Olive Medley

Well, this week has been about enjoying other people's food! Birthdays are often like this, but as I get older, it seems I can spread my birthday out for at least a week and get to be treated to various meals along the way! Tonight we are visiting The Pearson's Arms in Whitstable. I'll let you know what I think tomorrow...

However, with these treats comes a dilemma (or maybe a challenge?). What food do I need to buy, or do I really need to visit the supermarket/shop? I don't want to buy and make waste...

H is away, and R is working throughout the week and at the weekend too. I delve into the freezer to find leftovers enough to see me through a few days - fish pie, vegetable curry, meatloaf. Mmm, meatloaf...
Not homemade, I'm afraid, but delicious (Marks and Spencer, I believe).

I open the fridge door to be faced with barren shelves. I guess it's just going to have to be bits and bobs.

So here is how yesterday's meal was born:

3/4 tin of black olives I decanted a few weeks ago (I used them all, but use what you can eat!)
a large handful of baby plum tomatoes that Tesco were getting rid of
1/2 a butternut squash that I discovered sitting in the potato box, cubed
The mushrooms leftover from R's ham and egg lunch.

The result is a colourful dish, reminiscent of a fruit salad!

 I drizzled olive oil, ground black pepper and roasted the medley at 150 C for 2 hours, by which time they had softened, flavours merging.

Serve with meat or eat alone. I planned to save some for lunch today, but, hey, it was delicious! Give it a try... :-)