WHAT do celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, TV presenter James May, singer Bruno Mars and writer and broadcaster Richard Madeley have in common?

Well the unlikely answer is apparently SPAM – the chopped pork and ham variety, not unsolicited e-mails.

This staple of the American diet which was created in 1937 by a Minnasota food company wanting to find a use for spare pork shoulder from its other products, came to British shores in WWII.

SPAM is said still to be very popular and the official annual SPAM Appreciation Week takes place from March 2-5 this years.

The company is trying to woo new customers with a breakfast/brunch recipe called the SPAM Brunch Frittata – a sort of Spamish omelette. For further information about the week visit www.spam-uk.com

SPAM Bruch Frittata

Ingredients

340g can SPAM® Chopped Pork and Ham - cut into 1/2” cubes

6 large eggs

4 Tablespoons milk

2 medium tomatoes - quartered, deseeded and drained on kitchen paper

30g Cheddar cheese - grated

1 knob butter or a little vegetable oil - optional

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Place the eggs into a mixing bowl, add the milk and the salt and pepper and combine well with a fork

2. Place the cubes of SPAM® Chopped Pork and Ham into a hot dry frying pan (size approximately 23cm) and fry until golden and lightly browned

3. Add the butter or oil if using into the hot frying pan and pour in the egg mixture

4. Keep bringing the cooked egg and SPAM® Chopped Pork and Ham mixture into the centre of the pan and swirling the mixture around until the egg has formed a “pancake” but is still soft on the top, and the SPAM® Chopped Pork and Ham is evenly distributed

5. Scatter on the chopped, deseeded tomatoes and finally the grated cheese

6. Place under a hot grill until the cheese is golden and bubbling and the egg is finished cooking

7. Cut into slices and serve hot straight from the pan