Dear Prudence, I am a single female in my mid-20s and have owned my own home for three years. My neighbors are a delightful family. My problem is a good one: They have done so many favors for me I don’t know how I can ever repay them! I have a bad back and have had surgery and they mowed my lawn all summer. During the winter, they shovel my driveway before I get home from work. I’m not great in social situations, and I’m trying to figure out how I can possibly show them the depths of my appreciation for all the help they’ve given me. I think something like baking cookies and attaching a thank you note just seems lazy compared to all they’ve done. Is it tacky to thank them in some way after three years? A check seems weird. Should I start giving them a gift every time they help me, even though I’ve never asked for their help?
—Helped Out
Dear Helped, Yes, you are lucky, but please don’t turn their generosity into a source of anxiety for yourself. I have several neighbors in their 90s, and I love shoveling snow, so after a snowstorm I do their stairs and driveways without asking, and don’t expect anything in return. Your neighbors know you are on your own and that you can’t do a lot of physical labor, so I assure you that helping you out is a source of satisfaction for them. But do go ahead and thank them by inviting them over for dinner. When they come, raise a glass and say you wanted to let them know how grateful you are to live next door and how much you appreciate their looking out for you. A platter of brownies and a lovely note at Christmas would also be a good tradition for you to start.
—Prudie
__________________
The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
What wonderful neighbors. I'd probably bake a homemade lasagna & take it over to them. The man next door to my mom plows her driveway for her. She always bakes him a pie as a thank you.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
As for the OP, she should do something for them. Cookies are a great start.
If they are mowing her yard, buy them some gas.
Get them nice gifts.
Invite them to dinner.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
He had also chopped onions, celery, and mushrooms. He put potato chips on top.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Well, you really don't KNOW do ya unless you try it? Lots of things don't sound good until you try them. But, you are much too high brow for that I am sure.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
That actually sounds good. When my mom made it, it was disgusting (no noodles or veggies, if I recall).
I've had food doused in cream of crap soup. I didn't like it.
Of course you didn't. We need to put the words "premium" or "natural" or "elite' on the label for you. Maybe make the can green to give a good vibe and raise the price of it by $3. Then all of the sudden, wouldn't it be lovely! LOL!
I've had food doused in cream of crap soup. I didn't like it.
Of course you didn't. We need to put the words "premium" or "natural" or "elite' on the label for you. Maybe make the can green to give a good vibe and raise the price of it by $3. Then all of the sudden, wouldn't it be lovely! LOL!
What you don't seem to understand is that I live in a different culture, with a different palate. You won't find much tuna casserole in Paris, and you won't find it here.
...and I never buy food because it has "natural" on the label. It's a completely meaningless term.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Faint......Weltz & I agree on food!
My mother used to make "creamed peas on toast" for dinner. Frequently.
A can of peas, two cans of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup (straight, not diluted), heat on stove until boiling, serve over toast.
Cheap and quick. I don't remember anyone complaining.
__________________
The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
Lousy food isn't "diversity".
Eat as much cream-of-crap doused food, topped with potato chips, as you want. Wash it down with Mountain Dew and have Twinkies for dessert. I don't care.
I don't have to eat it.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Faint......Weltz & I agree on food!
My mother used to make "creamed peas on toast" for dinner. Frequently.
A can of peas, two cans of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup (straight, not diluted), heat on stove until boiling, serve over toast.
Cheap and quick. I don't remember anyone complaining.
OMG if you knew how much I hate peas Ed. I do mean with a purple passion. I once went 3 days without eating as a child because I was not allowed to have anything else until I ate my peas. I still did not eat them. My father shoved a spoonful in my mouth & made me swallow. I threw up & it was done.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Faint......Weltz & I agree on food!
My mother used to make "creamed peas on toast" for dinner. Frequently.
A can of peas, two cans of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup (straight, not diluted), heat on stove until boiling, serve over toast.
Cheap and quick. I don't remember anyone complaining.
There's little protein in that meal. We were very poor when I was growing up and my mother cooked a lot of organ meats, like chicken livers, hearts and giblets.
It's still my comfort food.
-- Edited by weltschmerz on Thursday 1st of October 2015 03:35:19 PM
-- Edited by weltschmerz on Thursday 1st of October 2015 03:35:46 PM
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Faint......Weltz & I agree on food!
My mother used to make "creamed peas on toast" for dinner. Frequently.
A can of peas, two cans of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup (straight, not diluted), heat on stove until boiling, serve over toast.
Cheap and quick. I don't remember anyone complaining.
OMG if you knew how much I hate peas Ed. I do mean with a purple passion. I once went 3 days without eating as a child because I was not allowed to have anything else until I ate my peas. I still did not eat them. My father shoved a spoonful in my mouth & made me swallow. I threw up & it was done.
Canned peas are disgusting...Fresh peas are divine!
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Faint......Weltz & I agree on food!
My mother used to make "creamed peas on toast" for dinner. Frequently.
A can of peas, two cans of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup (straight, not diluted), heat on stove until boiling, serve over toast.
Cheap and quick. I don't remember anyone complaining.
OMG if you knew how much I hate peas Ed. I do mean with a purple passion. I once went 3 days without eating as a child because I was not allowed to have anything else until I ate my peas. I still did not eat them. My father shoved a spoonful in my mouth & made me swallow. I threw up & it was done.
Canned peas are disgusting...Fresh peas are divine!
Get 3 cans of tuna. A large can of cream of mushroom soup. Boil some noodles. Mix all that together and toss in a few peas for good measure. Cover with buttered bread crumbs and bake and enjoy the goodness!
Sorry, but that doesn't sound the least bit appetizing.
Faint......Weltz & I agree on food!
My mother used to make "creamed peas on toast" for dinner. Frequently.
A can of peas, two cans of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup (straight, not diluted), heat on stove until boiling, serve over toast.
Cheap and quick. I don't remember anyone complaining.
OMG if you knew how much I hate peas Ed. I do mean with a purple passion. I once went 3 days without eating as a child because I was not allowed to have anything else until I ate my peas. I still did not eat them. My father shoved a spoonful in my mouth & made me swallow. I threw up & it was done.
Canned peas are disgusting...Fresh peas are divine!
flan
We used to rent a room in a house in the country for the summers. There was a highway nearby, where the trucks would deliver fresh-picked peas on the vine for the city markets. Every time they'd hit a bump, kilos of fresh peas would fall out onto the road. We'd scoop them up and we were in heaven. Delicious!
We did a lot of scavenging. Peas from the highway, black raspberries from abandoned nearby farms, bolete and chanterelle mushrooms from the woods and plenty of river trout.
We ate well.