Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Simply a Moment ~ TV Dining


It’s not often that I pull out frozen food for dinner – and it’s even less often that we eat dinner in front of the TV – but this night is special. It's the opening game of the National Football League and Doug is anxious to see it from the start.

Into the oven go some frozen boneless chicken wings and fries. I decide to balance it out by adding some fresh carrots with bleu cheese sprinkles on top. “I’ll have a salad myself,” I think, “with some diced chicken.”

Dinner is served on an old cafeteria tray that my mother gave me a few years ago – an old discarded piece that is a handy addition to the randomness of my kitchen. It allows for one trip from kitchen-to-living-room, and is placed on our coffee table where we dine by the light of a football game.

I'm reminded of my Grandma Bessie and how I always ate meals on a TV tray at her house. Come to think of it, I don’t know if I ever ate a meal at her kitchen table, and that was one of the things I loved about eating at Grandma’s house. She had some rickety metal TV trays that had been around for always, and she’d set them with a place setting and we’d enjoy our meals in her living room.

But I digress. Our Thursday Night Football dinner is served and enjoyed as the teams face off for the first game of the season. Doug is happy because it’s football season again, and I’m happy because dinner was a simple fix. Plus, I have my grandma on my mind now, and all is right in my world.
This post is brought to you in conjunction with
Alexa's monthly feature, "Simply a Moment."
You can read Alexa's story, as well as others
by visiting her blog.

14 comments:

Ruth said...

I really enjoyed reading this. We always eat at the table in the kitchen, which has a small TV in the corner. I try for TVless suppers, but am not always successful.

Karen said...

This brought back lots of memories. When I grew up my family ate at the dining room table with a tablecloth and cloth napkins, EXCEPT on Thursday nights when my father didn't come home for dinner because he was directing a choir rehearsal. That night, we got to eat canned spaghetti (that would hardly be a treat today!), and eat on black metal TV trays watching television.

Susi said...

We usually eat at our kitchen island and yes there is a TV, not my choice but it makes the husband happy. We are Notre Dame (college football)fans and once in a while I fix up some Irish Nachos to enjoy while watching the game.

Becky said...

Loved reading this. We very rarely eat in front of the tv - we have a dining table and usually sit there - no tv at mealtimes for us! However, if Hugh is away Penny and I will take our dinner into the lounge and watch CSI whilst we eat!

Jen said...

Loved to read this Deb - growing up we always ate at table - and I still do - though now I can see TV from where I sit as I only have one large room in my cottage - kitchen at one end and sitting are at the other. My hubby likes a TV tray when sport is on - and I am happy to oblige - feels cosy in the long winter evenings. I enjoyed reading your moment, thanks for sharing. J x

Irene said...

We also eat at the table; but when football season is on, all goes haywire.

Beverly said...

Growing up we only ate infront of the TV on Sunday nights so that we could watch the amazing Wonderful World of Disney, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and Ed Sullivan. We always ate at the table with no TV when the boys were growing up and still have that rule when they are here. As empty nesters and Stephen's running schedule we do use the coffee table while we watch our DVRed shows some nights. Loved you moment, I could picture your Grandmama's trays, my great aunt's had woodland scenes on them.

Maria Ontiveros said...

Beautiful moment Deb. We eat in front of the TV or on the fly way too often, but Sunday is usually at the table as a family.
Rinda
p.s. Isn't a boneless wing the same thing as a nugget?

Cheri said...

Loved this post Deb! We eat at the table most week nights, but on the weekends it is more often in the family room in front of the television. Since nobody stays at the table long anyway, it doesn't really make any difference to me anymore. When the girls were younger, we ALWAYS ate at the table. And do my eyes deceive me, or is your "diced chicken" salad really just sliced boneless wings on top of some lettuce???

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Yes, Rinda, I would call them nuggets, but the packaging calls them "boneless chicken wings."

And yes, Cheri, my salad had chicken wings diced on top. And bleu cheese. And, truth be told, I did steal some of Doug's fries and chicken pieces. :o]

alexa said...

A lovely insight into present and past - didn't feel like a digression at all :). Funny how little things touch a raft of memories and suddenly the incidents and people come alive again. How lovely to be able to enjoy your TV dinner with your gran again! It is always a pleasure to see your link and thank you very much for contributing your moment again this month :).

scrappyjacky said...

I love how doing something so simple....can bring back so many childhood memories. Love your moment.

Miriam said...

I loved your moment too Deb and the chicken and salad leaves is 'right up my street'

Unknown said...

Nice moment. I don't like to eat in front of the TV, but my husband does, and usually he wins...

cris
lalchimisteartisane.blogspot.com

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