Festive Finger Food: Ways to Transform Christmas Remains into New Year’s Eve Appetizers

What kinds of bite-sized appetizers can I whip up for New Year’s Eve using my Christmas leftovers that will still feel special?

Finger food doesn't have to be fancy, so New Year's presents a great chance to use up what's left. The key rule is to stick to items to just one bite—no one wants to handle a fork. People just want a comforting taste of hearty fare with a decadent twist.

Should you possess a bit of cured fish left, layer it on blinis and crown it with affordable roe. Small patties are also an ideal choice: Whether you've got remaining fish or flaked salmon, mix it through mashed potato, combine with dill, lemon, and caramelized onions, then coat in Japanese breadcrumbs and fry until golden.

You could also have a ball with croquetas. Make the bechamel a few days ahead, then use remaining pork, poultry, or foraged fungi for the filling. Blitz old bread into breadcrumbs to cover them, then fry. Savoury pastry mixtures are another perfect use for those crumbs, or use them as a coating for chicken pieces. For flavour, all you need a bit of lemon zest and aromatic herbs, and they'll taste so much more. As an aside, buttery pastries make superb coatings, too.

One beloved treat at this time of year is a post-holiday sandwich, and that doesn't have to stop after Boxing Day. Get some holiday meats in an sealed tub and freeze. While you're at it, reserve some cranberry sauce and sweet glaze in the fridge. When needed, thaw the meat, then pop it in a hot oven with the saved glaze for a brief period. Cool and slice thinly, then arrange on top of some artisan bread and assemble mini sandwiches with lots of tangy sauce. Cut into small squares for a winner.

Remaining poultry, meanwhile, could be transformed into a zingy salad. You often have a bit of dark meat left over, and it's perfect for something punchy. Shred the meat, then crisp it slowly in a pan, and toss with remaining sauce thinned with citrus juice, a dash of soy and a little spicy oil. Garnish with chopped herbs and some green onions, and present in small lettuce cups.

Transforming Leftover Vegetables

Veg, meanwhile, can be scrubbed up and ready to party with a big batch of bubble and squeak. Mix all your remaining vegetables with herbs, then add salt and pepper and add flour. Stamp out portions to about the size of blinis, then keep in the icebox. Refresh in a hot oven for a short time and top with your choice of topping—perhaps roast beef and grated horseradish. A good tip, though: save a stash for a late breakfast the next day.