When a neighbor brings baked goods as a welcome to the neighborhood must one return their pie dish with something in it to thank them?

• No, it is not necessary to take a pie over to the neighbor as they wanted to welcome you into the neighborhood. A better idea would to be go over and perhaps invite them over for dinner or a leisurely evening.

Another PerspectiveWhen we take food to a new neighbor it should be because it's a way to both introduce yourself and to say "I know you're busy, so here's something to eat so you don't have to stop what you're doing."

We shouldn't expect anything back, except perhaps, the empty pie dish.

However

According to old southern tradition, one never returns an empty dish. If you are a southern traditionalist and want to keep the tradition alive, you may choose to fill the dish with something when you return it.