Books to Blogs #28
Book: 3000 Unique Questions About ME
Question #2105
Prompt: “What’s your idea of the perfect TV Dinner?”
When I first read this question, I immediately thought:
Does it have to be an actual TV dinner?
Because technically, it could be.
My husband and I get prepared meals from Home Chef/Tempo for our lunches. We started doing that because we realized we were spending a small fortune eating out during the workweek. Occasionally, we’ll have an extra one left over and eat it for dinner.
So yes, a packaged meal in front of the television absolutely qualifies.
But then Sunday happened.
We decided to go to the movies to see The Odyssey.
What an amazing film.
Normally, after a movie, we might walk across the parking lot to one of the nearby restaurants and have something to eat. But this time, we decided to save some money and just go home.
The entire drive back, we talked about the movie.
What we liked.
The differences between The Odyssey and Troy.
What happened to certain characters.
Where other characters came from.
I’ve never read the books these movies are based upon. Rob has, so there was plenty for us to talk about and plenty for me to ask him.
By the time we got home, though, there was another matter demanding my attention.
I was starving.
Our movie had started at noon, and it was now getting close to five.
Then I remembered:
I have tri-tip.
And not just a little tri-tip.
The day before, I’d put one in the crockpot and cooked it for about six hours. It was almost ready when Rob came home carrying BBQ from a friend’s business.
He had gone to pick up his newly set up guitar, realized he was in the area and decided to stop by and see our friend. They chatted for a while, and Rob eventually came home carrying some great meat and multiple sides.
It was a very nice surprise.
It also meant nobody needed the tri-tip I’d been cooking for six hours.
About an hour later, I took it out of the crockpot, put it in a bowl, and stuck it in the refrigerator for another day.
Apparently, Sunday was that day.
I pulled out the tri-tip and reheated a nice helping of the shredded meat.
Then I had an idea.
Burrito.
I heated a tortilla, added the warm shredded tri-tip, sliced up some fresh avocado, and topped it off with a little flavored olive oil, salt, and pepper.
That was it.
Nothing elaborate.
Nothing fancy.
I poured myself a glass of Italian red wine, took my burrito into the living room and plopped myself onto the couch while Rob tried to find the football standings on TV.
And you know what?
That burrito and glass of wine were so good.
I sat there thinking about how completely satisfying this incredibly simple meal was.
We hadn’t gone to the restaurant.
We hadn’t spent another $50, $75, or whatever dinner would have cost us.
I hadn’t even really cooked dinner.
I took something I already had, added a few simple ingredients, poured myself a glass of wine and sat on the couch.
Maybe that’s my idea of the perfect TV dinner.
It doesn’t have to come in a little tray with separate compartments.
It doesn’t have to be something planned hours in advance.
And apparently, it doesn’t even have to involve actually watching television.
Sometimes the perfect TV dinner is whatever tastes absolutely delicious while you’re sitting comfortably on your own couch, talking about your day, half paying attention to whatever is on the screen and thinking:
Yep. This is exactly what I wanted.
Reflection Questions
What comes to mind when you hear the words “TV dinner”?
Is there a meal that tastes better to you simply because of where, when, or how you’re eating it?
And what’s your idea of the perfect TV dinner?
P.S. I didn’t take a picture of my perfect TV dinner on Sunday. Apparently, I liked it so much that I cooked another tri-tip just so I could recreate it and take the picture for this blog.
Yes. I made dinner again for a photo.
The things we do for the blog.
Theresa
Hello from Theresa
Flexible Being
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Theresa Martinez-Shapiro
Theresa Martinez-Shapiro is the founder of Flexible Being, a Reiki Master, Certified Oracle Guide, intuitive mentor, and writer based in Stockton, California. Through Musings of a Flexible Being, she explores healing, mindfulness, relationships, intuition, and personal growth with a grounded yet spiritual approach.
