs

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon cumin

2 oz. (1/2 cup) shredded Cheddar cheese

1/2 red bell pepper, if desired

Grease 13×9-inch (3-quart) baking dish. Arrange 6 tortillas on bottom of greased baking dish, overlapping. Spoon beans and corn evenly over tortillas. Spoon cheese soup evenly over vegetables. Cut remaining 4 tortillas into 1-inch strips; arrange over top. In large bowl, combine eggs, milk and cumin; beat until well blended. Pour over tortilla strips. Cover tightly; refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Heat oven to 325°F. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered for 55 to 60 minutes or until eggs are set. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. To garnish, chop bell pepper and sprinkle over the top. Cut into squares and serve. Top with salsa and sour cream, if desired.

Enjoy!

Barb

Posted in Cooking in your kitchen on March 30th, 2012 by Barb | | 0 Comments

We’ve Got Support Brackets For Your Overhangs…

Many customers are interested in overhangs for their islands, etc., but are not always sure if there will be enough support provided by their cabinets. We often hear, “How much of an overhang can my island have?” While there is no standard answer to that question, we do not recommend an overhang larger than 12″ without some sort of additional support, in most circumstances. At PGC, we recommend an invisible support bracket be used, which we sell and would install.

Invisible Support Bracket

There are also other types of brackets, or corbels that also be used. Keep in mind that there can be limitations on overhang sizes based on the room size, cabinetry, etc. If you have questions in regards to overhangs, please make sure you give us a call, or stop by our showroom.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Posted in Granite, Overhangs on March 28th, 2012 by Barb | | 0 Comments

Granite Defined…

Granite is one of the most popular choices for countertops because of it’s strength, durability and beauty. While granite has become mainstream in remodeling and building over the years, due to these features, some consumers still have questions in regards to the materials formation and composition. Granite is composed of a variety of minerals including quartz, mica, feldspar, and biotitite. By definition, “granite is an igneous rock with at least 20% quartz by volume.” It makes up approximately 75% of the earth’s crust and was formed ages ago when magma (molten rock) cooled. The color of granite depends on the proportion and varieties of minerals in it. Granite comes in a literally hundreds of colors that are found throughout the world.

Let’s take a look at the photo below of a granite island we recently fabricated and installed, which captures the beauty of several minerals.

Vintage Granite Island

Notice the large gray areas, which are quartz. The quartz can be seen throughout the stone and gives the stone depth. This stone also contains black veins, or markings, which are composed of the mineral mica, and give the stone some reflective qualities.

A beautiful island, isn’t it?

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Posted in Granite on March 26th, 2012 by Barb | | 1 Comments

Granite Countertops—Spotlight On Astoria

In this blog, I wanted to focus on the color, Astoria, which is quarried in India.

Astoria Granite

Astoria contains rich, golden tones and offers a warm overall look. Depending on the lot, Astoria may contain areas of quartz that give the stone some depth and interest. If you like golden tones, you might want to check out this color. Astoria would look great in a kitchen for countertops, or in a bathroom for a vanity, or tub surround. You could also warm up a great room, or den with Astoria for a fire place surround.

Here is photo of our current stock:

Astoria Granite

Posted in Spotlight Colors on March 22nd, 2012 by Barb | | 0 Comments

Add Some Warmth To Your Home With Golden Fantasy Granite…

In this blog, I wanted to take a look at kitchen we recently fabricated and installed for a cabin, in the color, Golden Fantasy. This stone captures a “warm and inviting feeling,” and goes great with the cabinet color selection.