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What types of canapes can I whip up for New Year’s Eve using my Christmas remaining food that will still impress guests?

Party snacks needn't be elaborate, so New Year's presents a perfect chance to clear the decks. The main guideline is to stick to items to just one bite—guests don't want to handle a fork. People are looking for a comforting taste of comfort food with a decadent twist.

Should you possess a bit of cured fish left, place it on blinis and crown it with affordable roe. Small patties are also an ideal choice: If you have leftover smoked haddock or hot smoked salmon, fold it through creamy potatoes, combine with fresh herbs, citrus, and caramelized onions, then roll in Japanese breadcrumbs and deep-fry.

You could also get creative with Spanish croquettes. Prepare the white sauce a few days ahead, then use leftover ham, chicken, or mushrooms for the filling. Blitz old bread into breadcrumbs to cover them, then cook until crisp. Sausage roll mixtures are another natural home for those breadcrumbs, or use them as a coating for bite-sized chicken. Seasoning-wise, all you need a bit of lemon zest and aromatic herbs, and they'll taste so much more. As an aside, croissants make excellent coatings, too.

One beloved treat at this time of year is a leftovers 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, set aside some cranberry sauce and honey ham glaze in the refrigerator. When needed, thaw the meat, then pop it in a preheated oven with the saved glaze for a brief period. Let it cool and slice thinly, then arrange on top of some sourdough and assemble sandwiches with lots of cranberry sauce. Slice into small squares for a surefire hit.

Remaining poultry, meanwhile, could be transformed into a zingy salad. There’s always a bit of dark meat left over, and it's perfect for something punchy. Pull the meat, then crisp it slowly in a pan, and mix with leftover cranberry sauce thinned with citrus juice, a dash of soy sauce and a little spicy oil. Garnish with chopped herbs and some green onions, and serve in little gem leaves.

Transforming Leftover Vegetables

Veg, meanwhile, can be dressed up and ready to party with a big batch of fried potato cake. Mix all your remaining vegetables with fresh herbs, then add salt and pepper and add a binding agent. Stamp out portions to roughly the size of blinis, then keep in the icebox. Reheat in a hot oven for a few minutes and finish with whatever you like—perhaps roast beef and grated horseradish. A good tip, though: set some aside for brunch the next day.