Days of Jay - Good Mood Food, Recipes and More!

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!

Recipes By Main Ingredient

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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.

Fresh Homemade Pasta

I think everybody should know how to make Fresh Homemade Pasta. Fresh pasta is super quick and easy to make in the food processor, and once you’ve made it, I promise, you will be completely hooked.

Homemade Sesame Bagels

Perfectly chewy, golden-brown and topped with toasted seeds, these Homemade Sesame Bagels are best lavishly smeared with cream cheese, layered with smoked salmon and sprinkled with capers.

A good quiche has to be one of my desert island foods, and to my mind, there is no better filling than luxurious smoked salmon. Paired with tangy creme fraiche, spring onions and fresh herbs, this is a seriously flavoursome quiche. Perfect for lunch or a light dinner, quiche can be made well in advance and eaten room temperature or gently warmed.

Smoked Salmon Quiche

A good quiche has to be one of my desert island foods, and to my mind, there is none better than a Smoked Salmon Quiche. With tangy creme fraiche, spring onions and fresh herbs, this is a perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

Honey Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry

Honey and Ginger Chicken stir-fry is perfect for a quick and delicious dinner for two. Lots of big flavours, easy and super satisfying. Serve with rice and steamed vegetables for an Asian inspired feast!

Gin and Tonic Jelly with Lemon Granita

This is definitely a dessert for the grown-ups! This is a beautiful recipe for a dinner party as it is a wonderful palate cleanser. Wobbly, glass clear Gin and Tonic Jelly cubes, served with bright, fresh and tangy lemon granita.

Looking for Dinner Inspiration?

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

Melt in your mouth pork, topped with a vibrant green sauce, Salsa Verde Pork Tenderloin is so incredibly tasty it is worth making two as the first is guaranteed to disappear in a flash!

Mediterranean meatball skewers with mixed vegetables on a white plate

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

Mussel au gratin or as the Italians call them Cozze al Forno are a fantastic starter or light meal for two. So quick and easy to prepare they are packed with Mediterranean flavour.

Recipes By Meal Type

My FAvourite German Cake Recipes

While people often associate Germany with pretzels and beer, it’s really all about coffee and cake!

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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

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.

Strawberry Ripple Semifreddo

I have been watching the news from Australia with a bit of a heavy heart – due to industrial sabotage the strawberry growing community has been devastated. For those who haven’t been following, someone, or someones unknown has/have been hiding needles inside fresh strawberries with over 100 cases so far across the whole continent. While…

Cherry Tomato and White Bean Salad in a bowl with wooden salad servers and a baguette.

Cherry Tomato and Bean Salad

My Cherry Tomato and Bean Salad is a simple and tasty recipe that you’ll want to make all summer long. Perfect as a light lunch or as an easy side dish for grilled meats.

Elderflower cordial is a delicious syrup made from the flowers of the elder tree with a delicate, sweet, floral scent. MAde with three ingredients.

Elderflower Cordial (with just 3 ingredients!)

Sweet, floral and so refreshing, my 3 Ingredient Elderflower Cordial recipe is simple to make. This delicious syrup is perfect for cool drinks on hot summer days.

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.

Classic Apricot Tart

Made from fresh apricots, a delicious almond frangipane filling and a homemade shortcrust pastry, my Classic Apricot Tart is a perfect summer treat.

Spicy Red Pepper Jelly (Without Added Pectin)

Sweet, tangy and delicious, Spicy Red Pepper Jelly (No Added Pectin) is the perfect condiment to serve with cream cheese and crackers. With free printable labels!

Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad

Bright, colourful and perfectly delicious Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad (Insalata Caprese) is the ultimate Italian summer salad with fresh green basil, creamy white burrata and juicy red tomatoes representing the colours of the Italian flag.

Italian Caprese Pasta Salad

Yesterday, it rained properly for the first time in weeks, and today, we woke up to cool, misty weather. It wasn’t long, of course, before the sun burst through, but it was a little hint that my favourite season of all, autumn, is on the horizon. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer as much…

Panko Coconut Fried Shrimp on a plate with salad and lime wedges.

Coconut Panko Fried Shrimp

Coconut Panko Fried Shrimp (or prawns!) is such a gloriously summery dish and makes a quick and easy starter or light lunch.

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Hi, I'm Jay!