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: My husband and I went to the Saltgrass Steak House in San Antonio, TX, in May. Their side dish of scampi rice was incredible. Does anyone have a recipe?

Sent by Gigi More

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 have a quart of heavy whipping cream that I need to use up. Any ideas on what to make besides, you know, whipped cream?

Sent by Kathy More

Q: I am going to be staying in a small fishing village in Mexico for one week. I will get to purchase fresh fish daily directly from the fishermen and grill them. I want to bring some good spices with me on this trip. What would you recommend, either individual spices or some blends?

Sent by KT More

Q: I've been making homemade yogurt for a while and I've had lots of success with breakfast recipes, mostly sweet ones. I also use yogurt to make sauces to accompany curry dishes. I'm looking for more ways to use yogurt in savory meals. How can I eat my yogurt for dinner?

Sent by Sarah More

Q: I recently made a broccoli pesto using raw garlic. I only used one medium clove, but the garlic was very pungent (especially when we ate leftovers a couple days later). Is there a way to tone down the garlic in a recipe after you've already made it?

Sent by Melissa More

Q: I was checking out your piece on making homemade yogurt, but the only yogurt I can get here to use as a starter either has sugar or is artifically sweetened. Does that still work for making yogurt?

Sent by Teresa More

Q: About a year ago, I decided that I wanted to cut down on the amount of meat that I eat, and now only eat meat 1-2 times a week. But my boyfriend is pretty attached to his meat-eating ways, and I'm not really happy cooking separate meals for us. More

Q: I have been trying making cheesecakes for a while, but I fail every time! The cake always turns out so fluffy that I can't even cut a piece. Is there an easy, foolproof cheesecake recipe that won't make my cheesecake fluffy? Any tips?

Sent by Dolores More