Christmas leftovers

So what to do with all that leftover food, other than just putting it in a sandwich? YOURLifeChoices has recipes for your leftover turkey, ham, beef, vegetables and even Christmas pudding!

Turkey Nuggets
For a post Christmas party nibble, or just a tasty snack, dip turkey pieces in a beaten egg, then roll in fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs and oats. Roast for 15-20 minutes in the oven at 230°C, gas mark 8.

Ham and Asparagus Puffs
These ham and asparagus puffs can be used as party food or are great for a picnic treat.

Ingredients
500g puff pastry, thawed if frozen
250g asparagus
6 slices of ham
50g walnut pieces, roughly chopped
Olive oil
Beaten egg to glaze

Method
Preheat oven to 220°C/425°F/gas7.
Roll out pastry to a rectangle approx 42cm x 28cm and trim edges. Cut into six equal squares and place on a lined baking sheet.
Trim the hardened ends of the asparagus and divide into six equal bunches. Wrap a slice of ham around each bunch.
Brush the pastry with the beaten egg, lay one bundle diagonally across each square corner to corner and sprinkle lightly with a few chopped walnuts.
Fold in side corners to form a wrap around the bundle and brush the top pastry with beaten egg and sprinkle with more walnuts.
Bake for 15-18 minutes until pastry has risen and is golden brown.

Roast Beef Nicoise

Make use of delicious leftover roast beef, much better than putting it in a sandwich!
Serves two

Ingredients
150-225g cooked beef, thinly sliced
1 medium egg, hard-boiled and roughly chopped
6 small new potatoes, boiled and halved
35g green beans, topped, tailed and blanched
Roughly torn lettuce leaves
4 black olives, halved
1/2 small red onion, peeled and finely sliced
2 tomatoes, chopped
10ml (2tbsp) freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley

For the dressing:
20ml red wine vinegar
45ml extra virgin olive oil
1 small clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
Salt and pepper
Prepare the dressing by placing all the ingredients into a screw-topped jar and shake well.
Place all the salad ingredients in a large salad bowl and place the sliced beef over the top and toss lightly with the salad. Drizzle over the dressing and serve immediately with crusty bread, and a cheeky glass of pinot noir

Christmas Pud Ice Cream

This is a great recipe for using up the leftover Christmas pudding that everyone feels far too full to eat.
Serves four

Ingredients
150ml chilled ready made custard
150ml whipped cream, whipped
125g crumbled Christmas pudding
Liquor such as brandy, rum, whiskey or Irish cream

Mix together the custard and whipped cream then stir in the crumbled Christmas pudding. Freeze in a large plastic tub and stir every half hour or so until it’s the consistency you want. For a softer freeze, add your liquor of choice. Serve with brandy snap biscuits.

Bubble and Squeak

A great dish to serve for lunch, using leftover vegetables from Christmas dinner.

Roughly mash up leftover potatoes, sprouts, roasted parsnips and carrots. You can also add some ham if you like.

Fry some onions in oil in a large frying pan and press the mash mixture on top and cook until brown and then turn over, brown the other side, making sure the mixture is warm through. Serve cut into wedges with a green salad on the side.

Smoked Salmon Potato Cakes

Make sure nothing goes to waste with these Smoked Salmon Potato Cakes.

Mix leftover potatoes and smoked salmon with a dessertspoon of horseradish sauce. Shape into patties and dip in egg and flour and fry on both sides. Serve with a garlic aioli.