Q: I'm planning to host a Les Misérables themed Oscar party for several of my friends. I have a ton of ideas about decor, but I am stumped for food. Any ideas?

Sent by Rachel

Q: I am taking a trip to Florida with my extended family, and as the trip coincides with the Super Bowl, we were planning a little family party. One of my sister-in-laws is essentially an egg-eating, no-soy vegan. What would be some good soy-free, vegan appetizers and mains for a Super Bowl party? More

Q: I am getting married this summer and most of our guests will be from out of town. We're hosting an open house the day after and don't want to have to pay or deal with catering another event. Any ideas for food we could make ahead and freeze?

Sent by Samantha More

Q: I'm often in the kitchen at gatherings hosted by friends and family, sometimes helping out, sometimes just chatting with the host while they cook. The past few months I have observed many cooking no-nos, but feel like it is not my place to take over or correct the cooking error. Or is it? More

Q: My husband and I are planning a New Year's Eve party, and we want to serve an entree that will please both vegetarians and meat-eaters. Could you recommend a make-ahead (or low-attention) party entree that might keep for an hour on the buffet table?

Sent by Liz More

Q: My boyfriend and I are hosting a New Year's Eve Party for his close friends. They are definitely a buffalo chicken dip and Bud Light kind of crowd and I'm more of a wine and cheese kinda gal. Any tips for party food that will please both palates? More

Q: I'm looking to cook Christmas dinner for my parents for the first time this year. They're very traditional in what they like to eat and my mother is also gluten-free. Can you recommend some traditional but interesting gluten-free recipes for sides and appetizers? More

One of the most rewarding aspects of cooking is sharing the food you cook with others. But whether you're preparing a romantic meal for two or a three-course meal for a crowd, entertaining can also be quite stressful. Luckily, our readers are always ready to help, fielding questions about Hunger Games parties, makeshift punch bowls, the best way to feed 150 wedding guests for under $2000, and more dinner party dilemmas. More

Q: My Puerto Rican mother has been cooking Christmas Eve dinner for my Italian father's family since the '90s. The problem: they only eat pasta or plainly-seasoned meat, which creates some creative roadblocks for my mother. Any ideas for dishes to serve to a large, picky Italian crowd?!

Sent by Dana More

Q: My boyfriend and I want to have a nice Christmas dinner celebration before we both go off to our respective hometowns for the holiday, but a traditional dinner entails a lot of food that the two of us can't possibly finish. Any suggestions for a holiday dinner menu for two? More