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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?

Finger food doesn't have to be elaborate, so New Year's offers a great opportunity 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 are looking for a comforting taste of comfort food with a decadent twist.

Should you possess a bit of smoked salmon left, place it on blinis and crown it with affordable roe. Mini fishcakes are also an ideal choice: Whether you've got remaining fish or hot smoked salmon, fold it through creamy potatoes, combine with fresh herbs, citrus, and fried leeks, then roll in panko and deep-fry.

You could also have a ball with croquetas. Prepare the white sauce a few days ahead, then use leftover ham, poultry, or foraged fungi for the interior. Blitz stale bread into crumbs to cover them, then fry. Savoury pastry fillings are another natural home for those crumbs, or use them as a jacket for chicken pieces. 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 superb coatings, 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 sealed tub and freeze. 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. Let it cool and slice thinly, then lay on top of some artisan bread and assemble mini sandwiches with lots of tangy sauce. Slice into small squares for a winner.

Remaining poultry, meanwhile, could be transformed into a spicy, crisp salad. There’s always a bit of dark meat left over, and it's ideal for something full of flavour. Shred the meat, then crisp it slowly in a pan, and toss with remaining sauce thinned with lime juice, a dash of soy sauce and a little spicy oil. Finish with fresh herbs and some green onions, and present in small lettuce cups.

Revamping Remaining Veg

Vegetables, meanwhile, can be scrubbed up and ready to party with a big batch of bubble and squeak. Combine 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 preheated oven for a few minutes and finish with your choice of topping—perhaps roast beef and grated horseradish. A word to the wise, though: save a stash for a late breakfast the next day.