Tuesday, February 26, 2013

St. George Homeshow 2013 and Tablescape


Welcome to St. George, Utah, - known as Utah's Dixie
because of its lovely weather year round.  
St. George is just
four hours south of where we live, but while it
can be blustering and snowing in February at home,
a short four hour drive south and it is 40 degrees warmer
and they have palm trees swaying in the breeze.


St. George is surrounded by red rock canyons and deserts
and the scenery is stunning.  Snow birds flock here.
We always take advantage of coming here in the
late winter to go to the annual homeshow.

The architecture here is unique and reflects the
fabulous scenery capturing the stunning views and
the colors of the rocks.





We only had a day and a half to see a few of the homes

so we picked a few of the biggest ones.

I wanted to share a little of it with you.


Of course, when I saw this beautiful purple and yellow
barscape in one of the homes, I had to shoot photos of it.

Excuse the glare of the lights, I didn't dare ask them to 
turn them off so I could get blog-worthy photos!!


They choose such unique colors for the granites here, often
reflecting the roughness of the terrain as in the edge of
this counter.  This is a soft natural color of granite,
but oranges and yellows and reds are often the choice,
 echoing the red rocks in the natural landscape here.




I love the layering of the naturals and the sparkles with
the iridescent charger and the dark natural salad plate.


It is set off perfectly with this fabulous beaded napkin ring.  
Look at those beads in the center.  This is just beautiful.


The glass is a crackled amethyst which was softly colored 
and went so well with the place setting.


This captures a better view of that salad plate. 
 Isn't that a wonderful shape?




Here is a view looking across the bar.


I love the rustic flatware.  
St. George has developed its own architectural style
really developed and promoted by Jim Thompson (JDThompson
Architects and Designers).
It features lots of stone, and metal and is a modern desert
feel with a touch of rustic.


I love this sink.


How about this free standing tub with a twist?
  It sits on a polished oval wooden platform and has a ledge of
granite supported by metal pipes surrounding it.  You are seeing
the shower which is behind it and the reflection of people
admiring it in the glass.  This was really unique.


The homeshow homes are always filled with such
fabulous craftsmanship.  It is definitely eye candy.


But it is the outdoor living that brings people here with the stunning
weather and views.


Now there is a view from the master bed with a waterfall and
stream to set it off.

Hope you enjoyed a little of the St George 2013 Homeshow 
with us.

I will be posting this with






Monday, February 25, 2013

Rolodoodle Pizzookies with Dulce de Leche Caramel Sauce


Desserts to share are a favorite here at
Purple Chocolat Home
and 
Pizzookies
(a cookie made in a skillet or small pan, served warm out of the oven)
are the perfect dessert to share.  
I received my pans as a gift but have seen them
in stores.  I found them on Amazon for you and you can purchase them here.



We love the texture and flavor of Snickerdoodles but
wanted to up the flavor, so I decided to add chopped
Mini Rolos, thus the name Rolodoodles.


I find the Mini Rolos at Wal Mart.  They are perfect for 
baking or snacking.

Rolodoodles
(This is a variation of Betty Crocker's Snickerdoodles.)

1 C. butter
1 1/2 C. sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 C. flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
3- 2.5 oz pkg. Mini Rolos, chopped
(you can substitute regular Rolos)

In large mixing bowl cream together the butter, sugar and eggs.
Blend in the flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt.  
Mix in the chopped Rolos.

Spread cookie dough in the bottom of Pizzookie pans
or small round tins, pressing down evenly.

Place pans on a large baking sheet and
bake Pizzookie pans at 350 for 20 minutes.
You want the dough just barely cooked, even a little
undercooked.

Remove from oven and top with 3 scoops of
ice cream, whipped cream and caramel sauce.

The Dulce de Leche Caramel Sauce is extra dark and rich.
It's rich flavor was perfect and is so quick to whip up.  It
beats anything in a jar.

Dulce de Leche Caramel Sauce

1/2 C. butter
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. light Karo Syrup
1-14 oz. can Dulce de Leche (La Lechera)

Melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in the remaining
ingredients.  Heat until melted and blended.  Serve warm


Serve them warm out of the oven with at least 3 or 4 spoons!
 The cookie is wet in the center and so ooey gooey good!




