Article originally published 25/12/2019
We are all trying to save money over Christmas- and one of the easiest ways we can do this is by using up all of our leftovers. Here are some very easy and creative leftover recipes for you to try this boxing day (and beyond!)- and something a bit different from the standard turkey curry!
Cheese Board Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
350g pasta
2tbsp butter
1 clove of garlic
1tsp mustard powder
3tbsp plain flour
500ml milk
TIP: if you are struggling for time, a packet of cheese sauce instead. Cook to packet instructions
250g of cheese from your cheeseboard
3-4 cream crackers (optional)
Method
Cook pasta to packet instructions
Melt the butter in a sauce pan. Add the garlic and cook until softened
Add mustard powder and cook for 1 minute
Gradually add the flour and stir until a paste is formed
Take off the heat and gradually pour the milk in. Make sure to whisk after every addition to avoid lumps in the sauce
Return to heat and cook for 5 minutes until thickened
Add cheeses and stir until melted
Fold in the cooked pasta
Heat oven to 180 °C/ 160 °C fan/ Gas 4.
Pour pasta into a baking dish and top with crushed crackers and additional cheese- preferably parmesan or cheddar
Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling
Allow to cool before serving
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Turkey and Cranberry Pizza
Ingredients
Leftover turkey
Bacon
Cranberry sauce
Barbecue sauce
Cheese- Cheddar or mozzarella is ideal but feel free to mix in others too
Pizza base
Method
Heat oven to 180°C / 160°C fan/ Gas 4.
Mix a tbsp. of cranberry sauce with 2 tbsp. of BBQ sauce and spread evenly on pizza base
Add grated cheese, leftover turkey and any other toppings you fancy- look at what other leftovers you have
Add cranberry sauce on top
Bake for 10 minutes- or until cheese is melted and golden
Serve immediately
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Festive Toasties
Ingredients
Leftovers from Christmas dinner- turkey, pigs in blankets, stuffing, bacon, ham etc.
Handful of grated cheese
Sliced bread
Butter
Method
Butter bread slices on both sides
Place bread in a frying pan on medium heat
Add desired toppings to sandwich
Add 2nd slice of bread on top
After 5 minutes, flip sandwich so other side gets toasted
Leave for 5 minutes until bread is golden and toasted
Serve immediately
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For those with a sweet tooth, here are some delicious sweet treats to try with your festive leftovers.
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Chocolate Box Brownies
Ingredients
270 g chocolate
235g margarine
425g granulated sugar
170g plain flour
4 large eggs
Method
Pre- heat oven to 190°C / 170°C fan assisted/ gas mark 5
Grease and line baking tin
Melt margarine and chocolate in microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and return for a further 30 seconds if needed
Add sugar and mix thoroughly
Add flour to mixture
Add eggs in one at a time, mixing in between.
Once fully mixed, add leftover chocolates from Christmas and stir- be sure to remove any wrappers!
Pour brownie batter into prepared tin
Bake on the middle shelf for 40-55 minutes. Test your brownies are done by sticking a knife in the middle- if it comes out clean, they can be removed from the oven
Leave them to cool fully at room temperature
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Festive Sweet Treat Slab
Ingredients
Chocolate (200-250g),
Golden syrup / treacle (about 4tbsp),
Biscuits, crackers, cereal, Christmas pudding, mince pies, chocolates or sweets, marshmallows, glace cherries, nuts or dried fruit
-Whatever you have leftover at home!
Method
Gather all your ingredients together.
Break the chocolate into pieces and put in a mixing bowl.
Carefully melt the chocolate then stir in the golden syrup.
Add in the other ingredients a little at a time until you are happy with your mix.
Stir well making sure everything in nicely covered in the chocolate mix.
Be careful you don’t add too many extras or it won’t set.
Use a metal spoon to press it into a cake tin and decorate before putting it into the fridge to set.
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