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.

Perfectly tender, rosy roast beef is easier than you think! Slow Roast Beef where the beef is seared before roasting at a very low temperature produces juicy, delicious beef every time.

Perfect Slow Roast Beef

Perfectly tender, rosy roast beef is easier than you think! Slow Roast Beef produces juicy, delicious beef every time.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

It must be nearly winter because I am craving Sticky Toffee Puddings. The magical transformation of dried dates into a luxurious pudding is what I call kitchen alchemy. Make one big pudding to share or bake in individual ramekins.

British Style Baked Beans

So much better than beans from a tin, Homemade British Style Baked Beans are rich and tomatoey – perfect for a weekend brunch. Make up a big batch when you have time and you can have your breakfast or brunch ready in a flash.

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.

Garlic Butter Mussels au Gratin

Herby, buttery, crumbed mussels are a French delight. Perfect as party snacks, these tasty Garlic Butter Mussels disappear in a flash!

My all-time favourite veggie dish, my friend Sabine’s Pumpkin Seed Lasagne is so rich and satisfying even meat-eaters love it! Filled with healthy and delicious seeds this is the ideal dish to serve for your next vegetarian meal.

Pumpkin Seed Lasagna

Pumpkin Seed Lasagna is so rich and satisfying even meat-eaters love it! Filled with healthy and delicious seeds this is the ideal dish to serve for your next vegetarian meal.

Looking for Dinner Inspiration?

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

Packed with roasted peppers, tangy feta, fresh herbs and chewy orzo, this bright and beautiful pasta salad is a summer favourite. Orzo and Roast Pepper Salad gets better as the days go by, so make a big batch to take you through the week!

A picture of Imam Bayildi, roast Turkish eggplants stuffed with tomatoes and onions in a white bowl

Mediterranean meatball skewers with mixed vegetables on a white plate

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.

Apricots Poached in Rosé Wine

Gently cooked in rosé wine, scented with vanilla, served with a big scoop of ice cream and some buttery homemade shortbread cookies, my Rosé Vanilla Poached Apricots are truly heavenly.

Zwetschgendatschi (Bavarian Plum Tart)

Zwetschgendatschi or Bavarian Plum Tart is a glorious late summer baked treat made from crumbly sweet pastry and a topping of juicy Zwetschgen Plums.

Easy Cherry Tomato Tart

Possibly the most delicious way to show off sweet summer tomatoes! My simple recipe for Roasted Cherry Tomato tart, with loads of fresh tomatoes, buttery puff pastry, cream cheese and fresh herbs is a real crowd-pleaser.

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!

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.

Obatzda (Bavarian Beer and Cheese Dip)

Obaztda is a delicious Bavarian Beer and Cheese Spread, perfect for picnics, the beer garden, or for lining your stomach before you start on that litre of beer – and it is super easy to make at home!

Strawberry Cream Puffs

Strawberry Cream Puffs, or profiteroles, are a delightful tea-time treat. The simple choux pastry, filled with whipped cream and strawberries, makes a dessert perfect for any occasion. You’ll be amazed at how light and airy they are. Love at first bite!

Welcome

Hi, I'm Jay!