The Communal Table

Can't wait for Turkey Day to be here already? Well, then you've lucked out, because this year, Thanksgiving's come early — online, at least. Food Network's brought together some of the country's top food outlets for a virtual holiday feast. From cocktails and appetizers to main dishes and desserts, this meal's got it all — and each recipe is one that you can re-create yourself at home. November feels like high comfort-food season, so we selected a contemporary take on a squash casserole to gobble down at this year's feast. See what the rest of our friends are bringing to the table when you read more.

As much as we love to cook and eat, we can't ignore the stark reality of what's going on around us: each day, millions upon millions of people struggle to secure their next meal. (Ironically, even food writers have been known to live off of food stamps.) To bring more awareness to the cause, Food Network's brought together some of the country's top food outlets for a virtual roundtable to discuss the fight against hunger. Find out how you can help beyond just donating money, and see what the rest of our friends are doing to raise awareness of poverty and food scarcity.

FN Dish: 4 Ways to Take Action Against Childhood Hunger Today
EatingWell: 6 Inspiring People Who Are Fighting Hunger
BlogHer Food: Poor Girl on SNAP: Using EBT at the Farmers Market
Food52: A Day in the Life at Share Our Strength
GMA.com: Fight Hunger With These 5 Charities
Cooking Channel: Join the Great American Bake Sale
Food Republic: Joining Bloggers to Take on Hunger
Eatocracy: Focus on Hunger

Join in on the conversation over at Twitter by checking out #pullupachair.

Between Easter feasts and Passover Seders, Spring is high time for eating aplenty. That doesn't mean, however, that we should ignore the surge in world hunger that's increased over the past decade and a half.

Food scarcity is a concern that touches more than 925 million people — or one in seven individuals — around the world. Despite America's wealth, this statistic is even more stark stateside: more than one in five children in the United States face food insecurity.

Donating money is an obvious way to help fight hunger, but there are some additional ways to make a difference. Here are five of our favorites.

1. Help serve a meal at a community dining room. Make instant, personal connections with others by volunteering your time at a local homeless shelter.
2. Exercise your brain. Got a restless mind and time to kill? Keep yourself on your toes by playing the United Nations World Food Programme's multiple-choice online game Free Rice, which donates rice for every question you've answered correctly.

For three more ideas, keep reading.

Can't wait for Turkey Day to be here, already? Well, then you've lucked out, because this year, Thanksgiving's come early — online, at least. Food Network's brought together some of the country's top food outlets for a virtual holiday feast. From cocktails and appetizers to main dishes and desserts, this meal's got it all — and each recipe is one that you can re-create yourself at home. Given our recent obsession with wintry salads, it was only appropriate that we bring a Autumn-inspired platter of greens to gobble down at this year's feast. See what the rest of our friends are bringing to the table when you read more.