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.

July 19, 2012

In My Kitchen

















Well My Dearest Readers, I'm back from a wonderful holiday visiting with my parents at their farm on Queenlands Sunshine Coast.

It really wasn't meant to include a holiday from blogging as well.

I lugged my computer and all its bits and pieces up there, but for some reason there was no way possible I could connect to the Internet. I tried and tried, but as they live very rurally there was not even an Internet cafe that I could hook on too.

So for everyone who I missed commenting on, blog posts, twitter or such, I apologise. I will try and catch up with some of the backlog, but there are sooooooo many I might just start from scratch instead.

We did have a fantastic time though!
Apart from the farm goats and chickens, we saw wild quail, pheasant, wallabies, bandicoots, bush turkeys and even deer roaming around. This was on top of all the usual parrots and birds eating at the feeders, and lizards and frogs hiding around the rocks keeping warm.




















So as I've just stepped off a plane, and have a million and one things to do, I will take a leaf from my dear friend Celia's blog    http://figjamandlimecordial.com/2012/07/01/in-my-kitchen-july-2012/     and post an In My Kitchen Post for today, and promise to post a recipe very, very soon with some of my yummy souvenirs.




In My Kitchen is.... a jar of gorgeous Candied Lilac Flowers. I just love floral flavours and this is certainly a new one for me. I just need to find a recipe worthy of the yumminess....

























In My Kitchen is.... Lovely Culinary Lavender Products including oil, honey, dried flowers and a plant!





















In My Kitchen is.... some gorgeous flavoured salts, Porcini and Truffle, so luxurious!




















In My Kitchen is.... a selection of Ginger lovelies from The Ginger Factory. Imagine, a whole kilo of ginger kibble for just $10!























In My Kitchen is.... a big tub of amazing Macadamia Butter. So rich and smooth indeed, so perfect for spreading on hot crusty toast for breakfast

























In My Kitchen is... a stunning Turkish bowl gifted to me from Lovely Celia! Way to pretty to fill up with just any old thing- maybe some salted pistachios in the shell?


















In My Kitchen is.... a bunch of Red Bananas. I've been looking for these for ages, now just waiting to ripen on the bench before taste testing



















In My Kitchen is.... a HUGE bag of vanilla pods! When I opened the package up the smell went through the whole house and bought people running. There were 132 altogether, which at $75  worked out to just 57cents each. Now that's what I call a bargain indeed!


















In My Kitchen... is a big bowl of dried strawberries and a pot of strawberry jam. We visited a pick-your-own farm... but more on that later!



















In My Kitchen is.... a colony of Ants! BigJ apparently didn't do much cooking while we were gone, and the kitchen was happily taken over by a colony of ants. Unfortunately these aren't the only bugs around because in my kitchen is also the Vaporizer- spitting out streams of eucalyptus scented steam to hopefully clear up our sinuses. Luckily there are still a few days of holidays before school starts again.




















So my Dear Readers, are all your holiday memories edible ones, and do you buy culinary souvenirs as well?


























.

28 comments:

  1. I am very jealous of the things in your kitchen! I've never tried macadamia butter but it sounds amazing..

    I recently bought 5 vanilla pods for 15 so I can appreciate your bargain!

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    1. It's much richer but not as strong tasting Lucy- but delicious!
      I've never seen vanilla for such a great price either :)

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  2. You're back! I've missed you! Didn't we have fun when you were up in Sydney! I'm glad you got 132 vanilla pods in your package. I remember once seeing a Jamie Oliver episode where he had an enormous jar stuffed full of vanilla pods. Now I have an much small jar stuffed with pods, but it still makes me feel rich! :)

    The truffle salt looks amazing, as does all that kibbled ginger! And I've never seen red bananas before! xxx

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    1. I missed you too sweetie! It was such an unexpected hiccup to be absent from the internet for so long- I need to catch up on all the news :)
      I have my big jar of vanilla sitting on my bookshelf so I can drool over it all day, none of this stashing it in the pantry, it's part of my display!

