Don't junk it ... use it

Save some bread by using your loaf

A basic bread-and-water recipe this week: the water-bottle bread bin. You will need two of those large plastic mineral water containers that look like small petrol cans, but make sure you get the slightly ribbed ones which are a little wider at the top than at the bottom.

After drinking the water, cut the top off one of them just past the point where its shoulder begins to widen. Then cut the other one lower down. Your decision on where to cut depends on the length of your loaf of bread.

Slide one half into the other and there you have it: an elegant see-through, water-resistant bread container. If you want a matching bread bin for French loaves, you can make one as long as you like from a number of plastic soft-drink bottles. You can even create a telescopic, slide-and-fit effect.