Skip to content

Top Navigation

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Recipes
  • Cooking 101
  • Eating Smart
  • Healthy Living
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences

Manage Your Subscription

  • All Access Subscribers
  • Magazine Subscribers
  • Cooking Light Diet Subscribers
Login
Logout
SUBSCRIBE
Pin FB

Explore Cooking Light

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 31-Day Healthy Meal Plan

      Our 31-day calendar of meals and tips shows you how to cook more and love it with fun, family-friendly meals that come together quickly and deliciously. Read More
    • Dinner Tonight: Quick and Healthy Menus in 45 Minutes (or Less)

      Hundreds of delicious recipes, paired with simple sides, that can be on your table in 45 minutes or less. Read More
    • Our Favorite Healthy Air Fryer Recipes

      Who ever said that chicken wings, doughnuts, and pizza couldn't be healthy? Read More
  • Recipes

    Recipes

    See All Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Recipe Makeovers
    • Quick & Healthy
    • Diabetic
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegetarian
    • Cooking Light Live
  • Cooking 101

    Cooking 101

    See All Cooking 101
    • Essential Ingredients
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Meet the Chef
    • Cooking Resources
    • Budget Friendly
    • Smart Choices
  • Eating Smart
  • Healthy Living

    Healthy Living

    See All Healthy Living
    • Weight-Loss
    • Health
    • Fitness
    • Home
    • Travel
    • Nutrition 101
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences

Manage Your Subscription

  • All Access Subscribers
  • Magazine Subscribers
  • Cooking Light Diet Subscribers
Login
Logout
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. entertaining
  3. How to Use Up Those Holiday Leftovers

How to Use Up Those Holiday Leftovers

October 13, 2014
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Credit: Gina DeSimone
From the turkey to the veggies to the pie, holiday feasts have the building blocks for a perfect after-party dinner that will save you time and gain you raves. Trust us, this is the one time your guests will be fighting over leftovers.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

French Onion Soup With Ham

Credit: Gina DeSimone
View the Recipe: French Onion Soup with Ham

LEFTOVER: ham

Classic French onion soup gets a tasty upgrade with leftover ham. Though you might be tempted to add a little sugar to speed up the caramelization of the onions, resist; there are few culinary delights that equal the rich savory-sweet balance of slowly caramelized onions. A dash of sherry cuts through the rich soup with just the right amount of tang.

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Buttermilk-Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

Credit: Photo: Peter Frank Edwards

LEFTOVER: Pumpkin pie

This has to be the coolest way to serve pie "à la mode." Churn creamy spiced pumpkin pie into a rich custard for an all-in-one ice-cream treat. What a great way to stretch those last couple of slices into a festive new dessert.

2 of 10

3 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chocolate Pecan Pie Truffles

Credit: Photo: Peter Frank Edwards
View Recipe: Chocolate Pecan Pie Truffles

LEFTOVER: Pecan pie

This rich confection is a mash-up of cocoa and pecan pie, plus a little hooch for good measure. Rolling the truffles in dry-roasted almonds adds just the right amount of salty crunch along with each luscious bite. 

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cider Sangria

Credit: Photo: Peter Frank Edwards
View Recipe: Cider Sangria

LEFTOVER: Wine

Make the most of day-old wine by turning it into a lightly spiced, brandy-enhanced punch. Throw in some fresh fruit to soak up the flavors, and you have a happy, crowd-pleasing concoction.

4 of 10

5 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Potato Pancakes with Salmon

Credit: Photo: Peter Frank Edwards
View Recipe: Potato Pancakes with Salmon

 

LEFTOVER: mashed potatoes

These little potato pancakes take almost no time to pat together and quickly sauté to golden-brown perfection. Topped with smoked salmon, sour cream, and chives, they're an elegant party nibble.

5 of 10

6 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Asian-Inspired Potato Pancakes

Credit: Kelsey Hansen
View the Recipe: Asian-Inspired Potato Pancakes

LEFTOVER: mashed potatoes

These flavor-packed pancakes make a fun party appetizer or savory breakfast. Perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside thanks to leftover mashed potatoes, these pancakes get a bonus nutrient boost shredded carrots. Double down on the Asian flavors by topping these pancakes with a dollop of chopped kimchi.

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cranberry-Hoisin Turkey Buns

Credit: Photo: Peter Frank Edwards
View Recipe: Cranberry-Hoisin Turkey Buns

LEFTOVER: Turkey and cranberry sauce

With its zippy, tangy flavor, cranberry sauce makes a natural partner for sweetly spiced hoisin sauce. Add quick-pickled cukes and pillowy Chinese buns, and the bird takes a delicious detour East. 

7 of 10

8 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Italian Gnocchi Soup

Credit: Kelsey Hansen
View the Recipe: Italian Gnocchi Soup

 

LEFTOVER: mashed potatoes

Perfectly tender and fluffy, potato-based gnocchi (mini Italian dumplings) are the perfect way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. This comforting brothy soup gets a boost from spring vegetables and herbs; it would be extra delicious with asparagus or snow peas. Change it up to match the seasons—you can also use leftover mashed sweet potatoes to make the dumplings.

8 of 10

9 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Crispy Green Beans with Sriracha Mayo

Credit: Photo: Peter Frank Edwards

LEFTOVER: Green beans

Day-old veggies become irresistible crunchy munching sticks thanks to a coarse breadcrumb coating. Tangy chile dip takes flavors to the spicy edge. 

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hearty Ham and Cheddar Cornbread Muffins

Credit: Gina DeSimone
View the Recipe: Hearty Ham and Cheddar Cornbread Muffins

LEFTOVER: ham

Outmaneuver your morning fast-food cravings with these savory grab-and-go breakfast muffins. Leftover ham comes to the rescue with day-sustaining protein; equal parts cornmeal and flour yield a not-so-bready muffin with a perfect tender crumb. Make a batch of these on the weekend and save the leftovers for breakfast all week long.

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 10 French Onion Soup With Ham
    2 of 10 Buttermilk-Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
    3 of 10 Chocolate Pecan Pie Truffles
    4 of 10 Cider Sangria
    5 of 10 Potato Pancakes with Salmon
    6 of 10 Asian-Inspired Potato Pancakes
    7 of 10 Cranberry-Hoisin Turkey Buns
    8 of 10 Italian Gnocchi Soup
    9 of 10 Crispy Green Beans with Sriracha Mayo
    10 of 10 Hearty Ham and Cheddar Cornbread Muffins

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Cooking Light

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithCooking Light is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Cooking Light may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Statementthis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Cooking Light. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.cookinglight.com

    View image

    How to Use Up Those Holiday Leftovers
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.