Ask MetaFilter

In any category...whether it's a book or movie, habit or piece of advice, product, whatever, the thing you tell people about whenever you get a chance because it has improved your life so much. [more inside]
posted by lgyre to Society & Culture at 1:44 PM on Jan 27, 2021 - 118 answers [178 favorites]

I have eaten lemon poppyseed loaf cakes or lemon pound cakes that were deliciously moist and intensely lemony. I have never been able to reproduce this in my own kitchen, despite trying a variety of different recipes. Please share with me your recipes that reliably produce moist lemony cakes. [more inside]
posted by darchildre to Food & Drink at 11:24 AM on Feb 2, 2021 - 23 answers [86 favorites]

For health reasons, me and most of my family members have been trying to eat well. We are all abstaining from refined sugar, deep fried food, and most processed foods, since it's been easier to abstain entirely rather than moderate. But it's been difficult to find pleasure in foods for special occasions (e.g. we'd normally indulge in chocolates for V Day). Suggestions for how we can bring treats back into our lives? [more inside]
posted by redlines to Food & Drink at 9:31 AM on Feb 14, 2021 - 59 answers [68 favorites]

We have and use cloth masks for most encounters and excursions, but I'd like to purchase a few masks for our household specifically for the occasional unavoidable trip or encounter that feels higher risk. Where can I go and have a good chance of not buying counterfeits? [more inside]
posted by Nonce to Health at 9:02 AM on Jan 29, 2021 - 23 answers [56 favorites]

Hi all! I am transitioning from an eat-whatever-i-want diet to a healthy, plant-based, whole foods diet. I have a pretty open palate. I like and will try a lot of foods, but mostly enjoy salty and savory flavors. I want to go healthy but don't want to sacrifice taste/flavor. I need ideas, please help! [more inside]
posted by koolaidnovel to Food & Drink at 7:33 PM on Feb 4, 2021 - 32 answers [56 favorites]

I'm looking for informative podcasts where I'm going to learn something, done in a conversational, friendly way, by subject-matter experts. The expertise might be due to academic degrees or real-world professional experience, but it is not "pair of friends reads Wikipedia article on X subject and then recites it back with color commentary" or "host interviews an expert" or even "host goes on a journey to learn about X". [more inside]
posted by rogerroger to Media & Arts at 7:30 PM on Feb 3, 2021 - 30 answers [55 favorites]

I typically get a refund each tax season, and (after doling some out to savings) I like to treat myself a little with a nice restaurant meal, a day trip somewhere, or something like that. THIS year I can't do that, so I've decided to splurge on getting really GOOD food and pantry items - artisanal flours, heirloom beans, specialty ingredients, stuff like that. Hit me with some options! [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos to Food & Drink at 6:12 AM on Feb 15, 2021 - 43 answers [55 favorites]

Is there anything you've purchased, any classes or hobbies you've started, or practices you've adopted that have seriously upgraded your life during this pandemic? [more inside]
posted by everydayanewday to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 6:02 PM on Jan 25, 2021 - 56 answers [87 favorites (52 in the past 30 days)]

Hi all; I getting bored of the websites I keep in my favorites. I need some new ones--have any you want to share? Science stuff,vintage true crime,vintage photography, whatever you want to share. Not into gaming though. Thank you :-)
posted by LOOKING to Computers & Internet at 3:47 AM on Jan 28, 2021 - 22 answers [52 favorites]

In my quest to find more fiction books to read that don't make me quit ten pages in, I've realised that there's a quality to literature I enjoy that could be described as engaging with morality, ethics, goodness, right living, those sort of things. And doing so deliberately and as the most important part of the book. As opposed to those things being kind of subservient to plot and character, etc. Some examples inside. I'd like to find more books like this, if you could offer any suggestions. [more inside]
posted by Balthamos to Media & Arts at 4:38 AM on Jan 29, 2021 - 80 answers [49 favorites]

I would really want to spend the 1-2 minutes between meetings during the day to do exercises that will have a positive impact on my overall health. Want to do these 2-3 times a day, but don't want to break a sweat. I work from home. Ideally with a program/progression to follow. What do/would you do?
posted by sandmanwv to Health at 3:11 PM on Feb 17, 2021 - 18 answers [49 favorites]

There is exactly one recipe that I use lentils for, but I'd like to add some more recipes that use lentils to my repertoire! [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain to Food & Drink at 7:09 PM on Jan 25, 2021 - 43 answers [65 favorites (43 in the past 30 days)]

What are your favorite recipes that use ground beef? [more inside]
posted by jacobian to Food & Drink at 8:53 AM on Jan 29, 2021 - 45 answers [42 favorites]

Help me find online meetups, live classes, or other live activities that are fun, that involve interacting or doing something as opposed to just watching, and that are free (or very cheap). [more inside]
posted by daisyace to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 7:50 AM on Jan 30, 2021 - 17 answers [42 favorites]

still adjusting to working from home [more inside]
posted by winterportage to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 1:18 PM on Feb 1, 2021 - 40 answers [40 favorites]

Trying to jazz up the zoom happy hour and I am straight up out of ideas. Hoping to foster some earnest/fun/thoughtful discussion and reflection. [more inside]
posted by wowenthusiast to Human Relations at 8:19 PM on Feb 15, 2021 - 17 answers [39 favorites]

I am seeking recommendations for a podcast to listen to while I'm falling asleep. Something quiet. To me, that means soothing, consistent voices, with no excitement, hilarity, or arguments. If there are ads, they have to be the same voices/tone as the rest of the podcast. These are my two biggest problems finding appropriate 'casts, and rules out anything from iHeartRadio, Wondery, MaxFun or other networks. Additional snowflakes within. [more inside]
posted by dazedandconfused to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation at 3:08 PM on Feb 1, 2021 - 39 answers [38 favorites]

As work-from-home continues, I'm looking for additions to my afternoon hot beverage selection. I have decaf coffee, chamomile, and peppermint teas. I'm looking for teas that have a savory or at least not-sweet/citrus/fruity taste. I like black coffee, genmaicha tea, Lapsang souchong, and I'm looking for decaf teas in that flavor family. Tastes like barley, fennel, etc. I'm also looking for these to be hot, and zero or very low calorie without artificial flavors. Specific brands and products would be very useful. Thanks!
posted by mercredi to Food & Drink at 10:12 AM on Feb 2, 2021 - 34 answers [35 favorites]

Post-Covid travel: Lazy Caribbean style. Need your recommendations! [more inside]
posted by greta simone to Travel & Transportation at 7:06 AM on Jan 28, 2021 - 5 answers [33 favorites]

I'm 300 lbs, 50 years old, female, arthritic knees, short of breath from 30 years of smoking, kinda agoraphobic. I did quit smoking 7 months ago, and that's a start. How do I get from here to a better place, fitness-wise? Diet-wise? I don't mind throwing money at this, but would prefer not to buy a treadmill or similar (I live on the second floor). What can a complete beginner with my challenges do? Thanks for any suggestions or success stories! [more inside]
posted by pH Indicating Socks to Health at 3:16 PM on Feb 15, 2021 - 48 answers [33 favorites]