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!


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.
Authentic German Beef Rouladen title card.

German Beef Rouladen (Rinderrouladen)

My Authentic German Rouladen Recipe is a real family favourite. This traditional German dish is made from thinly sliced beef, stuffed with bacon, onions, pickles and mustard, all simmered in a rich gravy to fork-tender perfection.
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Soup

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Soup

Lightly spiced and full of delicious and healthy vegetables, Sweet Potato and Chickpea soup is a simple, healthy and flavoursome meal. Perfect as is, it can be bulked out with lean chicken breast for an extra protein boost.

Recipes By Meal Type


light-bites
Main Event
Sweet Things
cocktail hour

Classic Apricot Tart
Chicken Parmigiana (Chicken Parmesan)
Creamy Lemon Posset
Easy Baked Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Beetroot and Orange Relish

Comfort Food for Autumn and Fall


It’s my favourite season! Autumn or Fall is such a wonderful time for foodies and cooks. The markets are still full of late produce, the kitchen has FINALLY cooled down, and everyone is hungry for rib-sticking comfort food. Check out some of my favourite recipes below!

As contrary as it sounds, whenever the weather gets hot, my favourite way of cooking is to use the oven. I know it seems insane when the mercury is pushing 40°C outside to turn on a ferociously hot oven, but there is a method to my madness. The way I see it is that cooking…

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Roasted Feta Stuffed Mushrooms

I love mushrooms. Truly, mushrooms would have to be one of my desert-island foods. Whether fancy shiitake, the prized porcino, colourful pfifferlinge or plain old button mushrooms, they are all delicious, with their earthy flavour and delicate texture. Whatever time of year it is, mushrooms will find their way into my shopping basket, ready for risotto, a salad, a quiche,…

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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.

GET THE RECIPE

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!

In this recipe, Pork tenderloin is rubbed with aromatic spices, quickly seared on the stovetop and then finished off in the oven. Topped off with a tangy, herby salsa verde, Quick, simple and packed with flavour.

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If you’ve ever travelled to Hungary you are sure to have eaten plenty of this famous dish. Similar to goulash, Hungarian Pork Stew or Pörkölt is thick and hearty with a rich tomatoey sauce, perfect as a winter warmer.

If you’ve ever travelled to Hungary you are sure to have eaten plenty of this famous dish. Similar to goulash, Hungarian Pork Stew or Pörkölt is thick and hearty with a rich tomatoey sauce, perfect as a winter warmer.

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Stifado Greek Beef Stew title card.

This rich and sumptuous recipe comes from my good friend Deirdre Guthrie, owner of the Gardens of Irini in Bellapais, Cyprus. The secret to this dish is the long, slow cooking time, which makes the flavours extraordinarily intense and the meat meltingly tender.

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Looking for Dinner Inspiration?


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

Italian Beef Cannelloni Recipe
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Soup
Garlic and Herb Roast Salmon with asparagus and potatoes
Honey and Ginger Chicken
Pork Medallions and Peppers
A picture of a classic Italian Lasagne al forno served with fresh green salad and a glass of white wine

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