Christmas may be gone, but there is no doubt there is still a mountain of leftovers in your fridge. Don't think about throwing them away! Fortunately, there are creative ways to turn all your leftovers into fresh, vibrant flavors.
1. Turn Your Ham into a Quiche
You could spoil yourself with a high-class breakfast if ham was on the menu this Christmas. Take those leftovers and whip up a quiche. What you will need: You will need a pie crust, eggs, and some half-and-half or similar heavy cream. Whisk together the eggs and cream until well beaten. Add your flavor ingredients (onions, herbs, etc.). Pour into the pie crust and bake. You can use cheddar or Swiss for cheese, but any variety should do.
2. Leftover Bones = Broth
Do not throw out the carcass of your roast turkey or chicken, even if you have already picked it clean. Take those bones and use them to make stock. Bone broth is all the rage these days. Following your Christmas binge, you could drink your bone broth straight, or you can also add in some of the leftover meat or veggies you have laying around in your fridge. The same vegetables you use for a pie will also work in a stew. What you will need: Start by boiling the carcass to remove any collagen or other gelatinous bits. However, if you like these parts, ignore this step and move on to the next one. Roast your bones on high in the oven for a bit; this will add some flavor to the final product. Finally, add what you have left into a big pot with some water and let it simmer on low for as long as you dare. What you do with your broth is up to you!
3. Veggie Pie
Use your leftover carrots, parsnips, potatoes, celery, peas, and onions to make additions to your savory pie. There are two directions you can take here: first is pot pie, and the second is shepherd's pie. What is a pie without some meat? The meat will make either of these dishes better. Add your turkey, ham, or whatever else you carved this Christmas to make any of these extra delicious. You can also add some leftover red wine into this savory dish. What you will need: To make a pot pie, you will need to gather your veggies of choice, add some gravy or stock into a pie crust, and bake. Making a shepherd's pie requires you to do the same thing with the veggies, except you put them in a pan, bake your pie, and top with your leftover mashed potatoes, then bake some more.
4. Candy Canes and Hot Cocoa Desserts
Brownies usually work well with this magical recipe, but this hot cocoa and candy cane treatment will work well on pancakes, cookies, fudge, and more. What you will need: You can use any hot chocolate powder as an additive to a brownie mix, whether starting from scratch or adding some extra cocoa to a box recipe. Once baked, place those candy canes in a plastic bag. Release that pent-up holiday stress by crushing the canes, then sprinkle your sugary, cathartic dust on top of the brownies. Add some marshmallows if you are feeling fluffy.