Sold, to the lady sitting on Facebook...







"Anyone have any evaporated milk to part with this morning?  I have JIF peanut butter if you have evaporated milk!"

That was my Facebook post bright and early this morning.  Boring isn't it?  Yep, I was posting about evaporated milk, not something fun and exciting like...

"Just rode the elevator with the Dalai Lama!" or "Just got asked to write an article for National Geographic!"  Nope, evaporated milk was what got me excited this morning, especially when someone told me where to find it, and what it would look like in my local grocery store...that's what life has become!

You will often see these types of posts in my Expat community.  People looking for all kinds of things, the comforts of home, why in fact just this morning there was another post from someone looking for chocolate frosting.  Not homemade of course, but a good old can of chocolate frosting.  Peanut butter and salsa are also hot commodities in the Expat world, and oh the negotiations for pumpkin at Thanksgiving time is enough to give any Christies auctioneer a run for their money.  It is in fact so sought after that I have seen people offer babysitting hours just to get one more can.  It's kind of like a crack addict selling their child for one more hit...okay, maybe not that bad, I got caught up in the moment, but it does get crazy!

What about you, what is the one thing that you couldn't live without in your pantry?

26 comments:

  1. Salsa is a main staple in our expat home. Yet, we stock up on Aunt Jemima, BWW sauce, green chili's, and double stuff Oreo's. Just a few of our "must have" expat items.

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    1. Oh I forgot the Oreo's! You can buy them here, they are just in packs of 4 and seeing as I can eat a whole sleeve myself...doesn't take long to go thru them!

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  2. I had my mom send me cans of pumpkin and frosting here in the Philippines! And boy do I miss salsa!

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    1. Salsa is trending here on this blog post today. Seems to be that may be the way to make a bit of good expat money, create and sell a good salsa to the Expats!

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  3. As time has passed, the american food making a trip in my suitcases across the Atlantic has reduced. There are some "must haves" that I still can't do without. Splenda, flavored instant oatmeal, and CoCo Wheats to name a few. Then there are the things that I can get but have a heart attack at the import price - cake mixes, peanut butter, syrup. I finally gave up the need for Ranch dressing. I found a new favorite in Germany that I will be packing my suitcases with as we travel back to the US!

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    1. Kattie, Please tell what the Ranch dressing sub is as I would love it! I have to say, that when I go home, I now take coffee with me.

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  4. We have not been able to find little marshmallows (or big ones for that matter) anywhere here in the UK. I have been searching since we love them in our hot chocolate. I brought some cans of maple syrup with us for comfort when homesick but my son has gone through most of it and we are now down to our last can. Other than that I can pretty much find everything. We found a wonderful store in central London that sells Canadian+Australian foods for expats. We were happy to buy some Kraft dinner, peanut butter, cake mix, maple leaf cookies, and Kraft BBQ sauce there (quite expensive!) That was a fun find!

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    1. We can get marshmallows here so if you ever need some Gina, let me know. Also, they are pretty easy to bring back since they are so light. It is amazing how much the import stores charge for things isn't it?

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  5. Cereal and peanut butter are found in my pantry at all times! New follower from the mingle, would love a follow back.

    http://cumminslife.blogspot.com/

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    1. Those are staples that are difficult to find in Europe sometimes. They always have cereal, just not always the common brands and the peanut butter is completely different. We tent to stockpile when we take trips to the US.
      Thanks for stoping by and I hope you enjoy the blog!

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  6. Hands down Cheerios for the boys. It's what they ask for when we get off the plane in the States. I miss skim milk. We all miss peanut butter - a good natural one and Jif for my husband.

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    1. Oh Cherrios!!! I miss them as well! Skim milk I have found in Holland so that's not too bad. Soon Amity, you will be sending us food!!

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  7. Hands down Cheerios for the boys. They ask for it first thing when we get off the plane in the States! Skim milk for me. Peanut butter for all of us - a good natural one and Jif for my husband.

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  8. Vegemite, for sure!! I hoard it here in China at the moment, and am sure I will have to continue this practice when we move to Düsseldorf in August!! Love your blog... helping me settle in already!!

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    1. Hurray, Dusseldorf in August!! Can I help you with anything? If so please feel free to email me.

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  9. I always seem to have an endless supply of space in my pantry

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  10. Haha do I get this or what. Although lately we've had fun making our own salsas and during Thanskgiving we get pumpkin the old fashioned way, from a real pumpkin :) and it makes for one hell of a pumpkin pie :) You can also find it in jars at some all natural food stores :)

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    1. I think I may start making salsa and selling it, haha... I could be rich! I have to say that I am pretty lucky as my hubby goes home quite often and he always comes back with a suitcase full of groceries! Sad isn't it :)

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  11. Thanks Monica. I hope that I can keep you entertained! Thanks for the follow!

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  12. Whenever I or any of the family go to the UK they know the only I want them to bring back, is the most yummiest brackfast cereal/museli called Jordans Country Crisp. It comes in a few different flavours Strawberry is the best.. they do make quite nice museli bars too..
    Can't find a sub for it anywhere in Australia..

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    1. Isn't that the worst when you can't even find something close! Then your traveling back with suitcases full of cereal instead of something fun! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that you enjoy the blog!

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  13. I love your blog, I look forward to reading it. I stumbled across it while making a going away card for a colleague. Yes the cereal takes up alot of room in the suitcase too.. sigh but it's worth it

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    1. I am so glad that you found me and that I entertained!!

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  14. Bahahah! Oh I feel ya. I've never been an Expat, but I understand missing your 'common staples'.

    So happy to have you linking up with Falling For Friday!
    just love
    //kelly

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  15. Thanks for stopping by Kelly!! Glad that you enjoyed :)

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