Anna Goldfarb's Recent Articles
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5 Reasons There Should Be Booze at a First Birthday Party
First birthday parties are a big deal. Not only has the little dude or dudette made his or her first trip around the sun, but it also marks the first year of being a new parent. Anyone who’s cared for an infant can tell you parenthood is hard work. After countless sleepless nights and piles of dirty diapers, who wouldn’t want to break out some bubbly to celebrate the occasion?
May 1, 2019
The Biggest Movie Night Mistake to Avoid
I can’t count how many times I set out to host a killer movie night and watched helplessly as it fell apart before my eyes. While it might seem simple, there’s more to movie night than pushing “play” and throwing some popcorn into a bowl. There are a lot of ways for movie night to go wrong! But there’s one mistake you should definitely avoid: picking a movie dud. I seem to have quite a lot of experience with this common pitfall.
May 1, 2019
I Tried 6 New-to-Me Fruits and Here’s What I Thought
Did I collapse in a heap by the banana display? Let's find out!
May 1, 2019
I Tried 4 New-to-Me Vegetables and Here’s What I Thought
My new life philosophy: When in doubt, roast.
May 1, 2019
10 Healthy Snacks You Can Only Find at Costco
Costco is known for lots of things — humongous shopping carts, a generous free sample policy, and cheap hot dogs, to name a few — but it’s not just a fabulous place to go when you want to stock up on giant jars of peanut butter or massive containers of dish detergent. Costco also has a fantastic selection of healthy snacks. I’ve rounded up my favorite healthy snacks that you can only find if you go to Costco.
May 1, 2019
24 Things to Do with Friends — Besides Hitting a Bar
There are a lot of reasons to want to skip the bar for your next hangout with friends. Whether one of you is in recovery, are refraining from alcohol for health or religious reasons, or just want to mix it up because you’re over the bar scene, here are some solid suggestions on where to meet up — somewhere, anywhere — besides a bar. Cook dinner together: Pick a dinner recipe from this site (any dinner recipe!
May 1, 2019
The Best Bridal Shower Advice, According to Brides
In a perfect world, a bridal shower is a meaningful way to celebrate the bride, and a forum for family members, friends, and coworkers to mingle before the main event. Gifts are given to either make the lady of the hour feel pampered or to enhance her home. The food is tasteful, and planned activities (if any) are low-key and optional. However, there are a lot of things that can complicate a bridal shower. For starters, some brides don’t actually want one.
May 1, 2019
The One Thing You Should Get Right for an Epic Pool Party
We’ve waited all year for pool party season to arrive, and it’s finally here. Sure, pool parties are terrific if you’re celebrating a birthday or holiday, but sometimes you don’t even need a reason — it’s just fun to get your loved ones (of all ages!) in the pool to soak up some sun. Whether you’re splashing around a public pool or lounging in a private backyard, you don’t need much money or time to throw a truly epic pool party.
May 1, 2019
The Best Vacation for Your Zodiac Sign
Our zodiac sign gives key insight into our personalities, career paths, and love lives — not to mention which cocktails, snacks, and chocolatey indulgences are cosmically approved. What isn’t in the stars? Let’s see what the celestial powers have to say about where your next vacation destination should be.
May 1, 2019
5 Halloween Costume Ideas That Test Your IQ with Puns
Halloween is right around the corner. If you don’t have a costume yet, we have a few ideas. The only catch? There’s a trick before you get to the treat. Can you figure out what these punny costumes are? They’re all things you can sip, nibble, or chew! Hint: This idea is perfect for trick-or-treating on cold nights — and staying awake on hot, summer days. Hint: This costume will keep you warm and could even spice things up. Hint: Just don’t give away all your gum!
Oct 23, 2017
The 10 Best Food Podcasts for a Road Trip
As anyone who has taken to the open road can tell you, road trips are the perfect time to queue up a podcast. Not only will it keep your mind busy during long stretches of travel, but once you lose yourself in the story, it will also make those miles fly by. The best part? Food podcasts are booming. What was once a niche market has exploded, and high-quality podcasts about all aspects of the food world are just a few clicks away.
