Creating New Traditions: Christmas Leftovers & 2 Boxing Day Recipes

What to do with Christmas Day leftovers? Try out a new tradition!

Merry Christmas, One Potato family! One Potato brings you easy ways to introduce new foods, flavors, and cultures to your kids & family - today’s article is about Boxing Day, a holiday that originated in the United Kingdom. One Potato is a reader-supported community and newsletter, so please consider becoming a Paid Subscriber. Subscriptions are $5/month or $45/year. You will receive access to the whole recipe archives, including the One Potato Specials of Interviews and Community Voices, and this full article. It’s not too late to give a gift subscription - you can even schedule it to arrive on Christmas Day.

---

Chef Lola’s Boxing Day Spread

December 26th is Boxing Day - Celebrated in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries.

Originating in the Victorian era, Boxing Day began as a day for employers to show appreciation by giving “Christmas boxes” filled with gifts, leftovers, or money to their staff, who often worked through Christmas Day. Churches also participated by distributing alms boxes filled with donations to the poor, inspired by the spirit of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Today, Boxing Day blends this history of generosity with a more modern focus on family relaxation and shared moments. It’s an official public holiday in most Commonwealth countries, where they get the day off work.

American Christmas traditions evolved independently from Great Britain, so Boxing Day was not adopted in the United States. However, we ALWAYS have tons of Christmas Day leftovers, don’t YOU? We recruited Chef Lola (remember, she grew up in the Midlands of England) to share her Boxing Day spread with us, and write out two of her favorite Boxing Day recipes!

Included in Chef Lola’s Boxing Day Spread:

Leftover Sliced Turkey Breast and Glazed Ham

Sausage Rolls made from leftover sausage and stuffing - yes, you can customize these with vegetarian substitutes

Selection of Pickled Vegetables (Beets, Cauliflowers, Carrots) from a jar; Pickled Onions and Cornichons served with English Mustard

Ham & Cheese Quiche made with leftover diced ham, cheese, chives and tomatoes

Scotch Eggs made with leftover sausage

Cheese & Onion Pie made with leftover mashed potatoes (Recipe Below!)

Bubble & Squeak made with leftover mashed potatoes and vegetables (Recipe Below!)

Traditional Sherry Trifle

Mixing together leftover mashed potatoes, sliced onions, and cheddar cheese for the Cheese & Onion pie filling.

Be Creative, and Customize to Your Family

Even if you didn’t cook a traditional Christmas dinner, or you don’t have the exact ingredients to make a traditional Boxing Day spread, these recipes are meant to encourage your creativity and allow you to mix and match to use up your holiday leftovers. If you know you want to make some sausage rolls this year, make sure to pick up extra pre-made pastry dough or crescent rolls. And of course, even though Chef Lola’s spread includes “Cheese & Onion Pie,” if you’re a vegan, you can make a vegan version with your favorite plant-based cheese; or you can make “Sausage Rolls” with leftover vegetarian sausage and stuffing. If you’re GF, you’re using YOUR family’s leftovers, so you know exactly the ingredients that are in these! The customization possibilities are endless.

Plan ahead for leftovers

• Have some frozen puff pastry or crescent rolls to make rolling up those leftover sausage and stuffing rolls a breeze

• Leftover pre-made pie dough is perfect for that quiche pastry crust or the crust of your cheese & onion pie

• Keep cheddar cheese in the house; not only is it a great appetizer or a snack, but it’s a key element in these leftover recipes!

—> Behind the Paywall: Chef Lola’s complete recipes for Cheese & Onion Pie and Bubble & Squeak; Tips for storing these delicious leftovers and having Christmas flavors long after the Christmas season; One Potato’s quick substitutions & dietary considerations, and quick ways to get kids involved in helping with these recipes…