Hot Can - the Christmas dinner that cooks itself

It’s almost time! 

Yes, that time of the year when it is customary to be merry, spread good will to all and live in peace - well, something like that.

It’s also the season apparently guaranteed to send hundreds of people into a fit of panic.

Panic? On Christmas Day? The most joyous time known to man?

A study by hotel chain hotel chain Travelodge claims 42 per cent of women find hosting Christmas dinner the most stressful job of the year.

Defrosting turkeys, chopping sprouts, refereeing family rows, keeping children occupied - sound familiar?

From the comfort of my armchair with a glass of vino in hand, I am usually oblivious to it all, but come to think of it, I can quite see why it can be a nail-biting time of year.

The most taxing job of all is making sure the bird is well-stuffed, and that there are enough roast potatoes to go around.

It just so happens then, that  clever inventors have come up with what could be the answer - at least to the hassle of getting dinner on the table.

A complete Christmas nosh up in a can.

A full slap-up Christmas dinner neatly sealed in a portable tin can.

It even heats itself thanks to a chemical reaction triggered when the tin is opened.

Now, I am a sucker for  gadget, so I leapt at the chance to try on of these wonders of modern technology.

Thanks to Firebox for providing the goods.

Of course, with all of these things, the fun is the gadgety part of the exercise rather than the end product you are left with, the Hot Can was no exception.

Once opened it starts to fizz and steam, and to give it credit, it does get very hot.

And, it also contains everything it says on the tin - turkey, sausage, potatoes (well, one) and cranberry sauce - even if they are all mixed together in the form of a soup.

But how did it taste? I don’t think it is going to win any awards.

Anyway, myself and fellow Express pal Lizzie decided to get all dressed up and make a meal of it - literally.

Here is our alternative Christmas dinner.