Delicious, easy recipes by Jay Wadams

Welcome to
Days of Jay

I'm Jay, cookbook author and food photographer.

Days of Jay is my website, where I share easy, delicious recipes for home cooking.

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.

Welcome to
Days of Jay

I'm Jay, cookbook author and food photographer. Days of Jay is my website, where I share easy, delicious recipes for home cooking.

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!


It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!


Well, the countdown is until the year’s end, and Christmas is just around the corner. Check out some of my most popular Christmas and festive recipes below!

Christmas Fruit Mince Tart

There’s nothing quite like the delicious aroma of a freshly baked Christmas Fruit Mince Tart to let you know the festive season has really begun. With brandied fruit mince and a buttery almond pastry, this recipe is perfect for a Christmas feast.

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Almond and Cranberry Nougat recipe title card.

Sweet and delicious, it is easier than you think to make homemade nougat. This recipe has no glucose or corn syrup and can be made with ordinary household ingredients. Perfect for Christmas gifts!

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Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies

With perfect spirals of chocolate and vanilla, my melt-in-the-mouth Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies are as good to look at as they are to eat. Made from crumbly, buttery shortbread they make a perfect and beautiful Christmas gift, though they are delicious any time of year!

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

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Homemade marzipan title card.

My Homemade Marzipan recipe is super easy and tastes miles better than store-bought. This eggless, no-bake recipe comes together in minutes with just three ingredients. Perfect for Christmas time, fruit cakes, cookies, marzipan candy and more.

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Classic British Christmas Cake recipe title card.

Even though I grew up on the other side of the world in New Zealand, it wouldn’t be Christmas Day without a Classic British Christmas Cake. This dense and sweet cake, packed with dried fruit, spices and plenty of brandy is an absolute must for the festive season and is something I look forward to…

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With beautifully bright colours Cranberry Orange Cured Salmon is a wonderful dish to serve as a starter at your festive table. It’s so simple to make and home and delicious with a creamy horseradish sauce.

With beautifully bright colours Cranberry Cranberry Orange Cured Salmon is a wonderful dish to serve as a starter at your festive table. It’s so simple to make at home and so delicious with a creamy horseradish sauce.

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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.

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.

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Delicate, crumbly pastry filled with aromatic spiced fruit, Christmas Fruit Mince Pies are one of the most delicious treats of the season. One is never enough!

Delicate, crumbly pastry filled with aromatic spiced fruit, Christmas Fruit Mince Pies are one of the most delicious treats of the season. One is never enough!

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German Christmas Stollen Title card showing two pictures of Stollen.

German Christmas Stollen is always a real treat during the holiday season. Made from an enriched yeast dough, loaded with rum-soaked fruit and candied peel, Stollen is delicious served with a cup of coffee or a warming mug of Glühwein.

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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.


Christmas Pavlova Slice

Christmas Pavlova Slice

My Christmas Pavlova slice is a delicious combination of ight and airy meringue, piled high with juicy berries. The perfect Christmas dessert!
Creamy Salmon Pasta Recipe Title Card.

Creamy Salmon Pasta Sauce

Salmon, white wine, cream and dill combine to make a restaurant-quality Creamy Salmon Pasta sauce. Made with pan-seared salmon, a touch of garlic and lemon bumps up the flavours in this easy weeknight dinner.
Easy Creamy Mushroom Soup Title Card.

Easy Creamy Mushroom Soup

As far as I am concerned, the best thing about the weather turning colder is all of the delicious comfort food we get to eat! Among my favourite recipes for cool-weather food is my Easy Mushroom Soup recipe. Made with…

German Käse-Sahne Torte on a cake stand.

Käse-Sahne Torte (German Cream Cake)

Käse Sahne Torte, or German Cream and Cheese Cake, is one of Germany’s best-kept secrets! Not to be confused with a Käsekuchen (cheesecake), a Käse-Sahne Torte is made from two layers of vanilla sponge, filled with a dreamy, creamy, lighter-than-air filling of Quark and cream with a hint of citrus. It is a true tea-time delight!
Herby Tomato Salsa Chicken Title Card.

Herby Tomato Salsa Chicken

Herby Tomato Salsa Chicken is made from juicy chicken breasts marinated in lemon and fresh herbs, topped with a spicy fresh tomato salsa. Served with a big helping of potato and sweet corn mash, this chicken dinner is definitely a winner!
Hearty Classic Chicken Stew

Classic Chicken Stew

Rich, filling, and supremely comforting, my Classic Chicken Stew is the perfect winter warmer. This recipe feeds four people easily and any leftovers are delicious the next day.
Marillenknödel Apricot Dumplings Title Card.

Marillenknödel – Austrian Apricot Dumplings

Marillenknödel or Austrian Apricot dumplings are a summer delight. Made from a simple dumpling dough filled with fresh apricots and a little sugar, these sweet treats always disappear fast. I like serving them with plenty of freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Delicious!
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!

Recipes By Meal Type


light-bites
Main Event
Sweet Things
cocktail hour

Marillenknödel – Austrian Apricot Dumplings
Wurstsalat (German Sausage Salad)
Easy Cherry Tomato Tart
Zwetschgendatschi (Bavarian Plum Tart)
Homemade Chocolate Popsicles

Looking for Dinner Inspiration?


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

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.
Stifado Greek Beef Stew title card.
Oven Roasted Chicken Marbella
An easy-breezy dinner for springtime, Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breasts are simple to prepare but look and taste fabulous. This is a brilliant recipe for an easy dinner party or Easter lunch.
Cashew Chicken Stir fry with bell peppers and basil.
Speck and Artichoke Risotto

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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Easy German Cake Recipes