Gift for a helpful neighbor

[catsarecute]

I live in a cul-de-sac with 6 other houses. The man that lives across the street is older and retired. He is really nice and friendly and helpful. Lately, he has been bringing in our garage cans from the curb and I know he mows our front yard every couple of weeks during the day. When I left my house later than usual today, I saw him mowing his neighbors lawn so I'm sure is going to make the rounds and mow every lawn today.

I don't know him very well but I want to get him some sort of gift. Would a plate of cookies be okay or maybe a gift card to the local hardware store? He is kind of a handyman, always washing his car, working on his yard, fixing something or other.

[sunny]

That is super sweet of him. I would say cookies, but you never know with someone's dietary needs. Still, I would probably bake something and do a gift card to the hardware store too.

Our cul-de-sac is like this (not to your extreme, but everyone is very nice and helps pull the garbage cans in and stuff etc.) and I am so thankful for it.

[sugardumpling]

Actually asked this recently. Our new neighbors who have been very helpful will be getting local wine and cheese (they recently relocated from out of state) along with a gc to our favorite restaurant.

[catsarecute]

May 24, 2012 14:49:14 GMT -5 sunny said:

That is super sweet of him. I would say cookies, but you never know with someone's dietary needs. Still, I would probably bake something and do a gift card to the hardware store too.

Our cul-de-sac is like this (not to your extreme, but everyone is very nice and helps pull the garbage cans in and stuff etc.) and I am so thankful for it.

That was my concern as well. But their granddaughter comes over and friends are often swinging by their house so they can always share them with guests if they don't eat cookies.

I noticed last Friday that all of the garbage cans were in except his immediate next door neighbor who he is very close with. I think they asked him to stop taking the cans in so their teenage son can do it as a chore.

[tarheels]

Banana bread

2 cups cake flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups mashed bananas (approx. 7)
Optional: 1 cup chopped walnuts

Sift together first three ingredients, set aside. In a separate bowl (preferably food processor), combine butter and sugar. Add eggs and bananas to creamed butter and sugar; combine. Fold dry ingredients into wet. Add nuts if desired.

Pour batter in two loaf pans sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes. Do not overbake. Check at 50 minutes.



It won't rise much, but it's very moist and you won't taste a better one. Wrap the second loaf in saran wrap and aluminum foil if you don't want to eat it right away and it'll stay good in the freezer for a couple months.