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

Finger food doesn't have to be elaborate, so New Year's presents a great opportunity to use up what's left. The main guideline is to keep things to just one bite—guests don't want to manoeuvre a fork. Guests are looking for a comforting taste of comfort food with a luxurious touch.

Should you possess a bit of smoked salmon left, place it on blinis and crown it with affordable roe. Mini fishcakes are also an ideal choice: Whether you've got remaining fish or hot smoked salmon, fold it through mashed potato, blend with fresh herbs, citrus, and caramelized onions, then coat in panko and deep-fry.

You could also get creative with croquetas. Make the bechamel up to days ahead, then use leftover ham, chicken, or foraged fungi for the filling. Blitz stale bread into crumbs to coat them, then cook until crisp. Savoury pastry mixtures are another perfect use for those crumbs, or use them as a jacket for bite-sized chicken. For flavour, just add a bit of citrus zest and aromatic herbs, and they'll sing so much more. As an aside, buttery pastries make superb coatings, too.

One beloved treat at this time of year is a leftovers sandwich, and that doesn't have to stop after Boxing Day. Get some ham and turkey in an airtight container and freeze. While you're at it, reserve some berry relish and honey ham glaze in the fridge. When needed, thaw the meat, then pop it in a preheated oven with the reserved glaze for a brief period. Cool and cut into thin pieces, then arrange on top of some artisan bread and assemble mini sandwiches with lots of tangy sauce. Slice into bite-sized pieces for a winner.

Remaining poultry, meanwhile, could be transformed into a spicy, crisp salad. You often have a bit of turkey leg left over, and it's ideal for something punchy. Shred the meat, then fry it slowly in a pan, and toss with remaining sauce thinned with citrus juice, a spoonful of soy and a little chilli oil. Garnish with fresh herbs and some green onions, and serve in little gem leaves.

Revamping Leftover Vegetables

Veg, meanwhile, can be scrubbed up and ready to party with a big batch of bubble and squeak. Combine all your leftover veg with herbs, then add salt and pepper and incorporate a binding agent. Cut out portions to roughly the size of blinis, then store in the icebox. Refresh in a preheated oven for a short time and top with your choice of topping—perhaps sliced beef and grated horseradish. A good tip, though: save a stash for brunch the next day.