Autumnal decor ideas to help you achieve hygge | Heart of the Home Edmonton Autumn is one of my favourite times of the year. Why? One word - cozy. Or, as the Danish and Norwegians like to call it “Hygge.” Most of you have probably heard that word before, as it completely blew up the internet last year! Hygge is a word to describe the feeling of comfort, coziness, utter contentment and wellness. There’s no better time to immerse yourself in the world of Hygge, especially as the crisp winds blow through Edmonton and the river valley around us turns orange and red. I’ve been slowly trying to create a sense of Hygge at my own home, and what I’ve found is that one of the easiest places to do it is in the heart of the home. How do you plan on making your home more cozy this year? Let us know and tag us in your photos! @heartofthehomeyeg #HeartoftheHomeYEG Candles. Turn out your lights and fire up candles instead. Seriously. I think this is the easiest way to evoke that sense of comfort and warmth in your home. I have candles in almost every room of my home and switch out the scents with the season. Right now you’ll find fall flavours like pumpkin pie, and vanilla. Check out Heart of the Home where we carry an assortment of Wrendale Designs candles with adorable animals on the tin containers, or Thymes scents of all kinds. It’s also been a wonderful addition to add Michel Designs Fall Harvest line throughout the home. Their foaming hand soaps are heavenly! 
Wood. I’ve been inspired by Scandi-design aspects like incorporating wood in the living room and kitchen. Toss some fruit in a wooden basket and place it on your kitchen island, or throw a blanket and some magazines in a wicker basket for a nice and cosy touch in the living room. I also like displaying my assortment of wooden cutting boards on my kitchen counter as if they are precious art. It’s a great way to warm up your space and you most likely have those items in your home already. 
Pumpkins. It’s not autumn without pumpkins and gourds of all shapes, sizes and colours! Whether real or fake, if there’s a pumpkin in the room it brings a nice pop of colour to a space and evokes that sense of warmth. It’s also a fun DIY activity to have some fun by painting them in neutral colours like white and pastel green. You might want to add a little more pizazz by glueing pearls or diamonds down the sides. 
Neutral earth tones and pops of colour. Like I mentioned with the pumpkins, neutral, earth tones certainly amp up the hygge atmosphere in your home. Our stock of Le Creuset cooking products come in a variety of colours including volcanic orange, cerise red, and meringue which look fantastic as accent pieces on a countertop or on an open shelf in your kitchen. 
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 The school year has started back up and while you have probably already stocked up on binders, notebooks and pencils, you can't forget to add some of our favourite kitchen tools and lunch packing necessities to your back-to-school shopping list. Heart of the Home, located in downtown Edmonton, has all of the things you need to help make your hectic weekday mornings easier and a heck of a lot less stressful! Don't forget to check out our quick and easy lunch tips and recipes while you're here! Breakfast Served Funny Side Up
The kids are sure to chow down on breakfast in the mornings with Fred's FunnySide Up dog and cat Egg Molds. Meal Prepping Made EasyPacking lunches is a breeze when you have the right storage solutions. Stasher bags come in all shapes, sizes and colours. If you're a fan of meal prepping, organize the colours by day of the week (orange for Monday, blue for Tuesday, green for Wednesday etc...), this way the kids can grab the day's colour from the fridge and toss it in their lunch bags on the way out the door. If you pack different items for each child (Egg salad sandwich for Bella, and chicken salad for Spencer) you could assign each kid a colour of Stasher bag, that way they know which items are theirs to take!
 Save It For LaterSave it for later, with Now Designs Save-It bowl covers. Eliminate the need for plastic wrap by introducing reusable covers for leftovers, batter and more. The lining prevents moisture from escaping and keeps food happy. Remove, machine wash, and repeat.  Cold Packs = Cold SnacksKeep lunches, or after school snacks cold all day with this funky Avocado hot/cold pack. It can also be heated in the microwave!  Healthy Lunches Are A Breeze Salads in a jar - the easiest healthy lunch ever! With Kilner's snack on the go jar you can store just about anything, but our personal favourite it to layer our favourite salad recipes. There's even a holder attached to lid for dressing. Other uses include, celery and dip, or pita and hummus. The Underrated Lunch Bag Essential Sporks! We think sporks are the most underrated tool. The spoon, fork, knife combo is the easiest thing to throw in a lunch bag because there is nothing worse than bringing a fork when you needed a spoon.
