Post Christmas Recipes as Seen on CTV Your Morning Ottawa

Always a treat to cook up a storm with Will Aiello in the CTV Your Morning Ottawa kitchen!

Wondering what to do with all those holiday leftovers and ingredients? I’ve got you covered.

From my kitchen to yours: Happy New Year! And yes, I’m wearing PJ’s – I absolutely love that do-nothing time between Christmas and Dec 31st…when you can wear your PJ’s all day, and not know what day or time it is..ha!

If you’re hungry for more delicious & doable recipes (using pantry staple items) grab a copy of my cookbook ‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life’ here.

Char’s Gingerbread Caramel Covered Brie

~ Click here for recipe

Still have guests trickling in after Christmas? Or looking for a festive & fabulous NYE indulgence? This divine work of art (using nothing but pantry staples!) is a guaranteed showstopper. It presents as beautifully as it tastes and will have your guests raving for days. Serve as an appetizer or as a cheese course with Port for an after-dinner nibble.

Char’s Ultimate Leftover Sandwich

Often used as the base for party spinach dip, I love using a big pumpernickel loaf as a blank canvas for all those leftover bits and pieces hanging around in the fridge (especially after the holidays). Load up leftover turkey, ham, cheese and veggies you have – and make this Ultimate Leftover Sandwich. (make this ‘recipe’ work for what you have on hand).

Slice into wedges, add a side of kettle chips and dill pickles, and you’ve got yourself a simple, delicious meal! Perfect post tobogganing/skiing or skating meal.

Ingredients

• 1 large (approx. 600 g) round pumpernickel or sourdough loaf
• ⅓ cup (75 mL) mayonnaise + 2 tbsp (30 mL) Dijon mustard
• 2 cups (500 mL) lightly packed baby spinach leaves or mixed salad greens
• ½ lb. (250 g) thinly sliced deli-style meat (turkey, ham, or roast beef)
• 1 cup (250 mL) grated quality aged cheddar cheese
• ½ cup (125 mL) Char’s pickled onions (click here for recipe)
• Half cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 small carrot, grated
• 1 small apple or pear, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Cut a round cap off the top of the cottage loaf. Reserve top. Hollow out the inside and top of the loaf to make a bread bowl, leaving about ¾ -inch of bread inside the crust.
2. Stir together mayonnaise and mustard. Spread over the inside of the bread bowl and inside the cap.
3. Place spinach leaves at the bottom of the bread bowl and layer with the remaining ingredients. Place the cap back on the sandwich and wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
4. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. To serve, remove plastic wrap and cut into 8 wedges.

Tip:

~ No deli meat? No problem! Add sliced hard-boiled eggs or a can of tuna or salmon (drained) to the sandwich in place of deli meat.
~ Use prepared hummus or Pumpkin White Bean Dip (click here for recipe) instead of mayo/Dijon mixture.

Where to Find ‘Delicious & Doable’ Across Ontario

‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life’ can be purchased here or at one of the below retailers across Ontario:

Type Books ~ 883 Queen Street West, Toronto
Lemonberry ~ 2 Orchard Heights Blvd #10, Aurora
Fanfare Books ~ 92 Ontario St, Stratford
Casual Gourmet ~ 1027 King Street West, Hamilton
The Post Office – 18 Front St. N, Thorold
Chef’s Paradise ~ 1314 Bank Street, Ottawa
Gift It Grey ~ 19492 Opeongo Line, Barry’s Bay
Creative Cook ~ 35 Manitoba St, Bracebridge
Muskoka Brewery ~ 1964 Muskoka Beach Rd, Bracebridge
Stephen’s Butcher Shop ~ 8 Harris St, Port Carling
Hilltop Interiors ~ 1150 ON-141, Rosseau
Cedar Canoe Books ~ 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Clark’s On Main ~ 1090 Main Street, Dorset
Bigley’s Cottage Kitchen ~ 39 Bolton St, Bobcaygeon
Farmer’s Daughter – 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Kitchen Bits ~ 1390 Kingsway, Greater Sudbury