Goodbye to a once cherished friend.

Recently, I was at a mahjong gathering with my buddies. We were huddled around a spread of deliciously prepared snacks on the host’s center island. All the women are excellent cooks. Somewhere between bites and banter, we found ourselves strolling down memory lane and the topic of dinner came up.

In my house growing up, dinner was usually my responsibility. Later, when my grandmother moved in with us, she shared the cooking duties. Our meals were simple: a protein, a starch, and a vegetable. Nothing fancy but always satisfying.

My parents were married for 60 years before my mom passed, and they had a beautiful relationship. One of the ways they kept it real was by having a monthly date night. We always knew one was coming when my mom returned from Waldbaum’s with two Swanson TV dinners tucked into the grocery bags. Their date nights were our treat nights.TV dinners felt like gourmet feasts to us. My favorite was the turkey dinner, complete with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and a cranberry something-or-other. My brother always went for the fried chicken.

TV dinners were invented in the 1950's by Swanson who had a ton of leftover Thanksgiving Turkey and needed a clever way to use it up. Their solution, a full dinner packaged in a divided aluminum tray that could just be placed in the oven and served as is straight out of the oven. Soon they expanded their offerings by adding Salisbury steak and fried chicken.

This was in late 60's.  By the 1980's other companies such as Stouffers and Banquet entered the fray. With the rise of the microwave, they adapted their packaging and cooking methods to suit the faster pace of modern kitchens. Swanson stuck with its tried-and-true recipes, while Stouffer’s introduced meals that were noticeably more flavorful and appealing. As a result, Swanson began to lose market share.  I think you can still find a Swanson's dinner, but they are rapidly disappearing from the supermarket freezers.

These days my meals look a lot different.  Inspired by the women I share fun gatherings with; I am inspired to working on improving my cooking skills. 

The microwave didn’t just change how we cook: it changed how we live. Meals became faster, more convenient, and increasingly personalized. But with each family member pulled in different directions by busy schedules and endless activities, mealtime has shifted. It’s often a grab-and-go affair rather than a chance to gather around the table and talk. 

The ritual of shared dinners has faded, replaced by quick bites and solo plates. And while convenience has its perks, something meaningful has sadly been lost in the process. I find myself craving not just better meals, but better moments. Maybe that’s why I treasure the laughter and shared bites at my wine club. It’s not just about what’s on the plate—it’s about what’s around it. Dinnertime growing up was always a great time to touch base with members of the family. I try to make sure we eat dinner together a few times a week just to keep the tradition alive.