 This month we celebrate our 3rd birthday, and it only feels suiting to introduce you to our founder/owner, Katryna, who will tell you how Heart of the Home started, share insights about what it's like being an entrepreneur and dive into some of her favourite kitchen tools and must-haves! Q: When and why did you decide you wanted to open Heart of the Home? A: It all started when I was a university student and working at Call The Kettle Black, a kitchenware store here in Edmonton's High Street. In early 2015, Gord, part owner of CTKB, had let me know that they were planning on closing the store that had been open for two-decades, and put the bug in my ear that I could potentially take over the business. I immediately set out and began to do my research and put together a business plan, but Darcy Kaser, the other owner, later decided that he wanted to close and retire the Call The Kettle Black name and story. Given that I had always dreamed of owning my own business, being my own boss and creating a connection with people, it only seemed right to take my research and open my own store. That dream became a reality in July of 2016, less than a year after CTKB closed their doors. Q: Why did you choose to open a kitchenware store? A: I had loved every single second of of working Call the Kettle Black. From the relationships that I built with the customers, the products we carried, the staff, and owners. It was such an amazing experience and learning opportunity. Once CTKB closed, I knew that High Street and the 124 street community needed a new kitchen store, plus I just love cooking and wanted to share my passion with others! Q: What did you do prior to becoming an entrepreneur? A: I was in university studying for my BA - Psychology Major and Education Minor, and I was also a manger at CTKB while in school
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I spend most of my free time with my two Great Danes – Duchess (4yo) and Luna (1.5yo) who is my newest addition to my family. We love going to the dog park and enjoy walking in the river valley. They are super cuddle bugs and the lights of my life! I also love cooking for friends and family. I enjoy a good wine and cheese night or a summer BBQ. My house is always open for friends and family! They are the lucky ones that get to be the guinea pigs for any new recipes I cook up! I also play Slo-pitch in the summer. Q: What is your favourite thing to cook? A: Now that is a very hard question! I have to break it down haha!
Q: What is the most underrated kitchen tool? A: I couldn't pick just one!
Q: What is your favourite food? A:
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 Here are the 6 best Eco-Friendly kitchen products as seen in the Tomato MagazineGoing green in your kitchen doesn't have to be a difficult task. Here are 6 products that will help you reduce, reuse and recycle. BONUS, you can get them all right now at Heart of the Home. 1. Cover Blubber - $30
2. Full Circle Walnut Shell Scouring Pad - $7 3. Reusable Straws, Sillicon and Stainless Steel - $10-$22 4. Joseph Joseph Go Eat Cutlery Set - $25.50 5. Swedish Dish Cloths - $7 6. Stasher Bags - $13-$30 For more eco-friendly kitchen tips read about the 5 ways you can green-ify your kitchen.  Hit it out of the park this father's day with a gift that is absolutely perfect your dad! Every year, we find that shopping for Father's Day is either extremely easy or ridiculously difficult. Dad will never tell you what he actually wants so it becomes a giant guessing game. This year, we've made Father's Day gift shopping easy by providing with a gift guide of things every dad will love.
Has your dad been watching a ton of the Food Network lately? Maybe, you've noticed that he's pulling out some new fancy moves - a la Chef Gordon Ramsay? Why not get him putting those new skills to work by giving him a gift that keeps on giving? The Epicurean hexagon cutting board and board butter, and Zwilling 8" professional chef's knife are perfect for any inexperienced and veteran chefs alike. If your dad's favourite thing to cook is a classic grilled cheese sandwich, help him up his game with the "Grilled Cheese and Beer" cook book which is fill with simple, delicious, hoppy recipes. Happy hour just got a lot more tasty!
