Ideas for Christmas leftovers

YOU’VE been preparing for it for days and, after having slaved over a hot oven for hours, the Christmas meal is done and dusted for another year. In no time at all your family devoured the hearty feast but, as usual, you sit looking at the leftovers, wondering what to do with them.

While nothing beats the Christmas turkey, gammon, oven roasted vegetables and all the delicious trimmings, nobody wants to eat the same thing day after day, until it’s finished.

Do not fear, here are two wonderful ideas to turn your Christmas leftovers into a new meal.

Leftover turkey casserole

Ideal for turkey or any leftover Christmas meats. Brown two chopped onions and one chopped apple. Stir in one teaspoon dried sage followed by two tablespoons flour, 300ml stock and a honey mustard mix.

Allow to simmer and stir in leftover meats and vegetables.

Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Season and enjoy with mashed potato or rice.

Chicken, ham, leek and roast potato pie

Not limited to this combination, whatever meats and vegetables you have leftover, can be turned into a delicious pie and eaten warm or cold. Throw your leftover meat and vegetables into an ovenproof pie dish. In a pot, heat up some oil and stir in one heaped tablespoon flour, stirring for one minute. Add 200ml white wine and 400ml stock. Bring to the boil and stir continuously to reduce to a thick sauce. Remove from the heat and stir in three heaped tablespoons crème fraiche before pouring over your meat and vegetable filling.

Roll your unfrozen shortcrust pastry and place on top of the pie filling. Crimp the edges with a fork and press pastry to edges of pie dish.

Glaze with a beaten egg and cook for 30 – 40 minutes in a preheated oven at 200C.