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What kinds of bite-sized appetizers 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 offers a great chance to use up what's left. The key rule is to stick to items to just one bite—no one wants to handle a fork. People just want a comforting taste of hearty fare with a luxurious touch.

If you have a bit of smoked salmon left, place it on blinis and top it with affordable roe. Mini fishcakes are also just the ticket: Whether you've got remaining fish or flaked salmon, fold it through creamy potatoes, blend with dill, lemon, and fried leeks, then roll in Japanese breadcrumbs and fry until golden.

You could also get creative with Spanish croquettes. Prepare the white sauce a few days ahead, then use leftover ham, chicken, or foraged fungi for the filling. Whizz stale bread into crumbs to coat them, then fry. Sausage roll mixtures are another perfect use for those breadcrumbs, or use them as a jacket for bite-sized chicken. For flavour, all you need a bit of citrus zest and aromatic herbs, and they'll taste 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 holiday meats in an airtight container and store in the freezer. While you're at it, reserve some cranberry sauce and sweet glaze in the fridge. When needed, defrost the meat, then pop it in a hot oven with the reserved glaze for a short time. Let it cool and cut into thin pieces, then arrange on top of some artisan bread and start building sandwiches with lots of tangy sauce. Slice into bite-sized pieces for a winner.

Leftover turkey, meanwhile, could be turned into a spicy, crisp salad. There’s always a bit of turkey leg left over, and it's perfect for something punchy. Pull the meat, then crisp it slowly in a pan, and mix with remaining sauce thinned with citrus juice, a dash of soy and a little chilli oil. Finish with chopped herbs and some green onions, and serve in little gem leaves.

Revamping Remaining Veg

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