The Shady Baker shares her favourite recipes for chasing away the winter chill

Pruning the fruit trees is a regular winter task and I find it hard not to get distracted by twisting and bending the discared branches into rustic wreaths. They become spontaneous pieces of garden art as they dry and harden. Another delightful part of pruning is occasionally finding tiny birds’ nests that have previously been hidden by the vigorous summer growth. I leave these little homes in their place, hoping that the occupant may return next summer.

Nightfall begins to envelop the homestead earlier and gentle winter light replaces the unforgiving summer heat. Light cotton shirts and work shorts are replaced with cosier layers, jackets and thick socks. Our dogs find all the warmest places to snooze in the winter sun, away from cold breezes.

In the kitchen our meals change from green salads, fresh tomatoes and lamb chops on the barbecue to slow-cooked shanks, roasts and curries. The ham bone saved since Christmas is unearthed from the freezer and transformed into hearty soup.

In the paddock the horses’ coats start to look fluffier and hairier as nature prepares them for the cooler months.

Our pet goats look shaggier and small lambs snuggle closer to their big, woolly mothers for warmth and  protection.

The steady supply of eggs from my chooks starts to dwindle as these hard-working ladies take a winter break.

Sheep crutching occurs in the middle of winter when the lambs are strong enough to make the journey into the yards. Crutching keeps the fleeces clean and prepares the sheep for the warmer months ahead. There is often frost on the ground as the mustering team head out on motorbikes just after sunrise to bring the sheep in. These are mornings when a warm smoko and hot coffee are a non-negotiable part of the day. Often a fire is lit in the paddock to warm frozen hands while the thermoses and food are unpacked and set up.

The Shady Baker chats to Graziher’s Life on the Land podcast about her life on a sheep station east of Broken Hill and her love of cooking for her family.

Collecting firewood for our outdoor fireplace and woodfired oven is an outing that I always look forward to, a welcome opportunity to get away from the household routine and spend an afternoon throwing logs and kindling into the trailer while the rest of my family take care of the chainsaw work. Interesting treasures, including old bottles and long-forgotten rabbit traps, are often found while collecting wood.

The reward for a few hours of exercise is a cup of tea and something sweet beside the fire.

There is no simply no better time than winter for baking. It will warm the house, fill hungry bellies and give you a sense of pride and satisfaction. Oranges are at their best in winter, and if you have excess fruit my flourless muffins use two whole oranges. The caramel slice is rich and best served in small squares with strong tea. The pudding is a quick, easy dessert, and other seasonal fruit can be substituted for the apple. The hot chocolate is easily made over a small campfire. I always think it tastes better served outdoors and it’s something I always look forward to at this time of year.