Help dad get creative in the kitchen with the ultimate essential kit for homemade pizza! There seriously is no better way to spend a weekend than with the family customizing your pizza's and seeing whose tasted the best - presentation points are a bonus! I don't think I know of a dad who isn't thrilled when it comes to grilling. Gift him with these cheeky grilling items that even mom will approve of. Still not sure what to get for dad? There's so much more in store! Pop by Heart of the Home in Edmonton's High Street, just one block east of 124 street (the popular shopping destination) and a block north of Jasper avenue, and our wonderful staff will be more than happy to help you find the perfect gift. See you soon!   Ahhh, yes, the sweet, sweet sound of summer: Steaks sizzling on the BBQ, glasses clinking, the fire pit crackling, and a hum of laughter. One of the best ways to soak up the summer time fun is by giving your living room a break and taking the party outdoors! Having the perfect evening under the stars isn't as hard as it seems, just follow our tips!  Go Wild With a Charcuterie Board We LOVE charcuterie boards. They are a crowd pleaser and SO easy to make! Pick your favourite meats, any cheeses of your choice, toss on some olives, pickles, crackers, apples, grapes and anything else your heart desires. And as an added touch, make little signs to mark what each item is. Infuse Your H20 We'll say it, drinking plain water is boring. Amp it up with a bit of infusion fun! Much like the charcuterie board you can add what ever you'd like to your water. Below are a few of our favourite mixtures:
Choose Acrylic or Plastic Wares Just because you are having an outdoor party doesn't mean you have to go out and purchase 100 red solo cups. But you also don't need reach for your expensive glass wares. Pick acrylic or plastic in a fun colour and style to amp up your table scape, and keep your expensive glass ware from getting broken.  Mix Up Your Seating Options We like to mix up our seating options for two reasons: The first is to create different spaces for your guests to mix and mingle. The second is because it's more comfortable and looks so much nicer than spreading out a bunch of lawn chairs on the grass.
New in at Heart of the Home - we have an amazing assortment of Turkish styled rugs! Have Fun with Colours Spice up the space with colurful tables cloths, napkins, pillows and blankets. Don't worry about following a specific colour scheme just have fun with it! This will create a more home-y, comfortable feeling.  Create a Drink Station We love to set up a little "help yourself" kind of bar situation. Include cups, straws, ice, punch and alcoholic and non alcoholic options. It's always nice to provide coffee and tea to help warm up and wake up your guests during the later hours. Be sure to stop by the store and ask us about Seedlip Drinks - The world's first distilled alcoholic spirit! End the Night Perfectly End off the alfresco evening perfectly with smores around the fire while you stargaze! Bonus - if you want to provide your guests with a little takeaway, take 1 giant graham cracker, 1 large marshmallow and a few peices of chocolate, wrap them in cellophane and tie it in a bow. Add a a little tag that says "S'more for Later" and hand them out as your guests depart!
Head over to Heart of the Home for all of your outdoor entertaining needs! Come over! We're Open: Monday - Saturday: 10am-5:30pm Sunday: 12pm-4pm  Cooking and non cooking gifts that will light a fire in every Mom's heart This mother’s day, take the opportunity to show your mom how special she is by thinking outside the box with your gift giving. Don’t reach for the flower bouquet and back away from the spa package. Get her something for the heart of her home - the place where her loved ones come together to indulge in good food, good laughs and share great memories. Whether your mom is a green thumb, one with a refined taste or she’s the on-the-go type, we’ll help you pick out the perfect gift with this gift guide for Moms of all kinds!
Don't panic because Mother's Day is only a week away! If you’re hard-pressed to come up with unique, these smaller items will fit together to create a gift basket made just for mom! Wrendale Designs now has these adorable and handy notepads, and note taking sets that will ensure mom says organized. Our newest product to come in store are Mixture's home products; From the laundry room to the living room, no place should be without your favourite scent. Pastel coloured measuring cups and dishes are always a nice touch of colour to add to any kitchen, and Sugar Sin's gummies are our favourite treats of the moment. It's no secret around the store that we devour an entire bag in minutes! Fancy That's ice tray and straws give your pool and patio drinks extra zest with Citrus Sippers - ice cube straws that chill your beverage in style. The tray is made with durable BPA-free silicone and comes with two pink glitter straws. The Say Cheese, set of three cheese knives with gold polka dots are cutely themed knives that would compliment any table. Blade is suitable for wide variety of cheeses. A travel mug means no prob-llama for mom! When she had one in hand it means no spills, leaks or messes! Finally, don't forget a card! We have a large variety of cards in store to help you tell mom you love her.