Jun 27, 2017
The 5 Best Pizza Places in Philly, According to a Local
Philly is known for its gooey cheesesteaks and soft pretzels, but we've been known to sling a mean pizza pie, too.
Jun 17, 2017
This Passover Candy Sent Me on an Emotional Roller Coaster
Bartons Almond Kisses have been a staple of my family’s Passover seders for as long as I can remember. No Passover with my family would be complete without a tin on the table. And if I’m sinking my teeth into one of these treats, it means it’s Passover, which is one of my absolute favorite holidays. But recently I discovered an unsettling truth: Bartons Almond Kisses are no longer. Or are they?
Apr 9, 2017
6 Reasons I’ve Come to Love My Microwave
In my 20s, I’d use my trusty microwave to heat Chinese food leftovers or to make nachos on flimsy paper plates. By the time I hit 30, I thought I’d outgrown using this pedestrian appliance as a cooking method. It sat cold on my countertop, serving instead as a makeshift breadbox. Then, two years ago, I moved in with my partner, Mike.
Feb 13, 2017
My Healthy Habit Challenge: I’m Gonna Buy More than Four Types of Produce
Welcome to our Healthy Habit Challenge! Instead of focusing on (impossible-to-keep) new year’s resolutions, this year we’re challenging four writers to start a new healthy habit. These challenges aren’t about cutting out sugar, going on a diet, or focused on the negative. They’re about doing something new and good — and making it second-nature.
Jan 18, 2017
The Best Playlist for Your Post-Thanksgiving Cleanup
Your last guest has departed. Dirty plates are piled in the sink, leftover food sits on every surface, and your tablecloth is stained with red wine splatters and gravy drips. It’s time to clean up, which, for some, is the worst part of hosting the Thanksgiving meal. Fear not! We put together an upbeat, Motown-inspired playlist to liven the mood and make this dreaded chore fly by. Our ideal playlist starts with Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle.
Nov 24, 2016
Why I Hate Pumpkin Pie
Confession: I hate pumpkin pie. It feels crazy to admit this because, like Star Wars and Fitbits, pumpkin pie has so many die-hard fans. And I want to like it, I really do, but store-bought or homemade, I’ve been consistently underwhelmed with every bite. It’s not welcoming like a slice of warm apple pie, or impressive like a proud, browned lemon meringue peak. It’s just there, inert on my plate like a bored cat.
Nov 22, 2016
The Thanksgiving Post-Meal Game Plan (or How to Make Everyone Else Do the Washing Up)
Congrats! The big event is over. But before you turn off your front porch light and collapse into bed, the kitchen needs to be cleaned. It’s a big job, too. The sink’s full of dirty dishes and crusty pots, and there’s leftover food stacked on every available surface. Since you’ve already done your part making sure the evening came together flawlessly, it’s time for everyone else —including the kids table! — to pitch in with the cleanup effort.
Nov 22, 2016
Do You Know How Brussels Sprouts Grow?
Nope, you’re not looking at some wacky palm tree — that’s how Brussels sprouts actually grow. We’re blowing your mind a little bit right now, aren’t we? For the last few years, Brussels sprouts have been, um, sprouting up on menus everywhere. While most of our 12-year-old selves hated sprouts (as people sometimes affectionally call them), as adults we now gobble them up served with bacon, covered in buffalo sauce, shredded into a slaw … the list goes on.
Nov 10, 2016
Don’t Be a Hero: 5 Reasons You Should Just Buy the Pie
If you’re hosting your first Thanksgiving, the biggest mistake you can make is trying to do too much. I mean, you are already roasting a very big bird; one that, before it even goes in the oven, takes up precious real estate in your freezer and then in your fridge. It’s possible you are also making a slew of side dishes. Also, not insignificantly, you are opening your home to some number of other people.
Nov 8, 2016
Oyster Crackers Are Oyster-Free, So Why Are They Called Oysters?
Let's investigate this curiously-named cracker, shall we?
Oct 10, 2016
7 Conversations to Avoid First Thing Monday Morning
Much has been written about the first day of the work week, and most of it isn’t very flattering. Consider, The Bangles: “It’s just another manic Monday / I wish it were Sunday.” Or The Mamas and The Papas: “Every other day of the week is fine (fine), yeah / But whenever Monday comes / You can find me crying all of the time.
