Month: January 2009

Is There Such a Thing as Milk Free Chocolate?

Fondue is basically a type of dip, in which foods such as fruit are usually dipped in. It is a quick and easy recipe to make and is perfect for a variety of occasions, everything from birthdays and Christmas parties to weddings and anniversaries. Everyone loves chocolate, and fondue is always a huge hit, no matter where you are or what you are doing it is always going to get a round of applause.

Perhaps you have not heard of the milk free chocolate that is out there, but know that it does exist. This is great news to many people, especially those who are lactose intolerant and who are not able to eat the majority of chocolate because it contains milk.

Milk free chocolate is out there, but there are a limited number of companies and chocolateers that offer it. Here are a few that you will want to check out for the best selections of milk free chocolate.

Goodness Direct

This is a real top of the line store, one that offers an array of different chocolate and chocolate-based items. They specialize in the alternative chocolate products, such as milk free chocolate, to ensure that everyone gets to taste delicious chocolate, no matter what foods they are unable to eat.

Just a few of the many products they offer includes the Cavalier Belgian dark chocolate bar, Cavalier milk chocolate tablet, Cavalier Woodies Belgian orange chocolate, Conscious chocolate best ever chilli hot, Divine Fairtrade milk chocolate bar, and the Divine white chocolate.

Artisanal Organics

Another company offering milk free chocolate products is Artisanal Organics. They ensure that all of their products are organic and made of the best quality, so that consumers can always rest assured knowing that they are getting the best of the best, each and every time.

There is even no milk chocolate fondue that you can purchase as well, so you can experience the delicious, delectable taste of fondue even if you are lactose intolerant.

Dark Chocolate Too?

If you love dark chocolate for the numerous health benefits that it offers, then you should know that there are also milk free options available here as well. Just make sure that you read the ingredients label before eating any chocolate product, dark chocolate or other, to ensure that you know exactly what is contained in the chocolate and whether or not you are going to have an adverse reaction to it.

Choosing the Best Hiking Backpack

Many backpackers have an assortment of backpacks in their collection so that they are able to choose the best hiking backpack depending on the situation. For a novice backpacker, it is important to find out what types of packs work best for them before making an investment in a backpack, so borrowing from family and friends who have backpacks or renting a pack from an outdoor supply company are good ways to get a solid hiking backpack review before buying.

Questions to Ask

Finding the best hiking backpack requires that the backpack fit snugly to the back, resting on the hips and fitting comfortably in the shoulders. There are different sizes of backpacks to fit different lengths of torsos so that the hip belt fits where it is supposed to in order to support the weight of the pack on the hips instead of the back, risking injury. When a novice goes into an outdoor supply store, they should talk to the salespeople to get them to help with a perfect fit. It is important for them to go into a store that specializes in backpacks the first time at least so that they get the best hiking backpack possible, both for the use and for the fit.

Another question that the novice backpacker should ask is about the load capacity on the backpack. If he is only wanting a pack for a day hike, then the load capacity would only need to be up to thirty-five liters or so, unless he wants to bring additional gear such as cameras, and could need a slightly larger pack. He also needs to see if the backpack has all of the pockets and tie-ons that he wants and needs for the equipment that he will be bringing with him on the trip so that the backpack will be the best hiking backpack for his needs.

Another consideration in searching for the best hiking backpack is if there needs to be any amount of waterproofing in the backpack. There are some backpacks that are rated class one, which will resist water that is splashed on it or if there is a light rain, thus saving the contents from getting wet. Class two packs can stay dry as long as they are not submerged in water, so they can tolerate heavy rains and light waterfalls. Class three packs are for those who will be traversing rivers where they need to float the backpack across the river. Class four and five backpacks would be the best hiking backpacks for those who like to scuba dive or snorkel, in addition to white water raft enthusiasts since these packs can be submerged up to twelve feet.