Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Have you ever tried hot chocolate on a stick?

I had this delicious hot chocolate for the first time in a small bed and breakfast in Brugge, Belgium a couple of years ago.

I've always thought that hot chocolate is coming from the powdered mix where you just add hot water, which, of course, is still good and convenient. 

Then, I had tried this stick version of real chocolate melted in hot milk. It was so good that I would never wanted to go back to one of those packet kinds.

Belsnickle Cookies, so Christmas appropriate...

I was in the serious mood for baking this week.
There is nothing like baking good ginger spiced cookies around this time of the year.
The aroma, the flavor, the texture, and the spirit you feel...

I would like to introduce a very nice cookie recipe this week.
This recipe comes from one of my favorite cookbook, "Cooking from Quilt Country" by Marcia Adams.
Yes, it is Amish cookbook (FYI; I am not an Amish..., but I adore them) and I found this German originated cookies are so Christmas appropriate.
It is soft ginger cookies with orange glaze on top.
Some calls them Belsnickle cookies - I like this name better for the season.