I'm Jay, a cookbook author, food photographer and recipe developer.
Days of Jay is my website dedicated to sharing simple, tasty recipes for home cooking.
Delicious, easy recipes by Jay Wadams
I'm a cookbook author, food photographer and recipe developer.
Days of Jay is my website dedicated to sharing simple, tasty 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!
Discover my latest and greatest recipes below, or use the search function to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Sweet, juicy and fragrant with a cinnamon sugar coating, Fried Apple Rings or Apfelkücherl are one of my favourite German Christmas market treats. You don’t have to stand around in the snow to enjoy them though, with my simple batter they are super easy to prepare at home.
Hearty and nutritious, my Chicken Lentil Soup is a great big warm hug of a meal, perfect for chilly winter days. Loaded with lean meat, veg and pulses, a big pot of this comforting soup will feed the whole family and warm you up from the inside out.
Crumbly, zesty and utterly delightful, my Lemon Shortbread Cookies are like a burst of sunshine on a winter’s day. These buttery cookies make the perfect gift for lemon lovers and are delicious alongside a cup of coffee or afternoon tea.
The ultimate German Christmas cookie, Zimtsterne or Cinnamon Star Cookies are deliciously chewy morsels, topped with a crisp layer of snowy white meringue.
Did you know it’s incredibly easy to make your own spreadable butter at home? With this clever recipe, you can have lovely soft butter directly out of the fridge all year round.
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.
Here in Germany, we love our dumplings! Served alongside a roast with plenty of gravy, German Potato Dumplings or Kartoffelknödel are an absolute must. Don’t worry if you have leftovers; they taste fantastic fried the next day!
Super light and fluffy on the inside and crisp and sugary on the outside, my German-style Donut holes or Quarkbällchen recipe is so easy it’s like kitchen magic. Made without yeast, they are ready in minutes. Perfect for parties or sharing with friends (or just eating all to yourself!)
The festive feasting has come to a close, and January has arrived! Whether you’ve set any New Year’s resolutions or not, it’s the perfect time to embrace fresh and healthy eating. Below are some of my favourite simple and healthy recipes.
Full of beautiful colour, Summer Roast Vegetable Salad is delicious as a meal by itself or for an outdoor barbecue. Make a big batch as it keeps for days!
Light, fresh, and full of delicious vegetables, Vietnamese Prawn Spring Rolls are fun to make and the perfect light meal for a hot summer day. Mix and match fillings to suit your tastes, but don’t forget the spicy peanut dipping sauce!
Turkish Red Lentil Soup or Mercimek Çorbası is one of Turkey’s most popular soups. Warming, hearty, healthy and quick and easy to make. Perfect for a cool autumn or spring evening.
It’s super easy to make a delicious Greek Salad at home. This summery favourite is tasty even in the cooler months, with loads of fresh veg and salty Feta cheese.
It’s November and soup season has officially started in my household. I felt like something spicy and fresh to banish the start-of-winter-blues. Today’s recipe for Pork Meatball Noodle Soup is just what the doctor ordered: juicy, garlicky meatballs and a rich broth, packed with ginger, chilli and fresh herbs. This is not based on any…
I love the thick and luscious texture of Spiced Hokkaido Pumpkin Soup. Teamed with warming spices and sprinkled with salty prosciutto and feta, this can be a meal in itself or the starter for a larger harvest feast.
Full of juicy parcels of flavoursome chicken, and fresh green bok choy all swimming in a spicy and aromatic broth, my delicious Chicken Wonton Soup will banish any winter blues.
Hearty, delicious and filling, Turkish Bulgur Salad or Kısır is a terrific meal all year round. It is the perfect accompaniment to grilled and barbecued meat or as part of a Turkish or Cypriot inspired feast!
Yesterday, it rained properly for the first time in weeks, and today, we woke up to cool, misty weather. It wasn’t long, of course, before the sun burst through, but it was a little hint that my favourite season of all, autumn, is on the horizon. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer as much…
With plenty of ginger and bright and zesty orange, silky Pumpkin and Ginger Soup is like a burst of sunshine in a bowl. A delicious recipe to keep you warm when it’s grey and cool outside.
While people often associate Germany with pretzels and beer, it’s really all about coffee and cake!
Below are some of my most popular dinner recipes. Quick and easy with simple ingredients and big flavours.
