The Christmas table complete with a gingerbread, icing sugar and olive branch forest.  Our Christmas and New Year period involved a steady flow of family and friends visiting, some tasty meals, yabby catching expeditions to the dam, a few late nights and a few cold drinks.  It was fun and low key, just the way it should be.

I am still shelling chickpeas that I grew as a green manure crop last year.  With only one or two peas in each pod some patience is required for this job.

The festivities and Christmas cooking might be over but farm work rolls on and workers still need to be fed.  After harvesting apricots in December I made a batch of apricot jam using this recipe from Sophie’s blog and book.  With plenty of jam on hand, jam tarts seemed an obvious choice for some New Year’s Day baking.  When tarts need to be transported to the paddock or further afield I have found muffin cases provide extra stability when packed snugly into plastic containers.  Packing food safely and neatly gives me a sense of satisfaction, strange I know!

The first Snake beans for the season are heading for my kitchen.  They are growing in the middle of a tomato and basil jungle which doesn’t seem to be worrying them, so far.

Bloggers are some of the kindest people I know.  Just prior to Christmas I was truly touched when our mail plane delivered a parcel all the way from Anne in England.  I know I am not the only blogger who loves enamel ware.  Jane and Brydie, don’t you just love this mug?  The bottle of Slamseys Blackberry Gin is disappearing quickly.  Gin is a lovely tipple, who knew?  Thank you Anne.

Are you baking or packing or harvesting or enjoying a quiet festive drink?
I hope you are enjoying January so far.

As always I am linking up Celia and many other busy kitchens from all across the world.