More than ever, we can't afford to waste food. With a little thought and plannning, though, Festive leftovers make scrumptious comforting meals. They can also form the basis of New Year's Eve canapes.
Nearly all of the recipes here are Budget friendly.
A note on Storage Tips:
- Never re-freeze something that has been frozen before UNLESS it was frozen raw, eg meat, and cooked
- 67goingon50 recommends a 2-3 day limit on food in the refrigerator before it is frozen or binned
- The post 'Freezing Matters' from 67goingon50 is highly recommended
TURKEY LEFTOVERS/POST-HOLIDAY SUPERMARKET BARGAINS are very popular.
1. Cooked Turkey/Chicken
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One can see this being served from the back
of a chuckwagon in the American mid-west during the cowboy era |
- Sliced turkey in hot yorkshire puddings with gravy & cranberry sauce
- An accent in soups, stir fries, noodles
2. Raw Turkey (from New Year supermarket bargains)
- Turkey in Curry Sauce (from raw or turkey leftovers): This classic turkey leftover recipe happens to be extremely healthy with plenty of veg incorporated into the sauce. It is also delicious, comforting andfull of body and flavour
- An accent in soups, stir fries, noodles
- Don't forget: turkey carcass makes fabulous stock. Toss in a slow cooker with a couple of onions, carrots & sticks of celery, some peppercorns & a bay leaf. Cook on low overnight or for 8 hours. Strain, throw out veg but strip meat from the bones and save for sandwich fillings and pies. Refrigerate overnight; remove fat
3. Alcohol The obvious...but also flavouring coffees, icings (for adults), cheesecakes (for adults), homemade truffles4. Bread/Buns
5. Cheese- grate cheese ends; mix with a little cream and a touch of smoked paprika; pile onto toasted baguette slices & grill till melted
- spread leftover mixed cheeses over half a rolled out puff/shortcrust pastry, sprinkle with spice of choice, top with the rest of the pasty and press down with a rolling pin, cut into strips and twist into cheese straws; bake at 180c/350f until golden brown, about 10-15 min. (these always go down a storm!)
- layer bottom half of pre-made puff pastry with leftover salami or sausage, cover generously with grated cheese; top with rest of pastry, crimp edges, brush with egg; bake; cut into generous squares; serve warm
- Remember: Hard cheeses and soft ones like brie can be frozen but wrap first in grease-proof paper, then in cling film and store in an air tight freezer bag
6. Double Cream
- beat to a soft peak with vanilla and a bit of icing sugar for a superior topping for Irish Coffee & thick hot chocolate
- double cream transforms into butter when beaten continuously with electric beaters; the cream splits into butter and whey; use whey as a buttermilk substitute
7. Eggs
Raw:
Raw Egg whites (fresh or pre-frozen & defrosted)
Raw Egg Yolks (fresh or frozen, defrosted)
Hard Boiled Eggs:
Mixed Fresh Fruit
- Make healthy Exotic Fruit Salads: replace sugar syrup with unsweetened fruit juice, fresh or from a carton; flavour with mint or ginger syrup or alcohol; top up with tinned fruit if necessary
- Trifles (See Recipes 1: Baking)
- Incorporate into waffles or pancakes (
- Bake any kind with fruit juice & flavouring of choice; process to a sauce; strain if necessary; pour over ice cream (fresh pineapples are super sweet and budget friendly, usually well under £2 for a large 1 ) see how to peel a pineapple)
Ham
- great if you have leftovers from a large joint of ham, but don't forget the much cheaper ham hocks (from butchers) which also provide great leftovers
- shred and use as an accent in soups, salads or pasta
- breakfast croissants: stuff with ham & cheese; toast till cheese is melted OR stuff with ham, scrambled egg & chopped parsley
Lemons
- Sprinkle juice & zest over lightly steamed or boiled veg & scatter over toasted sunflower seeds
NutsOranges
Vegetables
- Cooked: frittatas and quiches; also vegetarian sandwiches
DON'T FORGET THE HOMELESS:
Freeze or keep back some:
- sandwiches/rolls with nice fillings
When shops re-open, add fresh fruit, bag up and leave with a cup of hot coffee.
These recipes have been developed by B Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.
