Theo Michaels Cooks #ChristmasDinsInFiveMins

8^thDecember 2016: As seen on ITV's This Morning today, Theo Michaels has created a quirky three-course Christmas Dinner for one, cooked in the microwave and ready to serve in minutes. Holly Willoughby called it "brilliant" and fashionista Trinny Woodall loved it so much she devoured the entire main course in minutes!

Below you'll find Theo's three recipes for a starter, main course and pudding for Christmas Day...all cooked in the microwave in minutes. His book Microwave Mug Meals (Lorenz Books, £9.99) features 50 different recipes (the Christmas recipes were created as a bit of fun on the side for the festive season) and is available to buy online atwww.theocooks.comand in all good bookshops. It's the perfect buy for office workers looking to spice up their lunch routines, students, those of us who work from home and don't usually take a lunch break, busy parents needing to cook something quickly for hungry teens and the growing number of people living on their own. Each mug meal is designed for one...If you want to cook for more, just multiply the ingredients by the number of people you're cooking for!

If you'd like to interview Theo or talk about Valentine's Day/Easter recipes please get in touch. Theo was a finalist in Masterchef 2014 and is a professional, full-time private dining chef and pop-up restaurateur. He lives in Harpenden with his wife and kids.

Social media links:

• #ChristmasDinsInFiveMins video link: https://youtu.be/eL_gkUPsL9M

• https://twitter.com/TheoCooks

• http://www.theocooks.com/

• http://www.theocooks.com/product/microwave-mug-meals-cookbook/#tab/-description

• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microwave-Mug-Meals-Delectably-Home-Made/dp/0754832856/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481204846&sr=1-1

• http://www.literallypr.com/public_relations/file/Theo-Michaels.php

Note to editors:

Recipes are the copyright of Theo Michaels. If you'd like to use them please contacthelenlewis@literallypr.com.

His book, Microwave Mug Meals (Lorenz Books, £9.99) features 50 different recipes (the Christmas recipes were created as a bit of fun for the festive season) and is available to buy online atwww.theocooks.comand in all good bookshops.

Christmas Dinner Microwave Mug Meals

Starter:Greek Inspired Prawn Cocktail

Every Christmas dinner should start with prawns and my Greek inspired prawn cocktail will leave you wanting more! Inspired by the famous prawn saganaki this Christmas starter cooks in two and half minutes, takes a moment to prepare and is a taste memory to last for years.

Ingredients:

5 jumbo king prawns (butterflied and shelled with the tail left on)

½ cup/125ml passata

½ clove/1tsp grated garlic

1tbl grated onion

Pinch salt and pepper

Pinch sugar

Pinch chilli flakes

Just under 1 tbl/10ml ouzo (can swap for white wine)

1tbl chopped coriander

1/2tsp smoked paprika

1tbl extra virgin olive oil

2tbl feta cheese

Garnish: - extra coriander, feta and drizzle of olive oil

Method:

1. Add all the ingredients except the feta to a mug and gently combine.

2. Scatter the crumbled feta on top of the mixture without stirring.

3. Microwave, uncovered for 2.5 minutes.

4. Once cooked, let rest for a minute before adding the garnish.

Note - I like to serve mine in a trifle glass!

Main:The Works

This truly is an entire Christmas dinner in a mug and cooked in five minutes. Crispy pancetta, turkey breast, sage and onion pork stuffing, parsnips, cranberry sauce even sprouts!

Ingredients:

45g/9 pancetta rashers (enough to line your mug)

40g/3 brussel sprouts - roughly chopped

Pinch sugar

Pinch pepper

½ tbl/3g pine nuts

¼ cup/20g grated parsnip

1 heaped tbl cranberry sauce

60g turkey breast cut 1 inch thick (remove all sinew)

20g spinach leaves

Ingredients - Stuffing

40g sausage meat (min 70% pork)

20g grated potato

10g grated white onion

6 sage leaves

Method:

1. First, prepare your stuffing my mixing all the stuffing ingredients together and reserve.

2. Line your mug with the pancetta rashers leaving them hanging over the edge of the mug.

3. Add the chopped brussel sprouts, pine nuts and pinch of sugar.

4. Place the stuffing mixture on top of the brussel sprouts and gently pat down.

5. This is followed by grated parsnips, then the cranberry sauce on top.

6. Lay your turkey breast on top of the cranberry sauce ensuring there is a good layer.

7. Bunch the spinach together and place on top of the turkey.

8. Finally, fold over the overhanging pancetta rashers to form a neat parcel and cook in the microwave, covered, for five minutes.

To serve, turn over onto a plate and pull a cracker! (not that sort of cracker).

Dessert:Walnut and Chocolate Christmas Cake

A deliciously heady mixed spice Christmas cake with nutty walnuts, hint of dark chocolate and brandy. Serve with a decent dollop of brandy cream!

Ingredients:

1 egg

1tbl oil

2tbl milk

1tbl brandy

½ tsp mixed spice

2tbl plain flour

1tbl cocoa powder

2tbl brown bread crumbs

1tbl caster sugar

Few drops vanilla essence

½tsp baking powder

1tbl walnuts course ground

Garnish:

3 walnut halves

Dusting icing sugar

Few grates orange zest

½ tbl brandy

Method:

5. Add the egg, oil, milk, brandy and marmalade, mixed spice to a mug and whisk thoroughly.

6. Add the rest of the ingredients and combine well.

7. Microwave uncovered for 1.5 minutes.

8. While resting, garnish with few walnut halves, grates of orange zest, a drizzle of brandy and finally dust with icing sugar.

--Ends--