Here’s the scenario: you’ve invited someone over for dinner, but you have to work late. On the way home you just about have time to pick up a few groceries and a bottle of wine -or mineral water, if that’s your tipple. As you enter your apartment, you realize you haven’t done the cleaning. Do you clean or make dinner? You don’t have time for both.

Personally, when this happens I put the oven on, take out a roasting tin, pour in a generous dash or three of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and then throw in some mixed herbs (or oregano ) and stir.

Next add some chopped vegetables: onions, carrots, peppers, zucchini [courgette], and egg plant [aubergine] go really well together. Sweet potatoes are also really good to use if you have some, but regular potatoes cut thinly will also do.

Season with a bit of sea salt and freshly ground pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper and then roast in a medium oven until the vegetables are cooked.

My oven is a bit temperamental so this can take anything between 20 minutes and 40 depending on its mood.

Your best bet is to keep an eye on them and turn them after about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, quickly vacuum your apartment, open a bottle of wine and await your dinner guest.

I usually find that if people turn up whilst I am still cleaning, they’re happy to nibble on a few olives or sip a glass of wine.

The best thing, though, is when you serve the vegetables: even though the apartment might have looked a state, and you might have been caught rushing around, there’s something about roast vegetables when they’re done like this. They’re incredibly more-ish, very homely, healthy, low in carbs and tend to go down pretty well.

I find they’re best when served with tzatziki, hummus, or a little natural yoghurt spiced with garlic and mustard. If I’m feeling adventurous, I might add a few sesame seeds.

For moments like this, keep things like: tzatski
chick peas + sesame paste (for homemade hummus)
natural yoghurt
extra virgin olive oil
white wine
some good olives
around

in relative close vicinity.

Photo: Just Jane

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