Sunday, February 17, 2013

I Believe In Fairies And Their Fairy Dust

I have been in love with fairies for ages
and everything about them.



When I discovered and fell in love with La Table de Nana
I realized she was also a fan of fairies.
Everything about Monique's blog has a touch
of magic to it.



Every time I use my cursor on her beautiful
blog, I am reminded of the magic of fairies
so I decided to Google how to add fairy dust
to my cursor.

Step by step instructions were given
by Jayeesh
and she even gave the codes for changing
the color of the fairy dust which is important
if you have a light colored background like I do.
Click here for the color codes.


I can't wait until the garden fairies return to my garden.
I captured all of these images in past summers.

I hope if you are a believer in fairies, this will help you too.
I will be posting with
Tips and Tutorials

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day 2013



Hope your Valentine's Day is 
filled with 
sweet things!


Whether it is chocolates or bling bling,


or some of the sweetest things of all,


I hope you have a wonderful day!
(Just a note - nibbling on those cheeks is just as
sweet as nibbling on chocolates and a lot less fattening!
That is Baby Jacquelyn, but all the other grands are 
just as delicious.)

Lots of love from,
Purple Chocolat Home
posting with

Monday, February 11, 2013

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival - Midwinter Conference


The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival
is one of the biggest
storytelling festivals in the United States and they host
a Midwinter Conference that took place this last week.
Storytellers travel from all over the nation to attend this
event.

I was asked to have three of the storytellers stay at our
home for the weekend.

They are from left to right, Anthony from Virginia,
Fran from Oklahoma and Jane from Illinois.



It was their first time to Utah for all three of them so we
surprised them with a box of See's chocolates
on their beds.

Anthony was so grateful as he mentioned they couldn't get
See's back east.


We happened to be hosting another event that weekend
with a pizza party for a church group so we kept
the fire going and served them two savory pizzas
and one dessert pizza as they returned from 
13 hours of Conference and Concert.


The final night we gathered by the fireplace in the living room
and indulged in this fabulous 
Chocolate Dome
from a local bakery and restaurant, Kneaders.

They were such a delight to host and we hope
they remember their stay with us with fondness.



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Grandkid's Valentine's Day Party


Valentine's Day used to just be for my sweetheart and me
but as the kids grew, they wanted in on the party too.


How can you blame them as the house gets decorated and 
filled with hearts and candy galore?


This year we decided to make it special for all of the little
kiddies too.


We set the table simply -  filled with red and hearts
starting with a heart shaped placemat, a red plate and red flatware,


and of course we had to have candy,


and more candy.


We even broke out the cloth napkins for them.


One of my children's favorite items on a fancy table
was to have candles lit, so we lit
these fun heart candle holders I got a couple
of years ago.


It's always pretty hard to keep the candles lit, but I
guess that is part of the fun - to blow the candles out.


I also have this large heart shaped candle holder,
but it didn't look quite right with the plain candle
it came with.


So I had to pop in a red votive candle holder.  
This grand candle holder is a new purchase this year.


How exciting it was for them to see their own table.

Of course, some didn't eat much but the chocolate
hearts, but IT IS GRANDMA'S HOUSE!!




A cake pedestal filled with Little Debbie's cakes was
a hit also.


The whole meal was a no work meal -
Pizza Delivery
Pop
Valentine's Cakes and Candies.


The cake was served on this fun red cake pedestal that I
bought for this Christmas and never even thought about
it for Valentine's Day.


They were really taken with these cups and the
low handle.  I had two miniature ones for the
little 3 year old and 2 1/2 year old.


It was really fun, but that wasn't all.....


That was followed up with a 
first ever sleepover
 for all six of them
(the two infants stayed with their parents.)

We lined up all six of them up on sleeping pads
and had a little toy on their pad for them.

Grandma slept right by them in the hallway in case
anyone needed me during the night.

Of course, they want to do it again soon!


The next morning we had the parents come over for a
breakfast of Stuffed French Toast and Bacon.
(I will have to do a post on that recipe.  It is
one of our favorite breakfast foods.)

  The kids had fun wearing Grandma's dress ups.


Happy Valentine's Day to a bunch of sweeties.

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