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.

May 31, 2012

Two Years



Two Years

That's how long I've been blogging now.

I've had such a lovely time, and enjoyed every minute. I've gotten to know so many of you Dear Readers, and love reading your comments and blogs as well. Thanks for sticking with me, I know things have slowed down just a little with my health issues, but  I'm not going anywhere and hopefully will be picking up the pace bit by bit.

I thought I'd share a few of my favourite things about my Blog, and show you a bit about what else I been up to lately as well.

Favourites So Far:



My Favourite Blog Post so far: Pumpkin
http://intolerantchef.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/pumpkin.html
















It just appeals to me as a great snapshot of our family life. Funny, but true.




Most Viewed Post: A Bit of Fluff
http://intolerantchef.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/bit-of-fluff.html
















Guess it's the pretty pink pictures perhaps?



Most Conversation Generating Post (not the same as most comments): A Bit On The Side
http://intolerantchef.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/bit-on-side.html
















Would you go the free biscuit?




Post I'm Particularly Proud Of: Cooking En Masse
http://intolerantchef.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/cooking-en-masse.html




I enjoyed sharing a bit about the challenges of commercial catering, also how I try to bring out the best in my food under difficult circumstances.



Favourite Recipe So Far:
http://intolerantchef.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/roasted-ruby-fruits.html
















Really tricky indeed to pick one! I don't post a recipe I don't like, but they aren't all recipes I'd eat all the time. Despite not being a big sweet fan, this is just a lovely dessert that I could enjoy any time of day, any time of year, any time at all!



Recipe I Won't Be Making Again In A Hurry: Wasabi Macarons
http://intolerantchef.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/aquired-taste.html
















Love the macaron, love wasabi, but I think I prefer sweet flavours instead. One of my favourite macaron flavours was an Adriano Zumbo Eucalyptus one that was fabulous indeed!



Best Dinner Party Dish: Twice Cooked Goat Cheese Souffles
http://intolerantchef.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/twice-baked-goat-cheese-souffle.html















So delicious, so easy, so impressive!



Now:

It's hard having all this time off without being able to do much though. With my shoulder still out of commission and both wrists waiting on surgery, I can only fumble through life at the moment. I love my 'swype' app making typing accessible, or I would be stuck for sure!
I find it hard to do nothing, I hate daytime television, I don't do Facebook or Twitter, so I always have projects on the go. Apart from these below, I also have olives brining in my laundry, blackberries boozing under the sink, an edible flower garden underway, a coffee tree and tea bush growing, and of course my veggie garden to tend to.

This is a bit of what I've been up to lately:




Growing Shiitake Mushrooms, delicious!




















Making my own Vanilla Essence





















Enjoying a Birthday Cake baked by my lovely Girls, and presented in a gorgeous Cake Stand as a present























Being spoilt with a stand of gorgeous gluten free goodies for my birthday























Growing my own Saffron





















Making dinner, with all the vegetables having been grown in my garden:
Beans, Pumpkin, Spring Onions, Parsley, Broccoli, Chili, Silverbeet, Carrots, Potatoes and Mushrooms





















Well my Dearest Readers, I hope you have enjoyed the last two years as much as I have. Is there anything you would like to see me cover on my Blog?
















P.S. The Next post will have a Blogaversary Giveaway!

























.

44 comments:

  1. Happy Bloggiversary!!!! And yur 'projects' all sound rather wonderful x

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    1. Thanks Lisa, and thanks for hanging in there with me too :)

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  2. Congrats on your blogiversary. How exciting...already 2 years:) You've done so many great posts... and I can't wait to see how you made your own vanilla essence:)

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    1. Thanks Tania, it's so easy, but I'll have to wait a month or two to let it mature before knowing exactly how it turns out!

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  3. Wow congratulations Rebecca! That's wonderful news :D And you've been growing your own shiitakes and saffron? Good for you! :D

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    1. Thanks so much Lorraine, and thankyou so much for commenting on every single one of my posts from the start! It has meant so much to me xxx

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  4. Congrats Rebecca. That's a great achievement. And I'm so sorry to hear both your wrists need surgery and your shoulder still isn't right. That must be incredibly debilitating. I would love to see some photos of your garden and where you grow all this amazing produce. I can't believe you're growing shiitake mushrooms and saffron - those aren't commonly grown here I'm sure xx

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    1. It's frustrating for sure Charlie! I love my garden, but winter is such a bad time for photos with everything 'sleeping'. I love to grow weird and wonderfuls, I've also got a tea camellia, a coffee tree, truffle tree, peanuts, curry tree, and so much more- but they are all very small and still establishing. I'll put photos up as they fruit/flower/produce

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  5. Happy blogaversary, and to many more!

