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 3, 2013

In My Kitchen- December




Can you believe that it's the last In My kitchen for the year!

November and December seem to flash past so fast in the blur of Christmas prep and End-Of-Year functions, and there hardly seems time to catch your breath


The In My Kitchen phenomenon sponsored by lovely Celia over at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial has grown hugely over the last couple of months as well. It's a lot of fun to participate and also to sticky-beak into some of the other kitchens out there in the blogisphere. You might be surprised what some of them are up to!


In My Kitchen... is a teensy, tiny Gingerbread House cookie cutter
So little that you can apparently perch them on the side of your cup of cocoa! I'll have to get busy and make some to show you all very soon




In My Kitchen... is some yummy smoked Goat Salami from our local butcher
Very tasty and rich indeed. A nice change from the usual




In My Kitchen...  is another seasonal salami, with the Woolies Truffle Salami
I haven't cracked it open yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to it- I just hope they haven't been too stingy with the truffley treasures




In My Kitchen... are some absolutely fabulous cookie cutters!
I just love these so much, they're so much fun and I'll have lots of creative uses for these next year- stay tuned..




In My Kitchen... are some lovely Floral Flavoured Chocolates
I have a real weakness for floral flavours, and these are not some I've come across before. I plan on making a whole floral themed high Tea soon, any one for a cuppa?




In My Kitchen... are yet more cookie cutters
Very seasonal indeed, I ordered these from Norway and they have luckily arrived before I hang up my baking apron for the holidays




I couldn't resist this one! It was just so whimsical and joyous. It makes me smile :)




Not In My Kitchen... is my beautiful upside down Christmas Tree
There's very little space left on it to hang ornaments now- I might just need to buy another!




In The Lounge Room... is my more traditional Christmas Tree
Reds and golds, and very classic- it's getting a bit full now too



and finally, In My Hallway... is a beautiful Nativity
Reminding us every time we pass by what Christmas is really about and to count our blessings



So my Dear Readers, what have you been cooking up for Christmas, and have you got your Christmas tree up yet?






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32 comments:

  1. Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaDecember 3, 2013 at 5:53 PM

    I love your cutters! They're SO cute! I've been going a bit nuts with the cookie baking this year :P And I'm dying to hear what the truffle salami is like!

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 5:46 PM

      I have so many cutters Lorraine- it's a shame Christmas only comes once a year, I have so many cookies to make :)

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    2. The InTolerant Chef ™December 11, 2013 at 2:39 PM

      The salami was quite nice actually Lorraine. A harder, chewy texture, but enough flavour from the truffles to penetrate through. I think it was worth the $12, and certainly convenient to grab at the supermarket X

      Delete
  2. My Kitchen StoriesDecember 3, 2013 at 9:38 PM

    So many cutters .I particularly like the pigs can fly one. I have never seen an upside down Christmas tree, never never never, wonderful Miss x

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 5:49 PM

      Thanks Tania! I love how everything can just hang down without banging into lower branches x

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  3. Maureen | Orgasmic ChefDecember 3, 2013 at 10:27 PM

    OMG when pigs fly! Upside down Christmas tree? You are amazing!

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  4. Kim | a little lunchDecember 3, 2013 at 10:48 PM

    Rebecca, an upside down Christmas tree?! There must be a story behind that... would love to hear it. Thank you for sharing your Nativity scene, too. Christmas wouldn't "be" without the Reason for the Season. It was a blessing to read your IMK post. Merry Christmas to you & yours!

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 5:53 PM

      That's my secret Kim, let's just say that there was lots of nagging involved :)

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  5. chow and chatterDecember 4, 2013 at 5:59 AM

    fun cookie cutters and an amazing upside down tree have a lovely christmas

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 5:54 PM

      Thanks and Merry Christmas to you to Rebecca!

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    2. The InTolerant Chef ™December 11, 2013 at 2:57 PM

      Sorry I can't reply on your blog Rebecca, I just keep getting kicked off :(

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  6. celiaDecember 4, 2013 at 6:34 AM

    Becca, your cookie cutters are the bomb, LOVE the flying pig (where did you find that, please?) and the mini gingerbread house (just the thought of assembling something that small is making me cringe!). The "meat cuts" cutters made me laugh! And I've never seen goat sausage before!

