We know from this post that The Kitchn readers are divided when it comes to guests helping out in the kitchen during a party. But what about the washing up afterwards? Do you gladly accept an offer to help or are you happy to do it on your own, in peace and quiet? More

This time of the year, it is tempting to use a little holiday greenery to garnish a plate of cookies or to place a sprig of something on top of a cupcake for decoration. This is especial true of holly which is so cheery and symbolic of the winter holidays. You may be tempted, but you should absolutely NOT do this! Read on for the reasons why. More

A quick, informal poll of friends and family has revealed that mopping up the last yummy bits on your plate with a piece of bread is ... controversial. Some approve, some don't. Some approve only in the most casual of circumstances and others would only do this if dining alone. With the blinds pulled. And the lights off.

What do you say? More

Artful towers of vegetables, like these Beet and Sweet Potato Stacks, certainly make for a stellar presentation at the dinner table. But they do present one rather large conundrum: how do you go about eating the things? More

We're not talking about taking a meal to a new mom or a sick friend—both wonderful in their own right. We're going a little deeper. Do you notice the elderly man who lives alone in your building? Or the person at work who's been caring for her sick mom? It's the time of year when we all think about helping—feeding—those less fortunate, but we're usually serving strangers. We might need to serve those closer to home, too. More

We don't do a lot of formal dining the rest of the year, and then suddenly the holiday season is upon us and we have to remember if elbows on the table is a "do" or a "don't" at Grandma's house. We're curious what you consider to be the most essential elements of table manners and etiquette — during the holidays and the rest of the year, too! More

Q: I love to cook, but unfortunately I'm not a huge fan of the Thanksgiving food my mom cooks.

What's a simple, seasonal meal I can make a day or two in advance of the big day so I won't get in her way Thanksgiving morning by preparing food for myself?

Sent by Elizabeth More

This is pretty sexist and I am stereotyping here, but when I think of most couples sharing food, I generally think of men eating more and women eating less. But I should know better. When I look at my husband and myself, we are so not like that. I eat just as much as him, if not more. This has led to some pretty competitive meal-sharing over the years. Here's a simple system we developed to keep each other honest when it comes to splitting food evenly: More

Grocery shopping tends to be a solitary affair. Even if you're the type who enjoys this weekly task, you're usually doing your meditative meandering without much interaction with other shoppers. Which is why actually getting into a conversation with a fellow customer can feel...startling. I, for one, welcome it. Do you? More

How old were you when you finally figured out which fork should be used first from a formal placesetting? Do you know which bread plate is yours? What about cutting all your meat before eating — is that ok? No worries, Rachael Ray has your back (and without saying "Yum-o!"). More