Country Style shoot – behind the scenes

Country Style magazine’s Christmas issue goes on sale today, and I am so proud that our family, farm are within its pages! I wrote a Christmas menu for the issue and, thanks to the incredible team (photographer Lisa Cohen and stylist Beck Simon) who came to shoot with us and my friend Pip Farqhuharson who helped with the food prep – the results are, I think, gorgeous.

We shot this story on a bitterly cold August day. I don’t think the temperature edged must past six degrees  and definitely started at below zero. Also, our pipes had frozen that morning meaning no hot water (no showers – no hair washing!) and it certainly took us, or rather me, a while to warm up and get cracking.

Dressed in summer clothes, wrapped in blankets, trying to hide the fire from the camera – it was a very funny day. And our Alice (7) was an absolute trooper, decorating the tree outside, turning blue from the cold and cuddling a hot water bottle between shots.

But all of this aside, we also managed to shoot six beautiful dishes, and I really hope you try at least a couple of these recipes because they are so good and so easy. Nearly all the prep can be done well in advance and to me they capture the best of Christmas cooking; easy, seasonal, tasty food that’s made to share.

A big thanks must go to my lovely friend Prue Hufton of Olive and Clover (above, in the striped top and pink skirt). Prue drove over from Harden to Orange for the shoot to help me with what to wear and also hang with the kids while they were waiting for the group shots. Prue brought a car full of gorgeous clothes which we all fell upon, including another great friend Rach, pictured above right, who came along to have lunch with us. And as you can see below, behind the scenes was a far cry from the beautiful, white styling of our actual shots! Also, we drank a selection of wines from Cargo Road Winery, whose winemaker and our neighbour and friend James Sweetapple was also there for the shoot.

A big thanks must go to my lovely friend Prue Hufton of Olive and Clover. Prue drove over from Harden to Orange for the shoot to help me with what to wear and also hang with the kids while they were waiting for the group shots. Prue brought a car full of gorgeous clothes which we all fell upon, including another great friend Rach, pictured below, who came along to have lunch with us. And as you can see , behind the scenes was a far cry from the beautiful, white styling of our actual shots! Also, we drank a selection of wines from Cargo Road Winery, whose winemaker and our neighbour and friend James Sweetapple was also there for the shoot.