Christmas Leftovers: Some Recipe Suggestions

Santa is back at the North Pole, and he's left a bunch of toys, games and a whole lot of food. Don't let those leftovers go to waste; here are a few quick ideas to use what's left of your holiday feast.

• Make a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Use your favorite cheese like Swiss, Gouda or Gruyere. Add a fried egg for a filling breakfast, or pair leftover cranberries with ham and brie.
• Make basic ham and split-pea soup. Here is a simple recipe from the Food Network. When serving, spoon a small amount of leftover mashed potatoes in your bowl and ladle the soup on top. The potatoes add creaminess and heartiness to the soup.
• Enjoy deviled eggs as a delicious snack. Finely diced up ham adds saltiness and texture. A trick to get a perfectly boiled egg is to make sure your pot is big enough for the eggs, starting off with cold water that covers the eggs by an inch, put the lid on and as soon as the water boils, then removing the eggs from the heat. Keep the lid on from 12-16 minutes, depending on the size of the eggs. Another trick is to use older eggs which peel easier. Once your eggs are peeled, slice them in half lengthwise. Spoon out the yolks into a small mixing bowl. For six eggs, add in about two tablespoons of ham, a quarter cup of mayonnaise, a touch of spicy brown mustard and paprika, a splash of white vinegar (you can try champagne or white wine vinegar as well), salt and pepper. Mix well and spoon even portions of the mixture back into the eggs. Let the eggs chill in the refrigerator before serving.

– Got any good recipes for leftovers? Share them in the comments below.