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 23, 2010


I use my oven every day.

That's right, every day. I bake all the time.... cakes, cookies, roasts, garlic bread, I even use it to cook bacon and eggs.

My oven was one of the first things I saved up for and bought with my baking profits from work. It's a 90cm stainless steel with various functions for baking including extra elements for crisping pie bottoms. I love my oven. We got it from e-bay from a failed home reno. It was brand new and still in it's box and we got a bargin. It's always been great. Until today.

Today it caught fire. 3 days before Christmas.

You may think that's not a problem, but it is for me. I still have gingerbread to bake, shortbread gifts promised to friends and 2 baking orders to get out. It's also MiddleC's birthday. Thankgoodness I made her cake last night so it could mellow and develop flavour depth overnight, but we may need to BBQ her birthday dinner instead of grilling her favourite tandoori in the oven.


I feel lost. I'm in mourning. I don't know what to do with myself, and what about the lamb, pork, chicken, veggies and etcs that I'm cooking for Christmas? HELP!

All may not be lost, BigJ will check it when he gets home, he is a licenced electician even though he has moved on in his career, and it's the reason we went for an electric oven in the first place- but I do have gas hot plates, soo much better than electric. I'm sure the first things he'll say is 'when did you last clean it?' Actually, it's been a while with the big seasonal rush....
** update : it was an electrical fault causing it to short out and send out sparks and flames**


So today I won't give you a recipe, I'll give you a Christmassy tour of our home, and hope your day is happier than mine.











Merry Christmas my dear Readers, I hope you have a happy, special, and very blessed Christmas, from me to you. XOX

P.S. What piece of kitchen equipment can you just not do without?

13 comments:

  1. Oh no!! Poor thing, this is awful! How frustrating :( I think not having my stove would do me in.
    I'm sure you'll have a fabulous Christmas anyway. and what a lovely tree you have!! Just beautiful.
    Lots of love and merry christmas!!
    Heidi xo

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  2. What a beautiful tree! And you poor thing about your oven choosing now to "retire". I hope it gets fixed in time! Adn hehe must try bacon and eggs in the oven sometime!

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  3. Sorry to hear about your oven, maybe an aussie xmas instead, lots of salads and a barbie. Wouldnt my babies love to play with all those cutters.

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  4. Sorry to hear about the oven! Your house is decorated so lovely. It has been such a pleasure to know you through your blog. Merry Christmas! xo, carol

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  5. So sorry about your stove!! But your house and the decorations look lovely!!

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  6. So sorry to hear about your oven ... Anyway, your Christmas decorations are fantastic! Have a wonderful holiday, with or without the latest gingerbread! :)

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  7. Sorry to hear about your oven! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  8. Look how wonderful your house looks!!!! Merry Christmas, darling friend, and I hope it's only some of the elements in your oven that have blown and not all of them. I know the back fan elements in our 90cm smeg blow occasionally, but the top and bottom ones usually still work until they can be replaced. Hope you have a fabulous Christmas day despite being oven-less!! xxx

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  9. Your house looks lovely!

    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!

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  10. I am completely envious of your Christmas cutter collection!!!

    I too am a mad baker, so the thought of losing my oven 3 days before Christmas is devastating..... Besides my oven, I can't live without my food processor -- it can take hours off prep time!

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  11. Beautiful decorating- really lovely. Wishing you a Happy, Bright New Year!

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  12. Oh My Lord..., you must have been grief stricken & what a time for it to fall over..., now that's just not cricket :)
    The mere thought of doing without anything I've somehow acquired over the years in my kitchen sends me into an instant stress...., I can't imagine what I could do without. You shall have to give us updates - is there a new oven in your future or has BigJ managed to fix it.
    Hope your holidays continue to be fabulous..., love the decorations in the dining room Rebecca. Can't wait to see how Middle C's birthday turned out....., knowing you, it'll be a rippa.
    Holiday hugs... xx

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  13. Your home looks so lovely and christmasy.
    Hope your oven is sorted out. Don't think I could live for too long without an oven!

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