    Can't believe you have your trees up (and down) already, but I do know how much you adore Christmas darling! Have you been out for the annual pilgrimage to the store near Cooma yet? ;-)

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:22 PM

      I'll send you the link for the cutters Celia, I got them all over the place. Goat is becoming more available lately, we even got a roasting leg from Coles- although it wasn't as nice as the one from the butcher's at all.
      Our trees have been up for weeks, and they'd be even earlier if I didn't need to rely on BigJ to help me! Bredbo knows me well, and I'm sure I cover their mortgage payments with my purchases each year- but don't tell BigJ :) xox

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  7. Hotly SpicedDecember 4, 2013 at 11:28 AM

    I can't wait to see what you do with those gorgeous cutters. They are such beautiful and pretty shapes. And your Christmas trees are gorgeous and just decorated so beautifully. And I love how you have a Nativity. I would like to get one! xx

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:27 PM

      Thanks Charlie! The nativity is Willow Tree, and I've seen others of their ornaments at Myers so maybe you can order one there if you're after one. I'd love to have another tree, but I'm running out of room :) xox

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  8. nancy@jamjnrDecember 4, 2013 at 12:16 PM

    You have to share the secret behind the upside down tree. And where you got the flying pig from too. Great post!

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:30 PM

      That's s trade secret Nancy, just say I've got a very handy husband :) The pig cutter came from Europe somewhere, I'll have to check my records for the name of the site and I'll post it in my January IMK

      Delete
  9. SimchaDecember 4, 2013 at 5:34 PM

    Wonder which clever duck put you onto the mini gingerbread house cutter! hope you send that person some of them.

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:38 PM

      The person involved chooses not to celebrate Christmas, so I wouldn't want to be insensitive Simcha :P They'll just have to accept my sincere gratitude instead :) x

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  10. MarianneDecember 5, 2013 at 1:06 PM

    Love your Christmas trees, especially the upside-down one! And all the fun cookie cutters. Cookie cutters are popular in my kitchen … for making Play-Doh cookie shapes with my 4 year old granddaughter.

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:40 PM

      I got my start with play-doh too Marianne, this may be the beginning of a marvelous culinary career!

      Delete
  11. heidiannieDecember 5, 2013 at 1:25 PM

    Great stuff in your kitchen! Love the cutters- I have a lot of cutters and not even one of those! The flying pig is perfect!
    Love your trees and your fun Christmas spirit as well as the nativity. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:42 PM

      Why thankyou Heidiannie! I'd love to see your collection, I have many hundreds, but still want more! :)

      Delete
  12. AnonymousDecember 5, 2013 at 10:57 PM

    Oh my gosh. That upside down christmas tree is amazing! Where did you get it?!

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:43 PM

      Thanks Jasmin, I've got a very handy husband who can make anything :)

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  13. Gourmet GetawaysDecember 6, 2013 at 4:18 PM

    `WOW!
    You not only have a very interesting Kitchen but house!
    How do you get an upside down Christmas tree on the roof!
    I love all your little cookie cutters, I have been wanting to try the gingerbread house for coffee cups!

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:46 PM

      Why thankyou indeed, I just wish it was a little bit bigger (and cleaner!) I have a bit of a love affair with cookie cutters and love to find quirky ones x

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  14. Tiffin FionaDecember 7, 2013 at 12:10 PM

    That upside down Christmas tree - great idea! Loved the cookie cutters too as I collect them. In particular the farm animals as cuts of meat ; ) Please tell me where you got the goat salami as I'm coming to Canberra at Christmas and may be able to buy some. Thanks for the tour!

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  15. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:33 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. The InTolerant Chef ™December 10, 2013 at 6:50 PM

      Hi Fiona, I'd love to your cookie cutter collection, they are so much fun. I got the goat salami from the bottom butcher art Belconnen Markets, they also make a nice goat and merlot sausage. The top butcher have a nice range of goat meat too, it's my favourite supplier. Let me know if you have any trouble sourcing them when you're in town.

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  16. Heidi - Apples Under My BedDecember 16, 2013 at 8:52 AM

    Love this post, a bit of kitchen snooping :) You know what, I don't have a tree this year. Our new place already feels festive I guess. I miss the smell though!!
    Heidi xo

    ReplyDelete

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