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  3. I was wondering what had happened to you. One day you were there and the next you were gone! It seems you had a lovely time on the Sunshine Coast. My in-laws live their too! Maybe they are near your parents! It must have been wonderful to have had that break and also get away from the harshness of the Canberra winter. Love the vanilla pods and all that ginger goodies. Looking forward to seeing what you cook with all your loot! xx

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    1. I'm like a superhero that way Charlie! Maybe we could co-ordinate holidays next time in case we both need a time out from family and can catch up for a sneaky coffee :)

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  4. Ahh Rebecca, I only got 122 vanilla beans in my bag :( You did exceptionally well:)

    I love your bowl. I went to the shop (on Celia's recommendation) when I was in Sydney last week and bought a few too.

    Your ginger products look wonderful. I LOVE ginger.

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    1. Oh you poor thing, you were ripped off! :)
      The bowl is so pretty, it's sitting on my bench because I can't bear to put it away. Did you get any of the fish design?
      I love ginger too, my daughter has a gingerbread birthday cake every single year because she loves it so much!

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  5. Hi Bec, such a wonderful assortment of good things in your kitchen. May I ask, where did you source the vanilla? I spent about $75 recently on gourmet grade vanilla beans (250g). The dried strawberries are interesting. I love Buderim Ginger products. Have you tried the baby stem ginger in syrup? Yummy. And the bowl from Celia, what a treasure! Celia, I mean (the bowl is beautiful too!). Happy cooking.

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    1. Hi Lizzy! Celia certainly is a treasure, isn't she? I got the vanilla from Chef's Wharehouse in Sydney. Celia kindly initiated me into its wonders a couple of weeks ago, I could have spent a fortune there but could only fit so much in my handbag for the flight back to Canberra :)
      I love stem ginger too, I have a big 2kg tub of it as well :)

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  6. oooh candied lilac flowers? i am intrigued!

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    1. Me too Lisa! Now I just have to figure out what to do with them :) Any suggestions?

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  7. Macadamia butter, candied lilac, whipped ginger, 132 (!) vanilla pods??? I am so jealous right now that I could slap you - lol
    I love to bring home foodie things, though NZ Customs usually gives us some sour looks... XO

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    1. Lucky you live so far away then Janet! But then you New Zealanders are always jealous of us Aussies :)
      Our customs are hard too, and for good reason. We are both so lucky to live on island paradises, aren't we?
      How are your lovely kitties going with the new arrival?

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  8. What a great supply of things that you have in your kitchen! I always come back with so many edible souveniers and not much else ;)

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    1. They're the best kind Lorraine, no unwanted stuff hanging around after a trip.... unless it's stuck on our hips :)

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  9. red bananas and whipped ginger?? Oh, I'm very intrigued!
    Love macadamia butter.

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    1. I've been after some for ages, so I'm so excited Brydie! Macadamia butter is so rich and creamy- yummo!

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  10. What lovely things & edible presents that you have in your kitchen right now! Yum yum yum!

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    1. I feel so rich Sophie! Now I just have to decide what to make with them all....

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  11. What interesting things you have in your kitchen. The candied lilac flowers look pretty especially in that lovely jar. I love Buderim ginger. I can understand the kibble but I have never heard of whipped ginger, is it like a spread?

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    1. We love it too, my dad actually has shares in the Ginger Factory- just as well with all the money we spend there each time!
      Whipped ginger is just like finely chopped stem ginger that's been beaten until smooth and spreadable. Like the difference between honey and creamed honey- both delicious :)

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  12. What a wonderful assortment of goodies! The Turkish bowl is so lovely and I m very envious of your truffle salt!!

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    1. It's mega tasty too! Stay tuned for a truffle overload with the best sandwich ever!! :)

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  13. I love all the supplies you have in your kitchen. And those goats are so adorable.

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    1. They are so tame Tania, they jump all over you when you feed them and you need to be careful they don't knock you down with love :) Dad used to have cows that were just as spoilt!

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  14. Wow, I'm really curious about those red bananas!

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    1. I'll do a write up on them soon Sophia, I can hardly wait for them to ripen :)

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