Nicky Mesiah, Montclair’s favorite event planner and caterer, offers some of her favorite quick & easy holiday recipes that answer the age-old question, “What do I do with all these leftovers?”

 “Even during the holidays, it’s easy to entertain economically and eat delicious food without excessive calories & sodium.   So, while the linens and china are out, and the food is jammed into the fridge, invite friends and family over to help you get rid of the leftovers in style. Great smells make for happy eats! Happy holidays!”  Nicky Mesiah, founder of Mesiah Event Planners, Inc. www.missnickys.com

Miss Nicky’s  Bagel and a Schmear
Your Leftovers: Turkey/chicken/ham/beef roast/meat substitute
Cream Cheese, Brie or Goat Cheese
Fresh scallions - chopped
Red Bermuda onion-sliced
Sliced tomatoes 
Your favorite bagel (mine is onion or egg)

Cut bagel in half & toast.  Mix cheese, scallions, & chopped meat or meat substitute.  Spread this chunky mixture onto a warm bagel. Top with sliced onion & tomato.  Stick under the broiler for a crunchy, gooey effect.

Miss Nicky’s Healthy Leftover Club
Your Leftovers: turkey/chicken/ham/beef/ or meat substitute

Fage Yogurt  (instead of mayo)
Grainy mustard
Fresh spinach- washed
Sliced onions
Sliced tomatoes or a chunky Frontera Salsa
Swiss cheese, brie or soy-based Swiss cheese
Turkey bacon or Morningstar’s bacon substitute-cooked

Try your favorite savory bread from one of Montclair’s neighborhood bakeries on Walnut Street. A dark rye, tomato basil, rosemary or cheese bread adds a wonderful kick to any sandwich! Whole wheat pita rounds work well too.   Layer with condiments, then the spinach, onion, tomato, turkey, cheese, bacon & another slice of cheese. Top with bread & slice.  Use extra-long cocktail toothpicks & serve with my Southern-style baked beans.

Miss Nicky’s Southern-Style Baked Beans - perfect with leftovers for vegetarians & vegans too!

2 -40 oz. cans of baked beans -any variety will do
1.5 cups of catsup – any variety        
1.5 cups of light brown sugar
4 teaspoons of garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon of brown mustard
¼ cup of grated onion

Turkey or pork bacon or sausage optional (but I adore bacon in my beans).

For vegans/vegetarians: Morningstar bacon, sausage & sausage links will work.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Drain liquid from beans.  Pour drained beans into a large oven-proof Pyrex dish.
Add all of the above ingredients except bacon & stir. Par cook bacon/sausage & drain grease. Remove & cut into pieces. Push pieces down on top of the beans so that the flavor permeates the beans. (for Morningstar products, first microwave before adding to the beans) Set baking dish in the middle of the oven & cook uncovered for 1.5 hours.  Remove & cover.

Nicky’s Ole!  Nacho Dip
Your leftovers: turkey/chicken/ham/beef or meat substitute

Extra-large round platter with a slight lip
1.5 cups of hummus
¾ cup Fage Yogurt
¾ cup low fat sour cream
About 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning
2.5 cups of grated cheddar cheese
1 cup of grated Monterey Jack smoked cheese
1 cup of your favorite chunky salsa or fresh tomatoes
1 Medium onion-chopped
1-scallion-chopped & sprinkled on top for color
Blue corn taco chips for scooping

Spread hummus on plate.  Mix the yogurt, sour cream and taco seasoning & spread on top of the meat leftovers.  Then layer the plate in the order of listed ingredients above.  Sprinkle chopped scallions on top for color.  Serve with blue, red or your favorite taco chips.  Color adds a festive touch. These ingredients also make a great sandwich.  If you have no leftovers or meat, just layer it up without it. Always a crowd favorite.

Soup: The perfect answer to “What do I do with that bird?  Hambone?  Beef? Whatever?
Your Leftovers: cooked turkey/chicken carcass, ham bone/roast beef/ribs, etc.

Vegetable Stock, Stock—enough to cover contents by about 3”
2 cups of chopped carrots
1 cups of chopped celery
2 large chopped onions
2 cups of frozen sliced okra
1/2 cup of finely chopped green pepper
2 cups of Great Northern Beans or Chick Peas
any leftover veggies like green beans, squash, etc.
any leftover brown rice – not more than a cup if cooked
any leftover gravy lying around
any leftover whole sweet potatoes-(love sweet potatoes soups!)
1 tsp salt
½ tsp. of white pepper +1/2 tsp. of black pepper
2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp sage
2 tablespoons of dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
Fresh chopped Dill-to be stirred in at the very end.

Get out your big pot and put in all of the above ingredients.  Fill with stock (or water) & cover about 2 to 3 inches above the ingredients since it will boil down.  When it reaches a boil, turn down & simmer on low for 1.5 hrs.  Stir occasionally. Remove carcass & bones. Let cool & cut meat off bone and return back to the pot.  Adjust seasoning to taste.  Top with fresh chopped dill.  Vegetable stock can also be used. Whole Foods brand is very flavorful. A slow cooker can be used if it’s big enough.

Pumpkin Sundaes w/Miss Nicky’s Splenda Charoset Toffee
Serve alone or on the side to complement pumpkin pie/pecan pie/cake leftovers

A large box of Miss Nicky’s Gourmet Toffee*
(Charoset Toffee has cinnamon-raisins-cherries-nuts & sucrose-blend Splenda)
Pumpkin ice cream or frozen yogurt
1 quart of heavy cream
1 box of instant vanilla pudding
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
Hot caramel sauce
Jar of long stem maraschino cherries

Beat about ¾ quart of heavy cream and 3/4 package of instant vanilla pudding til it thickens.  Then add 3/4 teaspoon of orange extract and beat til desired thickness.   Fill dishwasher-safe stemware w/ ice cream, frozen yogurt or your favorite frozen dessert.

Fill dishwasher-safe stemware w/hot caramel sauce/ ice cream/frozen yogurt or your favorite frozen dessert.  Top with whipped cream, cherry & toffee.

Miss Nicky’s Gourmet Toffee, as seen on The Today Show, is available at www.missnickys.com and the following stores: 
Noteworthy Stationery – 24 S.Fullerton Ave.  973.783.1522
Chelsea Square- 601 Valley Rd./Upper Montclair  973.746.6468
semplice- 465 Bloomfield Avenue  973.783.7495
Jacklyn Kling Art Gallery- 106 Walnut St.  973.746-6800
Piazza Della Sole- Watchung Plaza 973.783.4352 (Charoset toffee only)

 

Click here for Miss Nicky’s Cezanne apple recipes. Grandmother Duvernay’s Apple Cake is delicious with pumpkin ice cream & whipped cream.

 

MESIAH EVENT PLANNERS, INC. & Miss Nicky’s Gourmet Toffee
P.O. Box 43305    Upper Montclair, New Jersey 07043
www.mesiaheventplanners.com   &  www.missnickys.com
Phone: 973.744.1788          Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it