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What kinds of canapes can I prepare for New Year’s Eve using my Christmas remaining food that will still seem festive?

Finger food needn't be fancy, so New Year's presents a great chance to use up what's left. The main guideline is to keep things to just one bite—guests don't want to handle a fork. Guests just want a comforting taste of comfort food with a luxurious touch.

If you have a bit of smoked salmon left, layer it on mini pancakes and top it with affordable roe. Small patties are also just the ticket: If you have remaining fish or flaked salmon, mix it through mashed potato, combine with dill, lemon, and caramelized onions, then roll in Japanese breadcrumbs and deep-fry.

You could also have a ball with Spanish croquettes. Prepare the white sauce up to days ahead, then use leftover ham, chicken, or mushrooms for the interior. Blitz old bread into crumbs to cover them, then fry. Savoury pastry mixtures are another perfect use for those crumbs, or use them as a coating for chicken pieces. Seasoning-wise, just add a bit of citrus zest and thyme, and they'll sing so much more. As an aside, buttery pastries make excellent coatings, too.

One beloved treat at this time of year is a post-holiday sandwich, and that can continue after Boxing Day. Get some holiday meats in an sealed tub and store in the freezer. While you're at it, reserve some cranberry sauce and honey ham glaze in the refrigerator. When needed, defrost the meat, then pop it in a hot oven with the reserved glaze for a short time. Cool and slice thinly, then lay on top of some artisan bread and start building mini sandwiches with lots of tangy sauce. Slice into bite-sized pieces for a winner.

Remaining poultry, meanwhile, could be turned into a zingy salad. You often have a bit of turkey leg left over, and it's perfect for something full of flavour. Shred the meat, then crisp it slowly in a pan, and mix with leftover cranberry sauce thinned with citrus juice, a dash of soy and a little chilli oil. Garnish with fresh herbs and some sliced spring onion, and serve in small lettuce cups.

Transforming Leftover Vegetables

Vegetables, meanwhile, can be dressed up and ready to party with a big batch of fried potato cake. Combine all your leftover veg with herbs, then add salt and pepper and add a binding agent. Stamp out portions to roughly the size of small rounds, then keep in the freezer. Reheat in a hot oven for a few minutes and top with whatever you like—perhaps roast beef and grated horseradish. A good tip, though: save a stash for a late breakfast the next day.