ABOUT EMILY

​Hello and thanks for being here!

My name is Emily Heppner, and I'm the face, brain, and creator behind Em's Prairie Kitchen. 

I grew up in a small farming community in northern Saskatchewan with my three older siblings and parents. My two older sisters and mom always ruled the kitchen, giving me a chance to learn many things - like not to put two cups of baking powder in a dessert...at least that memory gives us a good laugh now. When the last of my older siblings left home to go to high school elsewhere, I quickly took my share of the family workload while my parents were running the farm. Some of that work was on the farm, but some was in the kitchen. This allowed me to learn both how our food is produced, and how to prepare it - and let's not forget the appreciation I have for our farmers.

The skills I learned through these experiences allowed me to cook decent food during my months spent travelling alone after high school. However, once I was at university, I tried to apply as much creativity as I could within my tight budget to avoid becoming bored with my everyday meals. It was then that I realized that food had never just been a source of survival for me, but a major source of enjoyment. During my time at university, I had a few different jobs; however, one that directly inspired me to be creative in the kitchen was serving at a local restaurant in Saskatoon.

Food is something that I use as an outlet for my creativity, to socialize with my friends, and to show the people in my life that I care about them. It seems like almost every significant milestone in life or meaningful moment was shared over or celebrated with food.

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The recipes you'll find at Em's Prairie Kitchen are tried-and-true family recipes passed down for generations, some with modern twists, and recipes from all the cultures that represent the prairies! I hope you see something you love, try new things, and get inspired while you're here. Let's create a prairie community together and enjoy some delicious food!