I have always considered myself quite a nice person. I like food of all shapes, flavours and colours. From every country and continent. I don’t discriminate, I am an equal opportunity eater. It’s only the doctors who say I’m intolerant. And certain foods who refuse to tolerate me. They certainly refuse to recognise and respect my right to eat them without major physical discomfort and distress.


Gluten and lactose are not my friends.


Despite the negative attitudes surrounding me from many of those I love best, (cakes, ice cream, hot toast) I decided to become a chef. Not always easy when you live in a bread and milk filled world. I like to think that this has helped me become a better person as I embrace my differences and refuse to let the gluten get me down. I believe InTolerance. I am the InTolerant Chef.

Food should not be about what you can’t eat, but what you can and what you enjoy eating. This blog is about my journey of cooking and eating and discovery. It’s not a definitive guide to allergy awareness nor do my intolerances make me an expert. Your body is your responsibility, not mine. I only know what works for me.


I can tell you this..... No glutens were harmed in the making of this website.

December 24, 2011

Our Upside Down Christmas






Christmas has been turned on its head this year at our house!











Normally we are quite a traditional family when it comes to division of labour during the holidays, (which usually means Mummy does it all!) but this time around, Dad and the kiddies are struggling through, and I get to sit back and watch.

We have continued the topsy turvey theme through even with our Christmas tree.
I've had my eye on this lovely for a while now, and this year the temptation proved too hard to resist and I gave in. Isn't it a beauty?

The genius of this style is that all the decorations hang freely without knocking into each other or scrunching up unattractively,they can be themselves in all their glittery beauty.






If you are a regular visitor to my blog, you may have noticed that I like things organized and just-so. That extends to my celebrations as well.








My two trees have very distinctive colour schemes, with the "Normal" one in deep reds and golds with a bit of a victorian vibe, while the "Topsy Turvey" one is in tones of gingerbread bronze and old gold and more of a botanical feel going on.




















Don't worry though, littlej has a small tree of her own for all her favourites that she can decorate the way she wants without me butting in.
















We normally take about a week to do the trees. Putting them up and lights is the first step, then we proceed to layer on the decorations over the next few days until we're happy with it .





















I think the end result is well worth the hassle, don't you?





















Well, Lovelies, I hope you and your loved ones have a very wonderful, very blessed, and very Merry Christmas. Love to you all, Rebecca, The InTolerant Chef x


















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19 comments:

  1. DollyDecember 24, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    love ur xmas tree.

    Merry Xmas... Eat well!!

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  2. Emma GallowayDecember 24, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    Wow that's a beauty! And a totally new idea to me. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas xx

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  3. GGDecember 25, 2011 at 1:35 AM

    Oh I'e always wanted to get one of these trees but not quite had the nerve to go that far. It does look absolutely wonderful and I love the way the decorations hang like crystals from a chandelier. Your 'normal' tree is beautiful too. Happy Christmas! GG

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  4. SimchaDecember 25, 2011 at 6:36 AM

    When I heard upside down tree I didnt get the fact that it hung from the ceiling I was trying to picture a tree standing on its point hmmm very interesting.

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  5. msihuaDecember 25, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    THat is freaking amazing!!! I'm so impressed! I had thought you were talking about an upside down dessert, not an actual tree! Such a great idea... love it!

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  6. Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaDecember 25, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    OMG your topsy turvy tree is amazing! :O I want one for next year now! Merry Christmas to you and yours! :D

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  7. celiaDecember 26, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    Blessings and great joy to you and your gorgeous family this Christmas, Becca! xxx

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  8. AmandaDecember 26, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    Bec, your trees and decorations all look bloody gorgeous! I'm glad to hear that the troops are coping and leaving you to do the supervising. Hope you all have a brilliant holiday. xxx

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  9. Janet NZDecember 27, 2011 at 11:08 AM

    Your decorations are gorgeous! I've seen the upside-down trees before... they would be the perfect solution to the cat-in-the-tree problem that has stopped me from having a 'proper' tree!!! :-)

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  10. JoytiDecember 27, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    That's one gorgeous tree!
    Hope you had a really wonderful Christmas.

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  11. Heidi - Apples Under My BedDecember 28, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    wow, what a fantastic idea ! I have never ever before seen this in my life, it's stunning! I thought it was an optical illusion haha. Both are just stunning, and giving little j one of her own to decorate is a gorgeous idea. Marry Christmas :)
    Heidi xo

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  12. gluten free giftDecember 28, 2011 at 3:31 PM

    Love the ornaments hanging over the table! Thanks so much for your well wishes at "my place" - delighted to have gotten to know you over the net this year.... hope you had a great Christmas with the family - and that the year ahead brings you a functioning arm amongst many other good things! Claudine

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  13. muppyDecember 29, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    i want an upside down christmas tree!!!! everything looks beautiful.

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  14. Lisa (bakebikeblog)December 29, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    that is one awesome tree! I have never even heard of such a thing!!

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  15. Nic@diningwithastudDecember 30, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    I adore that upsidedown tree! Love how they dont clink :D Happy New Year :) its been such a pleasure reading you blog. Cant wait for more in 2012!! :D x

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  16. The InTolerant Chef ™December 30, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Happy Holidays Dear Readers!
    I hope you're having a great festive season, filled with love and laughter, family, friends and really amazing food!

    Dolly- thanks so much, same to you too, and I promise I will!

    Emma- thanks honey! Same to you and yours for the best of the holidays too.

    GG- that's the perfect description, crystals on a chandelier! Be brave and get one for next year, you wont regret it :)

    Simcha- it actually sits on a stand, and then on a box. The tripod style thingy its on the tip instead. Id have to reinforce the ceiling otherwise, that trees heavy!

    Msihua- thanks so much, what I was going for! :) the upside down dessert is next post!

    Lorraine- thanks! I like to think its pretty nice :) happy happy holidays to you as well!

    Celia- thankyou do much sweetie, same to you and your boys (and chooks) :)

    Amanda- thanks! Though my husband calls it bossing him around all his holidays :)

    Janet- oooh, that just might work you know! My cat is pretty good, we put one decoration down low as a sacrificial appeasement :)

    Indie.Tea- thankyou, you too, and we did! :)

    Heidi- I did try turning the photos if my old tree upside down to see how it would look that way. I get pretty carried away with my trees, so having her own tree really is the best (and fairest) solution :)

    Claudine- thanks, thanks, and thanks again! I might be back to normal by this time next year- if I'm lucky :-/ happy new year to you too!

    Muppy- I think you have to get them online, out give me an email if you like, and I ll let you know where I got mine.

    Lisa- they were new to me last year too, but lots of fun!

    Nic- why thankyou sweetie! Happy new year to you too:)

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  17. CarolDecember 31, 2011 at 3:00 AM

    How lovely! I laughed out loud about the "traditional division of labor"! We did a similar thing with ornaments over our dining table this year and I love it so much I am wishing I could keep it up all year!

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  18. Kath (My Funny Little Life)January 3, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    Hahaha, I love your upside-down Christmas tree! That's the perfect down-under Christmas tree! :D (Sorry, I *had* to say that!)

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  19. Cass @aperfectpantryJanuary 11, 2012 at 10:47 AM

    That is so cool! I love it!! 2 trees for Christmas, what more could you ask for.

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