I’m going to qualify this post–and each additional linking Thursday post for November–with this warning: November’s Linking in Lincoln post will revolve around food.  So if you’re on a diet (what an evil word), be forewarned that some of these weekly links may lead you to temptation.
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I want to say it’s that time of the year when marshmallow consumption goes up in my small household but, sadly, marshmallows are used year-round in my home.  I like them in trail mixes (my favorite is 1 cup raisins, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds and 1/2 cup marshmallows), in cereal, in fruit salads.  The other member of my home can take them or leave them, but for me, they are a necessity.

Marshmallow use does go up slightly in the fall because the season of hot cocoa starts when the clocks fall back an hour.  The white, fluffy snack is a must for a good cup of hot cocoa and our little household loves hot cocoa on cold, autumn nights.  Our recipe is very simple and often depends on our mood for consistency or sweetness.  As a rule, we tend to make it the old fashioned way with cocoa, sugar, and milk and not a commercial mix.  When it is all done, we fill our cups with chocolate, top it off with marshmallows, then go and sit snuggly under a throw and the warm glow of the television.  Or the radiating gleam or the computer.  Or with a good book.

But on to the links.  That is why you came, right?  As you have probably guessed by now, this week’s links are about chocolate!

First off, why not start at the beginning?  You can read a history of hot chocolate from whatscookingamerica.net.  They also have some recipes on the sidebar, such as Mayan Hot Chocolate.  For a story and a biscotti recipe to go along with a good cup of chocolate, check out this post on Food Blogga.

Now to the chocolate exclusively!  Entertaining a large crowd?  Home-Steeped Hope has a recipe that will satiate 22 chocolate lovers.  If you’re entertaining adults on a cold November night, you can try out this Chocolate Kiev from Slashfood.

These next few sites are of recipes for hot cocoa mixes.  You can prepare them, use them now, store for later, give as gifts, etc.  The first mix comes from The Grinder  and a post titled "Building a Better Hot Chocolate."  It involves white chocolate chips and just sounds yummy.  Welcome, Please Come In has a couple of chocolate mixes and a recipe for spiced tea.  There is a simple hot cocoa mix recipe on Feeding Time at the Zoo. 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your week!

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In the spirit of this month’s Linking in Lincoln, you may want to check out an interview of writers Maggie Pleskac and Sean Carmichael posted on this blog on 10/31/07.