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!

Apricot Glazed Christmas Ham title card.

Sweet and sticky with a touch of spice, my Apricot Glazed Christmas Ham recipe is sure to please the Christmas crowds. Made with a delicious apricot glaze, this ham is the tastiest, most stress-free Christmas main around.

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German Cinnamon Star Cookies zimtsterne.

The ultimate German Christmas cookie, Zimtsterne or Cinnamon Star Cookies are deliciously chewy morsels, topped with a crisp layer of snowy white meringue.

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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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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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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 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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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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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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A plate of Vanillekipferl or Vanilla crescent cookies surrounded by Christmas decorations, walnuts, clementines and a candle.

Possibly the tastiest of all German Christmas cookies, Vanillekipferl are, crumbly, buttery crescent-shaped cookies, scented with heavenly vanilla. Yum!

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Speculaas Dutch Spice Cookies

Speculaas or Dutch Spice Cookies are a wonderfully old fashioned Christmas treat and so delicious! These light and crisp cookies are full of fragrant and exotic spices, perfect for the festive season.

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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.

Steak and Salsa Salad
Herb Crusted Roast Lamb Title Card
Greek Lamb Shank in parchment paper with potatoes, olives, tomatoes and onions. Title card.
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!
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.
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!

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