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!

Homemade Irish Cream couldn’t be easier to make, tastes streets ahead of the commercial stuff, can be adjusted precisely to suit your sweet tooth and makes an excellent gift for friends – if you are prepared to share it!

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Candied Orange Peels title card.

Candied Orange Peel makes a great gift (especially when coated in lashings of dark chocolate). It’s easy to make at home and a great way to turn orange peel (which would usually be tossed out) into a tasty candy.

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Title card for Spitzbuben, showing cut out unbaked spitzbuben cookies on a tray and completed spitzbuben.

Spitzbuben are one of the most beautiful traditional German Christmas cookies. Also known as Linzer Augen or Linzer Cookies, the delicious combination of buttery short pastry and tangy redcurrant jelly is a Christmas classic.

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Eierlikör Linzer Cookies Title Card.

These perfectly crumbly Eierlikör Linzer Cookies are filled with Advocaat spiked pastry cream. They make a delicious addition to your Christmas baking, especially served with a big mug of eggnog or Glühwein!

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German Nut Corners Nussecken Title Card.

Nussecken or Nut Corners are a famous German Christmas time treat made from a buttery shortbread base, topped with apricot jam and a layer of caramelized hazelnut. After baking, they are sliced into triangles, and the corners are dipped in delicious dark chocolate. Let me tell you, they are completely irresistible!

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Mini Berry Pavlova title card.

My simple recipe for Mini Berry Pavlovas with lots of tips and techniques to make sure you get the perfect Christmas pavlova!

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German Braised Red Cabbage title card.

No festive table in Germany would be without a big pot of braised red cabbage, flavoured with apple, cloves and juniper berries. Depending on where in the country you are, this could be called Rotkohl or Blaukraut and it is the perfect accompaniment to roast goose.

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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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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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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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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.


Herb Crusted Roast Lamb Title Card

Herb Crusted Roast Lamb

My Herb Crusted Roast Lamb is a brilliant recipe for your next Sunday roast or dinner party, with perfectly tender, rosy pink lamb surrounded in a bright green fresh herb and lemon crust. Served with plenty of mint sauce and some Mediterranean roast vegetables, this is a meal the whole family can enjoy.
Made from light, fluffy homemade marshmallow smothered in rich, dark chocolate, these Marshmallow Easter Eggs are sure to delight children and adults alike. The perfect homemade Easter treat.

Marshmallow Easter Eggs

Made from light, fluffy homemade marshmallow smothered in rich, dark chocolate, these Marshmallow Easter Eggs are sure to delight children and adults alike. The perfect homemade Easter treat.
Easy Overnight Bread Rolls Title Card.

Easy Overnight Bread Rolls

I love fresh bread in the morning, but I love it even more when it is as easy to make as these overnight bread rolls. No kneading, an overnight rise in the fridge, then a quick shape and they’re into the oven in time for breakfast. Easy and delicious with a wonderfully crunchy crust, this recipe is ideal for bread-making beginners.
New Zealand Afghan Biscuits

New Zealand Afghan Biscuits (Cookies)

New Zealand Afghan Biscuits are crunchy chocolate and cornflake cookies, covered with melt-in-the-mouth chocolate icing and topped with a walnut half. A classic or the NZ kitchen, these sweet treats are loved by old and young alike.
Raspberry and Almond Cale

Raspberry and Almond Cake

The perfect tea-time treat, Raspberry and Almond cake has a nutty crunch and bright pops of berry flavour. Quick and easy to make, this cake lasts for several days and is delicious warm or cold.
Sweet and Spicy Devilled Sausages

Devilled Sausages

Throw away the packet mix! My recipe for Devilled Sausages is made from all natural ingredients that you probably already have at home. Devilled Sausages are delicious comfort food: juicy pork sausages in a lightly spiced tomato and apple sauce. Yum!
Tasty Chickpea Burgers

Tasty Vegetarian Chickpea Burgers

My Vegetarian Chickpea Burgers are made from nutty chickpeas with fragrant spices, fresh herbs and zingy lemon and chilli. Loaded up with yoghurt, chutney and vegan mayo, they are so flavoursome and super tasty!

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.

Easy Chicken Lo Mein Noodles 1
Chilli Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Garlic Herb Crusted Chicken
Authentic German Beef Rouladen title card.
Portobello Mushroom Burgers with salad and pickled red onions on a plate.
Hasenpfeffer Title Card.

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