Sep 12, 2016
We Be Jammin’: Tunes to Listen to While You’re Making Jam
Preserving the season’s bounty in a whirlwind jamming session is one of our very favorite things to do. Pots, pans, and jars crowd every available surface; bundles of ripe fruits and veggies stand at the ready; our hair is tied back; and our aprons are tied on. But before we hull our first strawberry or rinse our first blueberry, we like to set the mood with some tunes. Something easygoing, but lively enough to keep the energy up while we’re simmering, stirring, and straining.
Sep 2, 2016
How I Staycation: Philadelphia
“Staycation” may seem like a made-up word for people who don’t have the time or energy to plan an actual holiday, but hear us out: A vacation in your hometown doesn’t have to suck. In fact, it can be pretty wonderful. Consider: You save on airfare and transportation, you don’t have to worry about outsourcing care of pets or plants, and you can sleep in your own bed (if you want). Win-win-win! This month, we’re exploring how five different people staycation.
Aug 5, 2016
Tiny Facts: Caesar Salad Isn’t Named After the Emperor
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Caesar salad has no relation to Julius Caesar, the Roman emperor of yore. It’s an understandable mistake to make though. It feels like the salad could be from the days of chariots and togas, right? It has the black pepper, eggs, and fishy flavor profile, all which are typically found in ancient Roman cooking. But, alas, it’s not the case. Caesar salad was, in fact, invented in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1920s.
Aug 4, 2016
10 Commandments of Smuggling Food into the Movie Theater
Let’s be honest — the vast majority of theaters are slinging the same sad pretzels, stale nachos, and dry chicken fingers. And while we’ll always have a soft spot for faux-flavored popcorn and movie-theater candy, sometimes it’s just easier, cheaper, and healthier to bring your own food to the movie theater. This is obviously against theater policy, but we’re all for smuggling in your own food — so long as you follow these rules.
Jul 27, 2016
13 Podcasts for a Summer Road Trip
As great as a road trip sounds in theory, sometimes it can be a drag. That open road gets monotonous; that pop hit that plays at least once an hour on the radio gets tired really quickly; and even chatter with your travel mates can get stale. The best way to liven the mood is to plug in your device of choice, push play on a podcast, and crank the volume up.
Jul 13, 2016
5 Questions to Ask About a Vacation Rental Kitchen Before You Go
Thanks to the explosion of vacation rental websites in the past few years, more people are eschewing pricey hotel rooms in favor of cute cottages and sleek shipping container cabins in the woods. In fact, according to Trip Advisor’s 2016 Vacation Rental survey, 67 percent of U.S. respondents plan to stay in a vacation rental this year, up from 59 percent in 2015 and 52 percent in 2014. Clearly, it’s a trend. There are many reasons to go this route.
Jul 5, 2016
5 Rules of Public Park Etiquette
People enjoy parks for all sorts of reasons. Maybe they’re throwing a casual picnic with brie and red wine, or relaxing with friends and family on the grass. Perhaps they just want to soak up some sun while they catch up with their Kindle. The point is, most people don’t head over with the goal of being a nuisance.
Jun 13, 2016
An Ode to My Mom’s Electric Hand Mixer
My mom’s hand mixer has been around for as long as I can remember, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve called it Wally (I had a crush on the older Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver). Growing up, if Wally was on the kitchen counter, it meant Mom was preparing something delicious. And since Wally had two metal beaters, I was usually able to lick one if I played my cards right. I still remember Mom whipping fresh cream for one of her apple pies.
Mar 11, 2016
7 Ways Cayenne Pepper Is the MVP of My Kitchen
Cayenne pepper is the Shakira of spices: bold, beautiful, and smokin’ hot (not to mention an international sensation). Originally cultivated in the Cayenne region of French Guiana, the pepper is frequently found in Indian, Asian, Mexican, African, Middle-Eastern, and Southern American cuisines, to name a few. It’s also an incredibly affordable way to add sweet heat to whatever’s on your stovetop.
Mar 2, 2016