Bridgemas is coming, it’s time to get your friends fat. As I’ve yet to receive any blackened dishes or concealed explosives in my pigeon-hole, I decided this week called for the Most Ambitious Microwave Meal Ever Cooked.

Prep time: 45 mins

Serves: 6 (Caution: greed and the number of vegetarians causes this to fluctuate wildly)

Price: £9.20 (cheap enough to treat yourself to 2for1 yule logs!)

·     1 smallish, free range, de-gibletted turkey (Consider the size of your microwave!)

·     3 largish potatoes

·     5 or so carrots

·     Brussel sprouts

·     6 Yorkshire puddings

·     2 boxes of 85g stuffing

·     A little olive oil

·     Your favourite spice to season the bird

·     Gravy granules

1. Pop the unwrapped turkey on a plate, garnish with olive oil and season with spices.

2. If your micro has a ‘chicken’ setting this is ideal - go for approx 30 mins, checking on it regularly until you can get clear juices when you stick knife in the breast (ouch!) Without a chicken setting, follow the packet’s cooking instructions using a convection setting or otherwise, it’s best to separate the two halves, making sure there is nothing in the middle.  (Note: switch to microwave setting if your bird is still stone-cold after 20mins. I speak from experience.)

3. Peel the potatoes and chop them into fine slices before covering them with boiling water in a bowl. Put these in another micro for 8 mins.

4. Meanwhile, soak the Brussel sprouts in some cold water and chop the carrots. Cover in some boiling water and microwave for 7 mins. Cover to keep warm. Check the turkey.

5. Pour boiling water gently over the stuffing in a bowl, stirring until it takes on a doughy consistency.

6. Leave the stuffing covered and pour boiling water over your sprout(s). Micro for a few mins.

7. If you’re lucking enough to have a George Foreman Grill, brown your sliced potatoes on highest heat for a few minute. (Turkey should be beeping now - enlist a hungry friend to get carving!)

8. Now to get dirty! Squash the stuffing into 6 balls then pop them in the micro for about 10 mins.

9. Yorkshire puddings go in next for a few mins and reheat the carrots if necessary, in preparation for the big finish.

10. To the gravy! Spoon granules liberally into a mug and add boiling water, while stirring

11. Voila - season’s greetings!

Another great microwave recipe to add to your repetoire alongside paella, Cottage Pie, veg chilli and chocolate cake