Even though fewer people will be at my table, I’m still making a larger ham because I love leftovers. Mashed potatoes and stuffing are always a staple and I’m pretty sure I’ll have extras of those too. So, I’m planning to reinvent them over the few days after Christmas.
“This is one of our favorite ‘assemble the night before’ breakfast casseroles and is a great use for the leftovers from that holiday meal,” reveals Tere Gill.
Wow, not only does this Cheesy Ham & Bacon Breakfast Casserole taste delicious it smells wonderful too! Croissants are what makes this special. They add a fabulous buttery flavor to the dish that other breakfast casseroles can lack. The ham and bacon are a tasty pair and the glorious cheese is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Prep is very quick so this can easily be assembled before heading to bed Christmas night.
Soups are a great way to use leftover ham. Corinne Mihelic’s (Charleston, WV) Crazy Old Bag Lady’s Bean & Ham Soup is a very easy recipe that uses ham and a few other simple ingredients to create a comforting and hearty meal.
Corrine shared she named this recipe after her momma because she “could make anything taste like it had come straight out of the Waldorf Astoria’s kitchen.” Nothing is boring about this ham and bean soup.
The mild flavor of the navy beans is perfect for the savory ham. Adding fresh veggies to the soup after it’s started cooking means they have structure and aren’t mushy. Between the starch from the bean and potatoes, it’s just enough to thicken the soup. The bonus of the recipe is the backstory… I loved to learn a bit about Corinne’s mom.
Lynne Hawkins’ (Lusby, MD) Potato Soup With Ham is a delicious homemade potato soup that’s made even better with the addition of ham. Lynne uses the perfect combination of veggies that give this soup a nice flavor without anything overpowering.
Potato is the real star of the soup. Blending some of the veggie mixture gives the soup a thicker texture without losing the chunks. It was a wonderful consistency. This soup recipe is creamy and perfect for a cold evening.
Rose Rauhauser’s uses extra mashed potatoes for her fantastic Potato Scones. “Potatoes and scones just went together for my husband, so I put it in a recipe,” shares Rose.
While scones can be sweet, this is a very savory version. Italian seasoning adds a slightly earthy flavor to them. These potato scones could be enjoyed alongside a bowl of one of the soups I just mentioned or a nice salad.
Eddie Szczerba (Ossining, NY) may have made his Day After Thanksgiving Stuffed Mushrooms & Potatoes after Thanksgiving, but they’ll be just as delicious after Christmas.
“Great as an appetizer or a meal,” thinks Eddie, and I agree.
Leftover mashed potatoes are added to baked potatoes and turned into potato skins. With caramelized onions, bacon, and cheese the skins are fantastic. Extra stuffing is used to make easy stuffed mushrooms. These will both be tasty while watching weekend football.
Christmas dinner will look different this year, but reinventing leftovers is a tradition that will always happen in my house. Need more recipe ideas? Check out our Christmas 2.0 recipe collection. Happy Pinching!