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

Party snacks doesn't have to be fancy, so New Year's offers a perfect opportunity to clear the decks. The main guideline is to keep things to just one bite—no one wants to manoeuvre a fork. People just want a comforting taste of hearty fare with a luxurious touch.

If you have a bit of smoked salmon left, layer it on blinis and crown it with affordable roe. Mini fishcakes are also just the ticket: Whether you've got leftover smoked haddock or hot smoked salmon, fold it through creamy potatoes, blend with dill, lemon, and fried leeks, then coat in Japanese breadcrumbs and fry until golden.

You could also have a ball with croquetas. Make the bechamel up to days ahead, then use remaining pork, poultry, or foraged fungi for the filling. Whizz old bread into breadcrumbs to cover them, then fry. Savoury pastry mixtures are another natural home for those crumbs, or use them as a coating for chicken pieces. For flavour, all you need a bit of lemon zest and aromatic herbs, and they'll taste so much more. As an aside, croissants make superb coatings, too.

One beloved treat 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 sealed tub and store in the freezer. While you're at it, reserve some berry relish and honey ham glaze in the fridge. When needed, thaw the meat, then pop it in a hot oven with the reserved glaze for a brief period. Let it cool and slice thinly, then arrange on top of some sourdough and start building mini sandwiches with lots of tangy sauce. Cut into bite-sized pieces for a winner.

Remaining poultry, meanwhile, could be turned into a zingy salad. You often have a bit of dark meat left over, and it's ideal for something full of flavour. Pull the meat, then fry it slowly in a pan, and toss with remaining sauce loosened with citrus juice, a dash of soy sauce and a little chilli oil. Garnish with chopped herbs and some green onions, and present in little gem leaves.

Revamping Leftover Vegetables

Veg, meanwhile, can be scrubbed up and ready to party with a big batch of bubble and squeak. Mix all your remaining vegetables with fresh herbs, then season and add flour. Stamp out portions to roughly the size of blinis, then keep in the icebox. Refresh in a preheated oven for a short time and top with your choice of topping—perhaps roast beef and grated horseradish. A good tip, though: save a stash for brunch the next day.