 image: https://www.facebook.com/wrendaledesigns For the mom who loves her furry friends, pick up an adorable piece or two from Wrendale Designs. Add a splash of the British countryside to your mom's kitchen with the charming hand-painted fine bone china tableware, cutlery and giftware. The perfect addition to every animal lovers home! Want to earn yourself ‘favourite child’ status? Make sure there’s at least one Le Creuset item coming Mom’s way this Mother’s Day. Add joy to Mum’s kitchen with colourful Cast Iron cookware. Versatile enough for use in the oven, on the stove or at the table, Le Creuset Cast Iron is beloved for both its colourful enamel exterior and superior heat retention that locks in flavour.  image: https://www.facebook.com/Microplane/ For the Mom who seems to have it all, we bet she's still missing a few key pieces in her kitchen! Does she have a microplane classic series zester/grater? Does she chop her garlic rather than use an Epicurean garlic press? Read our 10 Must Have Kitchen Tools blog and make sure your Mom has everything on the list!
 Easter is one of our favourite times of the year (besides Christmas of course!) because of the traditions that we have made with our family in the heart of our home. To us, Easter means being thankful for all that we have, enjoying the company of our friends and family, and of course delighting in the food and colours that fill our table. It can feel overwhelming to host Easter dinner because there is so much that needs to be done! From cooking the food, cleaning the house and decorating the table, it can be difficult to figure out how to mix in both the traditional and modern when it comes to all things Easter. Should I only cook my family’s tried and true traditional recipes, or can I introduce something new? Before you begin stressing out, here are a few things that you can do to ensure your Easter dinner is perfect. Let Your Guests Get Hands Onimages c/o: ashadeofteal.com, simplyfutbol.com, thehomeicreate.com It’s hard to manage cooking the food, serving drinks and entertaining guests so help yourself out by setting up a drink station. Include your single serve coffee machine, pods, cream and sugar, tea, pop, water, wine, punch and don’t forget glasses and mugs! Bring Spring In, with a beautiful table settingimages c/o: Wrendale and Le Creuset, we carry all products in store at Heart of the Home, in Edmonton April is always a tricky time of year because we are left wondering if we’ll have a beautiful spring day, or if we’re going to have a snow storm. Either way, you can ensure that spring fills your home through florals and bright colours. Jillian Harris says to layer everything when it comes to setting your table. “From plates, to bowls, to napkins, to cutlery, candles, flowers...layer, layer, layer!” Put a Twist on Your Favourite RecipesWe usually eat the same recipes every single Easter, and while we love them, we’re ready to put a spin on the traditional and try something new and fresh! For example, this year we are going for a fresh take on an old favourite: Devilled Eggs! We’re giving these fancy devilled eggs filled with smoked fish and beetroot aioli a try! Plus they’ll look gorgeous on our colourful table!