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    1. Thanks so much Chocolate Shavings, thanks for stopping by :)

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  6. Congrats to you Rebecca! Love the gorgeous cake, and all your garden produce! Plus you grow your own Saffron - so awesome!

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    1. Thanks Ina! I've had my saffron in for a few years now and get quite a nice little harvest. It's so much nicer and fresher than the stuff from the supermarket :)

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  7. CONGRATS on two years of blogging! :D :D I love the idea of sharing some of your favorite posts! The pumpkin looks like a lovely fellow, what a great shot! :D

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    1. Thanks Kath! Their are little beads of moisture all over the pumpkin if you look closely, it was so nice and fresh that it just cracked open with a snap :)

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  8. Huge congrats on your two year anniversary! Mine's coming up real soon too, so I know how proud you must feel. Also can I just say how impressed I am with your shiitakes and saffron, such a great way to spend your time off. All the best with your surgery and recovery xx

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    1. It's a nice feeling Emma, and congrats to you too! Thanks, I have to do something to feel useful!

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  9. Rebecca, well done! Such a wonderful assortment of interesting posts and great recipes (love the pumpkin!!!). Growing shiitake mushrooms, saffron and the vanilla, I look forward to reading about your advents and am looking forward to meeting you at the #twEATup!

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    1. Hi Lizzy! I love to find wierd and wonderfuls to grow- I'm on the hunt for a vanilla orchid too. Yes, I can hardly wait!

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  10. Congrats on your blogiversary :) cant wait for mpore awesome recipes!!

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  11. Congrats on two years!!! :) Here's to more awesome posts.

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    1. Thanks JasmyneTea, I still have to make your pandan chiffon cake- I've never go it out of my head!

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  12. Congratulations on the anniversary! Love the round up, and LOVE it how you're growing such interesting things! Saffron and shiitake? Now I would not have thought of those! Would love to hear some tips about how you're growing them and temperature/humidity controls? Once I get a house, I'll be growing my own things too! :D Hopefully...

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    1. Oh dear Jenny, I just wing it I'm afraid! I just have them growing on a log in the bathroom that I spray with water as often as I pass by, and then cover it loosely with a plastic bag to try and keep some moisture in. I'm sure it would do much better in summer instead of winter, or in a slightly warmer spot but I keep it there away from the cat!

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  13. Congratulations and happy Blogiversary....I love it! Am looking forward many more awesome posts from a fellow intolerant ;)

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    1. Thanks Chompchomp! Hope you like what I've got coming up, InTolerant is tasty too!

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  14. Well you seem to fit so much in , I cant liebve you are growing Shitakes ... that is very awesome indeed. Happy blogaversary , keep up the great recipes and posts

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    1. I have very little to do at the moment Tania, so I might as well try and keep out of trouble and busy! :)

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  15. Happy anniversary!! I always love to check in and see what you're up to - and I had been wondering about your health issues... I'm sorry it's taking so long - it must be hugely frustrating.
    Also, I'm deeply impressed with the mushroom and saffron growing (what a damned fine idea - they will be shamelessly copied):-)
    Enjoy that beautiful cake XO

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    1. Thanks Janet dear! My arms are still hanging in there I guess. My shoulder is 'frozen' and that just takes time to resolve itself, and I had a proceedure on my wrist earlier this week as a forerunner to another operation. I will think twice about falling over again!!!
      Please grow everything you can get your hands on and let me know how you get on :)

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  16. Happy Anniversary, darling. It's been an honour getting to know you better over the past couple of years! xxx

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  17. wow that shitake is amazing, great post reflecting, happy 2 years (time seems to be flying!)

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  18. Congrats on your 2 anniversary for your lovely blog! I love the wonderfully decorated cake & the cake stand looks beautiful!
    I totaly love your blog & your fun , fun recipes! Cheers to you!

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    1. Thanks Sophie, I'm glad you enjoy my posts. Here's to many more!

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  19. Congratulations on two fantastic years! I had a lot of fun reading all those old posts :)

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    1. Thanks Lucy, I had a fun tracking them all down too. A real trip down memory lane indeed!

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  20. Congratulations on 2 years - what a lovely cake to celebrate with! Love your round up of some choice blog posts and seeing all the lovely things you are producing in your kitchen

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    1. Thanks Johanna, my girls were so proud of their cake and it was lovely! I always like to have some projects on the go, and don't always think to post them, but I'll try to be more responsible :)

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  21. I am late in wishing you a happy anniversary but congratulations and here's to 20 more!

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  22. congratulations on 2 years of blogging - I love the variety of content and fabulously funny tone... a treat for gluten-free peeps everywhere!

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