36 year old Michelle works as a special education needs assistant within a primary school. Born in Northern Ireland, she lives in Dundonald, Belfast with her husband and three daughters.

How would you describe your style of cooking?

“Home style cooking with an Irish twist using seasonal local produce. I really enjoy finding ingredients that I haven’t used before and creating new dishes and recipes. While travelling on holidays etc I will always try their local delicacies and try and eat where the locals eat because almost every time it’s the best. I enjoy the challenge of trying to recreate food from my travels and making the dishes for my family.”

What is your earliest cooking memory?

“One of my earliest cooking memories would be baking with my mum every Saturday I think I was around four years old. As I got a bit older I cooked a lot with my dad as we had very similar tastes in food. One year we didn’t get to go on holiday so every day we cooked a cuisine from where we had spent family holidays previously, exploring Spanish, Mexican, Italian and Greek food. It was such great fun and memories I will treasure forever.”

Why did you enter MasterChef?

“My eldest daughter Leah applied for me! I would never have been brave enough to do it off my own back but I’m so thankful that she did it. I’m extremely proud to be given the chance to cook for John and Gregg, things like this don’t happen to people in my little town so it’s a real pinch me moment.”

<b?What is your food dream? <?b>

“I would do something within my local community, not sure what yet but I would love be a food critic and get opportunities to taste more food. Travelling around restaurants in Ireland and even around the world, writing up reviews would be amazing. Being a mum of three, I’d also love to opportunity to share easy family recipes that be cooked for children, some of mine are a bit weird and wacky but the girls love them!”