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I often write about family recipes, the ones handed down on 3-by-5 recipe cards or written on the back of a napkin. And the special family recipes taught to us bygrandmasandaunts,and of course, the ones from our moms and dads.

With Halloween just a few days ago, I would have liked to had this printed last week, but already had a different column for last week and time has run out on me this week - as time tends to do - so I hope you’ll enjoy this re-run about the old mansion house I stayed in for a month in upstate New York. It still makes me look over my shoulder just remembering it.

This week I wanted to write about an amazing place in Asia named a World Heritage Site in 1987 – The Forbidden City in Beijing, China. I was fortunate enough to go through the Forbidden City four or five times when I was in Beijing over about an eight-year period. First visit there was for myself, then later visits when I was with someone that hadn’t seen it before. The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace, is a magnificent historical complex located in the heart of Beijing, China. Built during the Ming Dynasty in the early 15th century, it took 14 years to build, from 1406 to 1420 and took over 1 million workers to build. It was the Imperial Palace and the winter residence of the Emperor of China.

We have enjoyed an Indian summer this year, but now it’s time to batten down the hatches and make hot cocoa. Blustery days are sure to hit West Texas so now is the perfect time to stock up on hot cocoa ingredients.

In Memorable Hotels Part I, II and III, I wrote about three memorable hotels in Asia. Part I was about the China World Hotel in Beijing, Part II was about the JW Marriott in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Part III was about the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. The next three columns are about memorable hotels in the USA. Part IV was about the Palmer House in Chicago and Part V was about the Drake Hotel in Chicago. This Part VI column will be the third in the series on USA hotels, and this is about the hotel at a location that started as a two-story building on two empty lots in Fort Worth on the old fort grounds in 1855.

Most of my favorite desserts are those made with fruit. Maybe it’s a nutritional thing, making me feel less quilt. Of course, we can also do so much to take even fruit-filled desserts over the top that we cancel out the good nourishment. But a simple baked fruit will often suffice, and fix the craving for something sweet, while retaining its nutritional integrity.

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There is nothing better than curling up with a good book and your favorite drink or snack. The question is, is there the perfect drink or snack that pairs with a specific book? Or does the time of day you read play into what you pair with your book?