2 Quality Christmas Leftover Meals

At Christmas time we waste more money on wasted food than any other time of the year. Therefore I have put together two wonderful meals using leftover meat from Christmas. These two meals are catered towards Chicken and Lamb though you can adapt it to suit your meat.

Fruity chicken breasts

2 apples, cored and cut into wedges

75g chopped dried dates

100ml apple juice

½ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

pack 4 skinless chicken breasts

4 slices stilton cheese

freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 200° C, 400° F, gas mark 6.

In a bowl mix together the chopped apple, dates, apple juice, ground cloves and cinnamon. Pour into an oven-proof dish.

Put the 4 chicken breasts in amongst the fruit mix and put a slice of the cheese on top of the chicken breasts.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, stir the fruit half way through the cook time if required. Serve straight away with any kind of potato and a green vegetable of your choice. I like to use boiled potatoes and green beans.

Leg of lamb in a white wine sauce

1.5kg leg of lamb

6 cloves garlic halved lengthways

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 onions, halved

300ml chicken stock

300ml white wine

500g new potatoes

25g butter

2 tablespoons plain flour

freshly ground black pepper

Make 12 deep cuts in the lamb and push a piece of garlic into each. Heat the oil in a large pan, add the lamb and brown all over.Place the onion around and under the lamb and pour in the stock and wine. Cover and cook slowly for 1½ hours, turning the meat and adding the potatoes for the last 20 minutes.

Take out the lamb and vegetables and put them into a warmed serving dish; keep it hot. Melt the butter in another pan then add the flour making a roux ball and drop small pieces into the liquid remaining in the pan. Bring to the boil, stirring, until thickened and smooth. Remove from the heat and season to taste with pepper.Pour a little over the lamb and vegetables. Serve the remaining sauce separately.

Whatever you do with your leftovers just make sure it is something nice that will bring more joy to your meal times.

To your Christmas food heaven

Dominic