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

There are some foods that create very little controversy when eaten with your hands: Onion rings, sandwiches, toast come to mind. And other foods, like steak or pasta salad, are frowned upon. Some of this divide is practical (such as oatmeal) and sometimes it seems rather random: we eat French fries with our hands and roasted potatoes with a fork, for example. Do you have any food you like to eat with your hands that polite society says you shouldn't? More

It's not that I can't use chopsticks, exactly. It's just not very pretty when I do. No amount of practice, step-by-step tutorials, or helpful demonstrations from friends has improved my ability to snag bits of food and carry them efficiently to my mouth. Please tell me I'm not alone. More

Potluck parties are one of the least stressful and most budget-friendly ways to throw a dinner party. But as with most communal efforts, they work best when everyone works together, so you don't end up with 10 bottles of wine and not enough food. What are the rules you wish everyone followed when it comes to potlucks? More

A few weeks ago we gave you an etiquette question (on compulsive hosts who won't let you reciprocate) posed to CHOW's resident etiquette expert Helena.

She has a post up now with an answer of her own and she responds to some of your ideas too. Check it out!

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