Delicious, easy recipes by Jay Wadams

Hi, I'm Jay!

I'm a cookbook author, food photographer and recipe developer.

Days of Jay is my website dedicated to sharing simple, tasty recipes for home cooking.

Jay Wadams - Cook, Author and Photographer. Owner daysofjay.com

My recipes are packed with photos and useful tips and tricks to help you as you cook. They are all inspired by healthy, seasonal ingredients and my travels across the globe, especially in Germany, Italy, Cyprus, and Australasia.

I am so excited to have you here, so let’s dive in and get cooking!


Chicken Recipes Category Page.
Vegetarian Recipes Category.
Fish Recipes
Beef Recipes.
Pork Recipes
Lamb Recipes

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The Latest Recipes From My Kitchen

Discover my latest and greatest recipes below, or use the search function to find exactly what you’re looking for.


Cinnamon Star Bread Title Card showing star bread from two angles. Text overly 'Sweet Cinnamon Star Bread'.

Cinnamon Star Bread

One of my favourite Christmas bakes is Cinnamon Star Bread. With the delicious flavour of cinnamon rolls, this sweet bread recipe makes a beautiful loaf to feed a crowd. It is also actually much simpler than it looks, relying on clever cutting and twisting of the layers of dough to achieve the beautiful design.
German Sauerbraten recipe card.

Real German Sauerbraten

One of the most delicious and traditional ways to serve beef roast, my authentic German Sauerbraten recipe is made from beef that has been marinated in wine, vinegar and spices, then slow-roasted to fork-tender perfection. Serve with red cabbage and potato dumplings for a proper German feast!

New Zealand Louise Cake

Made from crumbly, buttery shortcake topped with a layer of tart berry jam and crispy coconut meringue. Louise cake is one of New Zealand’s favourite sweet treats!
Italian Pork and Fennel Ragu title card.

Italian Pork and Fennel Ragu

My classic Italian Pork and Fennel Ragu recipe is rich, flavoursome and truly delicious. Made in under half an hour it’s the perfect topping for fresh pappardelle.
Tender, moist turkey breast filled with traditional stuffing and roasted to perfection. This delicious roast only cooks in under 2 hours, making it perfect for smaller celebrations.

Stuffed Turkey Breast

Tender, moist turkey breast filled with traditional stuffing and roasted to perfection. This delicious roast is ready in under two hours, making it perfect for smaller celebrations.

Looking for Dinner Inspiration?


Below are some of my most popular dinner recipes. Quick and easy with simple ingredients and big flavours.

Herb Crusted Roast Lamb Title Card
Herby Brown Butter Ravioli
Baked Breaded Cod Recipe Title Card.
Tasty Chickpea Burgers
Easy Pork Stir Fry Recipe Title Card
A picture of a classic Italian Lasagne al forno served with fresh green salad and a glass of white wine

Recipes By Meal Type


light-bites
Main Event
Sweet Things
cocktail hour

Fresh and Easy Recipes for the Summer


When it’s hot and sunny, it’s the perfect time to embrace fresh and healthy eating. Below are some of my favourite simple and healthy recipes.

Homemade Tomato Relish Title Card.

Homemade Tomato Relish

A classic recipe for generations of New Zealanders and Australians, my summer wouldn’t be complete without Homemade Tomato Relish. Perfect for BBQs, sandwiches, cheeseboards and more, this delicious recipe is super simple.

Greek Lamb Salad with roasted Potatoes title card.

Greek Lamb Salad with Roasted Potatoes

With juicy garlic and rosemary lamb, a classic Greek-style salad, golden roasted potatoes, and a side of tzatziki, my Greek Lamb Salad with Roasted Potatoes is the perfect quick, easy, and healthy weeknight dinner. Big flavours, little effort, win!

A picture of a classic Italian Lasagne al forno served with fresh green salad and a glass of white wine

Lasagna al Forno

Quick and easy, my foolproof Lasagna al Forno recipe is great for feeding a crowd. With layers of rich bolognese sauce, creamy bechamel and pasta, this recipe is guaranteed to have them coming back for more.

Italian Eggplant Caponata in a cooking dish.

Sicilian Caponata (Italian Eggplant Stew)

Caponata is a bold, tangy, and slightly sweet Sicilian eggplant stew. perfect with crusty bread and a cold glass of wine. Make a big batch as it lasts for ages and is even better on day two.

Warm Potato Salad with Roasted Salmon Title Card.

Warm Potato Salad with Roasted Salmon

I love potato salad in all its forms, but this has to be one of my favourites. My Warm Potato Salad with Roasted Salmon is so simple. It’s the perfect midweek meal with fresh herbs, capers, and a lemon dressing. Yum!

Panzanella Tuscan Bread Salad

Panzanella – Tuscan Bread Salad

This delicious recipe for Panzanella Tuscan Bread Salad comes from my Aunt Peggi and it is a glorious summery meal. With ripe tomatoes, salty cheese and fresh basil, it’s perfect for a summer BBQ.

Vietnamese Prawn Spring Rolls

Vietnamese Prawn Spring Rolls

Light, fresh, and full of delicious vegetables, Vietnamese Prawn Spring Rolls are fun to make and the perfect light meal for a hot summer day. Mix and match fillings to suit your tastes, but don’t forget the spicy peanut dipping sauce!

Wildly popular across Europe, the Hugo Spritz cocktail is a refreshing mixture of lime, mint, elderflower and sparkling wine. Served over ice in a large wine glass, this is the perfect drink on a sunny day.

The Hugo Spritz Cocktail

We are in the middle of those golden autumn weeks, where the days dawn bright and sunny, the early fog burning off quickly under the sun. While the nights are already too cool to sit outside for long, it’s the ideal time for afternoon sundowners on the balcony, and what could be better than a…

Wurstsalat or Sausage salad title card.

Wurstsalat (German Sausage Salad)

A German Sausage Salad (in this case, pepped up as a Swiss Sausage Salad with plenty of delicious cheese) is the ideal light meal for hot summer days with an ice-cold German beer. Serve it with good-quality rye bread, or make it part of a beer garden feast!

Kiwi or Kiwifruit Granita in a glass dish with fresh kiwifruit

Kiwi Granita

Tangy, refreshing and bursting with kiwi fruit flavour, this simple recipe for Kiwi Granita requires only three ingredients: fresh kiwis, sugar and lemon juice. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a scoop of Greek yoghurt for a light and refreshing summer dessert.

Italian Roasted Peppes stuffed with tomatoes and goat's cheese served with rice

Italian Roasted Peppers

My Italian Roasted Peppers recipe is a simple and flavoursome dish full of all those summery flavours that we associate with la dolce vita; peppers, tomatoes, basil and lashings of good olive oil. Buon Appetito!