Borrowing ingredients from neighbors

[TastyReuben]

Hey…this might be my first interesting topic for the forum!

It used to be something of a ‘60’s-‘70’s sitcom plot device here - have the neighbor stop by and ask for a cup of sugar or a couple of eggs (or the other way round) in order to get two people together to discuss whatever the subject at hand was or to just gossip.

Always seemed strange to me, because we never lived close enough to anyone to actually do that.

Well, today, MrsT suddenly popped out with a request for macaroni salad and three in the PM, and I don’t have any celery. Now, to me, macaroni salad ain’t macaroni salad without that super clean crunch of celery, so I said sorry, not happening.

“I’ll ask Jan,” meaning the next door neighbor, and out with a text, and…score! Jan had some.

The Mac is Back.

That prompts my question - what’s your experience with borrowing ingredients from the neighbors? Did/do the neighbors ever borrow from you?

I won’t ask about the gossip.

 

[JAS_OH1]

I had a neighbor like that here in Akron, we loved her and her family. She lived in the little house to the left of us. Her kids were still living at home when ours grew up and moved, so if I needed a cup of milk (rarely keep milk on hand since we don't eat cereal or drink milk) or whatever else, it was never a problem. Also her husband was very handy and could fix anything, so he was always available if we had any kind of issues. The wife hated seafood and wouldn't cook it for him, so I would always send over seafood stuffed mushrooms or a pasta dish for him and he was so happy. They moved about 5 years ago and I miss them terribly. I can't stand all of my other neighbors, and I don't much like the people who bought her house, either. So now I just run down the road to get what I need, but since I live about 5 miles from 4 different grocery stores and a farmers' market (and 2 Dollar Generals) it's fine.

 

[Barriehie]

Neighbors are too far away here. Most have the phone # of whoever lives on either side in case of an emergency but the Shannon Grocery is 3 miles away and although pricey they carry a lot of choices.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Neighbors are too far away here. Most have the phone # of whoever lives on either side in case of an emergency but the Shannon Grocery is 3 miles away and although pricey they carry a lot of choices.

It's better to pay a little extra for a close by grocery than it is to drive a distance and spend the same amount on fuel that you would have saved by buying somewhere else further away...

 

[Barriehie]

It's better to pay a little extra for a close by grocery than it is to drive a distance and spend the same amount on fuel that you would have saved by buying somewhere else further away...

Exactly! Plus it would take longer.

 

[karadekoolaid]

I've got Italian neighbours, and I've also got abundant basil and oregano plants. Johnny will occasionally call me and say "hey, have you got any basil/oregano? " and I'll answer "how many kilos do you want?"

 

[badjak]

I don't really have neighbours I could borrow from.
But I got a couple of people in the area with plots that they only visit occassionally. Some will give me a shout to ask if there is anything I need from town

 

[TheSoloChef]

Other than a simple 'hello' or a nod of the head, most of us in the UK tend not to talk much to our neighbours let alone ask to borrow ingredients!!

 

[msmofet]

Never borrowed from neighbors.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I don't think I've ever lived anywhere near enough to neighbours to be able to ask them for ingredients if I've run out or forgotten something!

I am sometimes asked for eggs though!