Australian rock royalty Jimmy Barnes and his wife Jane are inviting the nation to their family table this festive season, sharing cherished recipes and stories from their new cookbook, Seasons Where the River Bends. The collection, released on December 17, 2025, is a heartfelt tribute to the legendary feasts and simple joys shared with loved ones at home.
A Rockstar's Festive Centrepiece: The Perfect Glazed Ham
At the heart of their Christmas celebration is Jane Barnes's mother's iconic glazed ham recipe, a spectacular centrepiece designed to feed a crowd. The recipe calls for an 8kg leg of ham, transformed with a sweet, boozy glaze and classic pineapple and cherry decoration.
The method begins by carefully removing the skin to leave a layer of fat, which is then rubbed with Dijon mustard and brown sugar. After scoring, the ham is studded with pineapple rings and cherries secured with toothpicks, and cloves are pushed into the gaps.
The magic is in the glaze: a simmered reduction of butter, brown sugar, reserved pineapple syrup, orange juice, whisky (they recommend Glenmorangie), honey, and marmalade. The ham is baked low and slow, basted frequently, until the fruit caramelises perfectly. The final result serves up to 20 guests, making it ideal for a true Barnes-sized gathering.
More Feasts from the Family Kitchen
Beyond the ham, the cookbook is packed with recipes that reflect their family's tastes and traditions. For a taste of summer, their Blue Swimmer Crab Cakes offer a crispy, golden starter. Made with fresh crab meat, mashed potato, and panko breadcrumbs, they are shallow-fried and served with lemon and tartare sauce.
No Australian festive table is complete without a pavlova, and the Barnes family boasts a never-fail pavlova recipe. Their version uses a classic method with egg whites, caster sugar, cornflour, and malt vinegar, baked slowly then left to cool in the oven. A unique family twist involves topping it with feijoa fruit, a guava-like ingredient that provides a tart contrast to the sweet meringue.
For a lighter, vibrant side, the Broad Bean, Fig, Stracciatella and Basil Salad combines blanched and podded broad beans with ripe figs, creamy stracciatella cheese, and fresh basil, dressed simply with olive oil and caramelised balsamic vinegar.
A Culinary Journey Through the Seasons
Seasons Where the River Bends, published by Harper Collins and retailing for $59.99, is more than just a list of instructions. It is a narrative cookbook filled with personal anecdotes and the ethos of cooking with love for family and friends. The recipes showcased promise to bring a touch of rockstar hospitality and genuine, family-tested flavour to home kitchens across Australia this holiday season and beyond.
