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

Party snacks needn't be elaborate, so New Year's offers a great chance to clear the decks. The key rule is to stick to items to just one bite—no one wants to handle a fork. Guests just want a comforting taste of comfort food with a luxurious touch.

Should you possess a bit of smoked salmon left, layer it on blinis and crown it with affordable roe. Mini fishcakes are also an ideal choice: If you have remaining fish or flaked salmon, fold it through mashed potato, blend with fresh herbs, lemon, and fried leeks, then coat in Japanese breadcrumbs and deep-fry.

You could also get creative with Spanish croquettes. Make the bechamel a few days ahead, then use remaining pork, chicken, or mushrooms for the filling. Whizz old bread into breadcrumbs to coat them, then cook until crisp. Sausage roll mixtures are another natural home for those crumbs, or use them as a jacket for bite-sized chicken. For flavour, all you need a bit of lemon zest and aromatic herbs, and they'll sing so much more. As an aside, buttery pastries make excellent crumbs, too.

One favourite thing at this time of year is a leftovers sandwich, and that can continue after Boxing Day. Get some ham and turkey in an airtight container and store in the freezer. While you're at it, reserve some berry relish and honey ham glaze in the fridge. When needed, defrost the meat, then place it in a preheated oven with the saved 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 cranberry sauce. Cut into bite-sized pieces for a surefire hit.

Remaining poultry, meanwhile, could be turned into a spicy, crisp salad. There’s always 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 mix with leftover cranberry sauce loosened with lime juice, a spoonful of soy sauce and a little spicy oil. Garnish with chopped herbs and some green onions, and present in little gem leaves.

Transforming Leftover Vegetables

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