Ingenious kitchen hack perfect for storing mince pies from Nancy Birtwhistle

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Nancy, born and bred in Hull, has been baking since she was a child. She won the Great British Bake Off in 2014 and has since a green cleaning advocate.

Now an author, having published Clean & Green: 101 Hints and Tips for a More Eco-Friendly Home this year, she focuses on limiting plastic and single-use products, and chemicals in her home.

Nancy has a clever trick to recycle a certain kitchen item, which doubles as a great way to keep things fresh.

It works particularly well for mince pies, which it’s easy to over-purchase.

Nancy told Express.co.uk readers: “When you come to the end of your packet of breakfast cereal, before popping the cardboard box into the recycle bin – retrieve the plastic liner.

“Save money and the planet with this simple ‘upcycle’ and give a second and third life to a simple item that would otherwise have been yet another piece of single-use plastic destined for landfill.

“This perfect food-grade plastic bag can become the perfect item for covering and storing food in the fridge, keeping salads fresh, or wrapping cooked meats and pork pie.

“The plastic is thick enough to be used as a freezer bag – perfect for storing your sausage rolls or mince pies ready to be baked from frozen later.

“In addition, pull away the bag easily at the seams and use as single sheets and use to roll out pastry or biscuit dough, avoiding the need for extra flour to prevent sticking.”

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Why not use this trick for your puff pastry mince pies?

The puff pasty mince pie recipe, a light and sweet version of the Chirstmas classic, was devised by a food blogger. 

All that is required in sweet mincemeat, puff pastry and icing sugar.

Nancy created a mini Christmas cake recipe, which she suggested could make “perfect edible gifts”. 

Royal chef shares recipe for Christmas pudding

They cost less than £1 each to make and could be wrapped up for Christmas stockings.

Mix dried fruit and peel, cherries, brandy or tea with butter, sugar and eggs in this festive recipe.

This recipe will make nine mini cakes, one nine-inch round or eight-inch square cake lined with greaseproof paper.

The cakes can also be baked in mini balls.

Where do mince pies come from?

Mince pies appear to be a meeting of English pies and Middle Eastern spices, discovered by European crusaders and brought back.

The fruits and spices of mice meat were added to “shrid pies”.

Clean & Green by Nancy Birtwhistle (One Boat, £12.99) is out now

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