ARE you a lover or hater of festive leftovers?
A local food charity has shared ideas on how to save money and prevent edible waste this Christmas – and it’s not just about endless turkey sandwiches.
Yvonne Corbin, the chief executive of Caring Cooks of Jersey has provided the JEP with useful tips and easy recipes to stretch food as far as possible, aiming to prevent waste and ease cost.
“Food plays a huge part in Christmas,” she said. “We cook bigger meals, stock up more than usual and often end up with fridges full of leftovers.”
“For many families it’s a lovely part of the season, but it can also be a struggle when money is tight and every bit of food has to stretch further,” Ms Corbin continued.
“No one wants good food going in the bin, especially when most leftovers can be turned into something simple and comforting.”
She added: “These ideas are all about making the most of what you already have at home, reducing waste and keeping things easy during a very busy time of year.”
Without further ado, here are Caring Cooks’ top recipes…
Potato and veg hash
Ingredients
- Leftover roast potatoes
- Any leftover cooked veg
- A little oil or butter
- Eggs (optional)
- Salt and pepper
Method
Using Christmas extras
- Leftover cheese in toasties
- Bread can be frozen or turned into breadcrumbs
- Spare herbs can be chopped and frozen with water in ice cube trays
- Cranberry sauce stirred into yoghurt
- Mince pies crumbled over ice cream
1. Chop the potatoes and veg into small pieces
2. Heat a little oil or butter in a pan
3. Add everything and cook until hot and lightly crisp
4. If using eggs, make small gaps in the pan and crack them in
5. Season and serve
Leftover traybake
Ingredients
What freezes well after Christmas?
- Cooked veg
- Roast potatoes
- Stuffing
- Gravy
- Bread sauce
- Bread
- Fresh herbs
- Leftover roast potatoes
- Any cooked veg
- A handful of cheese
- A splash of stock or leftover gravy
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C
2. Spread the potatoes and veg in a roasting dish
3. Add a little stock or leftover gravy
4. Top with grated cheese
5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until hot and golden
Leftover vegetable soup
Ingredients
- 1 onion, chopped
- Any leftover cooked veg
- Stock or water
- Salt and pepper
- A dollop of leftover cream (optional)
Method
1. Sauté the onion until soft
2. Add the leftover veg
3. Cover with stock or water
4. Simmer for ten minutes
5. Blend or leave chunky
6. Season to taste
7. Add cream to serve
Christmas pie
Ingredients
- Leftover turkey, chopped
- Leftover stuffing, crumbled
- Leftover cooked veg
- 1 tin of condensed mushroom or chicken soup, or leftover gravy
- Ready rolled puff pastry
- Salt and pepper
- 1 egg for glazing (optional)
Simple tips: Cutting down on waste
• Portion sensibly: Slightly reducing portion sizes can save money and cut down on what ends up unused.
• Store food properly: Leftovers should be cooled quickly, covered and used within two days.
• Freeze more: Use freezer bags as they take up less space.
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C
2. Mix the turkey, stuffing and veg in a dish
3. Stir through the soup or leftover gravy to bind it together
4. Season if needed
5. Top with puff pastry and seal the edges
6. Brush with a little beaten egg if you have it
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the pastry is golden and the filling is piping hot.
Creamy turkey pasta
Ingredients
- Leftover turkey, shredded
- A handful of cooked veg or peas
- Pasta of your choice
- A dollop of cream, crème fraiche or cream cheese
- A little leftover gravy or stock
- Salt and pepper
- Grated cheese (optional)
Method
1. Cook the pasta according to the packet
2. Gently heat the turkey and veg in a pan with a splash of gravy or stock
3. Stir in the cream, cream cheese or crème fraîche to make a sauce
4. Add the drained pasta and season
5. Finish with cheese
Support
“We understand how hard this time of year can be and we will always do what we can to help,” a Caring Cooks spokesperson said.
If you or someone else needs extra support with food this Christmas, such as affording food, get in touch with Caring Cooks of Jersey by calling 07829 939090 or emailing info@caringcooksofjersey.com.
