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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 impress guests?

Finger food doesn't have to be fancy, so New Year's offers a perfect chance to clear the decks. The key rule is to keep things to just one bite—no one wants to manoeuvre a fork. Guests just want a big hug of hearty fare with a luxurious touch.

Should you possess a bit of cured fish left, place it on mini pancakes and top it with lumpfish caviar. Mini fishcakes are also an ideal choice: If you have remaining fish or hot smoked salmon, fold it through mashed potato, combine with fresh herbs, lemon, and fried leeks, then roll in panko and fry until golden.

You could also get creative with Spanish croquettes. Make the bechamel a few days ahead, then use remaining pork, poultry, or foraged fungi for the filling. Blitz stale bread into breadcrumbs to coat them, then cook until crisp. Sausage roll fillings are another natural home for those crumbs, or use them as a jacket for bite-sized chicken. Seasoning-wise, just add 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 doesn't have to stop 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 sweet glaze in the fridge. When needed, defrost the meat, then place it in a preheated oven with the reserved glaze for a short time. Let it cool and cut into thin pieces, then arrange on top of some sourdough and start building 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. Shred the meat, then fry it slowly in a pan, and toss with remaining sauce thinned with citrus juice, a dash of soy sauce and a little spicy oil. Garnish with chopped herbs and some sliced spring onion, and serve in small lettuce cups.

Transforming Leftover Vegetables

Vegetables, meanwhile, can be scrubbed up and ready to party with a big batch of fried potato cake. Combine all your remaining vegetables with fresh herbs, then add salt and pepper and incorporate a binding agent. Stamp out portions to roughly the size of blinis, then keep in the freezer. Reheat in a preheated oven for a short time and finish with whatever you like—perhaps roast beef and sharp horseradish. A good tip, though: save a stash for a late breakfast the next day.