The turkey is now a carcass in the fridge. Mince pies have lost their icing sugar dusting. Christmas cake looks like it’s going to last until next Christmas. But it’s been a lovely holiday, albeit tiring for the cook, as usual.
What to do with the leftovers past Boxing Day? Do not waste them, that’s the first principle. The roast meat needs to be brought to room temperature, the meat picked off the bone and frozen in sensible portions. It will be a fantastic sandwich filler in a couple of weeks’ time. If you want to use the meat for dinners, all it takes is to chop it up, add some cheese or sliced vegetables and wrap up in pastry or tortillas.
Chopped up or minced meat is a great ingredient and here’s a bunch of recipes to use it in – no matter whether it is poultry, beef or pork. Apart from tacos, there are stuffed vegetables: courgettes, peppers or large tomatoes. Duck pastilla is delightful and you can use turkey meat in it just as well. Likewise, rissolles can be made with any cooked meat.
Lots of cheese in the fridge? Make a spicy cheesy lentil bake one night in the week. Or bake a batch of blue cheese and oats biscuits for snacking on New Year’s Eve before going to a party or a gathering.
And I wish you a brilliant one, my friends, and a brilliant New Year. Thank you for visiting Cuisine Fiend this year, trying out my recipes and leaving lovely comments. Do come back and bring friends, neighbours and relations in 2024!
Happy New Year everybody!