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!


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


French Pot Roast Chicken

A heart-warming classic, French Pot Roast Chicken or ‘Poulet au Pot’ is a terrific recipe for beautifully juicy, tender chicken with flavoursome root vegetables and a rich gravy. As a bonus, it’s all cooked in one pot so less washing up!
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.

Looking for Dinner Inspiration?


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

Chicken and Farro Salad
Portobello Mushroom Burgers with salad and pickled red onions on a plate.
Roasted Eggplants stuffed with spiced lentils, tomatoes and herbs.
Herby Brown Butter Ravioli
Thai Massaman Beef Curry
Pork Dim Sum Dumplings Title Card.

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.

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!

Apricot Puff Pastry Braid.

Apricot Puff Pastry Braid

Whenever I need a sweet or dessert in a hurry, I always make a Puff Pastry Braid. The combination of flaky puff pastry, juicy apricots and sweetened cream cheese is always a winner, and only takes minutes to prepare.

Slow Roasted Tomato Sauce

Slow Roasted Tomato Sauce

Roasting the tomatoes for Slow Roasted Tomato Sauce intensifies their delicious, summery flavour. Make up a big batch when tomatoes are at their best and you’ll have a taste of summer all year round.

Shrimp, Watermelon and Feta Salad

Shrimp, Watermelon and Feta Salad is a glorious mixture of textures and tastes, with cool watermelon perfectly pairing with garlicky shrimp, salty feta cheese and a pop of chilli. This simple recipe is summer on a plate!

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!

Quinoa and Lentil Salad with feta and fresh herbs.

Quinoa and Lentil Salad with Feta and Herbs

A fresh, flavour-packed salad of quinoa, lentils, herbs, cranberries, capers and feta, finished with a lemony yoghurt dressing and plenty of crunch. This quinoa and lentil salad is one of my favourites!

No cook refrigerator pickles Made with a simple brine, and a combination of cucumber, shallots and red pepper

No Cook Refrigerator Pickles

Sweet, crunchy and with a hint of spice, No Cook Refrigerator Pickles are brilliant in sandwiches, with cold meats or just for snacking on. My simple recipe is so quick and easy to put together and is easily adjusted to suit your tastes.

Tangy Redcurrant Jelly

Tangy Redcurrant Jelly – No added Pectin!

I have written a lot about how much I love redcurrants, those ruby-coloured strands of beautiful summer berries. While I usually use them in baking, as they are so good in a Redcurrant Crumble Cake, they also make a brightly coloured and tangy Redcurrant Jelly, made with only two ingredients. That’s right—this recipe has no…

Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Flowers

Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Flowers

Baked, rather than fried, these Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Flowers are filled with creamy cheese, zingy lemon, fresh herbs and salty anchovy. Perfect for a summer party or a light dinner.

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!