Introduce a New Tradition https://www.marthastewart.com/1513129/how-swiss-dot-easter-egg-designs Again, I love traditions and I love the ones that I have with my family, but this year it feels like the perfect time to introduce a few new ones! While dinner is being cooked, do a fun DIY project like dying and decorating eggs. Because eggs represent rebirth and life, many people like to give them away as gifts during the spring since the season is associated with growth! Encourage your family members to exchange their finished projects with one another. Have an egg hunt. This may seem like something only the kids will enjoy but you can definitely put an adult spin on the classic holiday game. Fill the plastic eggs with mini bottles of alcohol, money, lip balm or any other small item you can find! Host an Easter Potluck. There is nothing wrong with asking for a little or even a lot of help when it comes to hosting a holiday dinner. In the weeks prior to the big day, set up a spreadsheet and ask your guests to fill it out with the item that they are choosing to bring. This will make your life a heck of a lot easier! Give a GiftAs a token of appreciation for those who attended your dinner, it’s always nice to send your guests home with a small gift! It can be a small Easter basket full of chocolate, a cute mug with all of the necessary mug cake ingredients, a candle or anything else you can think of!   Finding the perfect gift for a loved one can be the most frustrating thing! You don't want to get them something that they already have, and you certainly want to give them something that will actually use. To point you in the right direction, here are a few of our top picks for every food lover, or at home chef!  Folding Chopping Board Chop your fruit, veg, meat or herbs on a Chop2Pot chopping board then simply squeeze the handle to create a chute and add your food directly to your pan or pot!  Chef's Knife A chef's knife is your most important kitchen tool. They are a multi-purpose knife designed to perform well at many differing kitchen tasks. They can be used for mincing, slicing, and chopping vegetables, slicing meat, and disjointing large cuts. To learn more about chef's knives, read our Chef's Knife FAQ blog. Pick one up now while they're $69.99, regularly $215.00  Reusable Storage Bags It's time to kick the ziplock habit and rethink plastic when it comes to food storage. These air-tight, non-plastic are funky, functional and eco-friendly. A healthy alternative to plastic that can be used in your lunch or even as purse or office storage!  Caserole Dish Prepare your favourite meals with the Le Creuset stoneware dish set. These casserole dishes offer superior highly functional performance both in the oven and at the table. Resistant to odours chipping cracking and staining the Le Creuset square dishes are both functional and versatile.  Microwave Pasta Cooker At work or for on the go, cook hassle-free pasta in the microwave with this clever microwave pasta cooker, it allows you to drain and serve all in one and is perfect for use at home or taking to the office for a pasta lunch. Simply add pasta to the cooker and cover with water. Microwave for the specified time and then drain quickly and easily using the integrated colander. The design features a handy portion guide for spaghetti, a water-level indicator for efficient cooking and easy-carry edges.
French Press and Double-Walled Glasses The French Press system has always been the simplest and ultimate way of brewing an excellent cup of coffee. Using fresh coarse-ground beans with water between 92 and 96 degrees celsius brings out the very best in all types of coffee. Perfect for café au lait, black coffee, tea and more, these glasses are a stylish and functional addition to any glassware collection. Mouth-blown by skilled glassblowers, each double-walled glass insulates its contents-so cold drinks stay cold and hot drinks stay hot longer. Heart of the Home is a kitchenware store specializing in beautiful collections of both everyday and special occasion cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, and unique accessories for passionate home cooks and cooking-inspired gift givers. Located just off of 124th street, in Edmonton's High Street shopping area, Heart of the Home is your source for many sought after brands such as Emile Henry, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Staub, Le Creuset and more.
 This blog has been republished with permission by www.reviews.com/chef-knife/ * some edits have been made.
Should I get a knife set? Many experts feel as though knife sets are a waste of money. Buy knives one at a time. Why? Because each chef will have their own mixture; a set is too constricted and too prescriptive. How many other kitchen knives do I need? After you’ve invested in a quality chef knife, you may want to expand your collection with any of the following:
What’s the best type of steel for a chef knife? The best steel for chef knives typically lands between 55-60 on the Rockwell hardness scale — that’s hard enough to retain a sharp edge, but soft enough to avoid being overly brittle. (You want your knife to be able to take a beating without fracturing.) The harder a steel, the longer it will stay sharp but the more difficult it will be to re-sharpen on your own, often requiring professional service to get it back its factory condition. What’s the best way to hold my knife? You should hold your kitchen knife in a pinch grip: grip toward the front of the handle, with your thumb and your curled index finger pinching the base of the blade. What’s the difference between a chef knife and a Santoku knife? At a glance, Santoku knives and chef knives look nearly identical. But each caters to a different cooking style. Santoku knives are shorter, lighter and thinner, with a rounded tip and a flat edge. This means that cutting requires an up-and-down slicing motion. A chef knife’s blade is curved and allows you to cut by rocking the knife against the cutting board. A Santoku excels at tasks that require agility like mincing delicate herbs or making precise cuts. The tradeoff is that it’s not as versatile as a chef knife and is likely to struggle against larger tasks, like cutting up a chicken or slicing through butternut squash. This blog has been republished with permission by www.reviews.com/chef-knife/ * some edits have been made. |
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