Basket candy free gift sugar

Valentine's Day looms but a few weeks away, meaning that wives, moms, and sweethearts can anticipate an outpouring of chocolates from their loved ones. What, though, do diabetics and, for that matter, those watching their weight have to look forward to? Despite the spate of articles citing chocolate's health benefits (including in "Your Life" on p. 8 of this issue), it remains a hazard for those categories of people. Sugar-free candy has been available for quite awhile, but its ingredients have left much to be desired insofar as bitter aftertaste and, for many, digestive upset. Now, we are pleased to report, some confectioners seem to have whipped the problem.

Country Fresh Fudge from Country Fresh Food & Confections, Inc., Oliver Springs, Tenn., is a revelation not only for the fact that it's 100% sugar-free, but because it accomplishes this without sacrificing taste. The quartet of flavors--chocolate, chocolate walnut, vanilla, and peanut butter--are a treat to the palate without being cloyingly sweet, as fudge often is. What's more, the texture is rich and creamy, not powdery, crumbly, and/or waxy, and there's no bitter aftertaste. The explanation probably lies in the sweetener, Splenda, which is actually derived from sugar, with all of the dangerous qualities removed.

The fudge is so delicious, we commented to Country Fresh that it's a shame that those who do not seek a sugar-free product probably won't get a chance to enjoy it. Much to our delight, we were told that the company also manufactures regular fudge, and we found the chocolate, vanilla, and peanut butter equally delicious, albeit with a greater calorie count. Moreover, Country Fresh markets a chocolate jalapeno fudge under the Scorned Woman brand that is quite an experience in its own right, as the initial chocolate taste is followed by an explosion in the mouth as the jalapeno kicks in. For those who revel in spicy food, Happy Valentine's Day.

A wider variety of sugar-free candy comes from Asher's, Souderton, Pa., which offers more than 50 products. The sweetening ingredient here is Malitol, produced with lactose removed from the chocolate covering and replaced by milk protein and dairy oil, eliminating the laxative effect many artificial sweeteners create. As a bonus, Asher's candies are sodium-free as well. Space precludes a full listing of the available flavors, but we must cite the cashew caramel, black raspberry sherbet cream, pecan praline, and Grand Marnier, Kahlua, and Black Forest truffles as definite highlights. What's more, Asher's offers the only sugar-free cordial cherry in the industry. These scrumptious chocolates are available boxed, loose by the ounce at candy counters, and, in some cases, in bar form.

For a variety of sugar-free treats via the Internet, try www.eDietShop.com, a division of Bernard Food Industries, Inc., Skokie, Ill. In addition to luscious chocolate brownies, treat your loved one to a raspberry-kiwi fruit mix, key lime mousse mix, and even sugarless Bazooka bubble gum. A Survivor Gift Basket, designed to tie in with CBS's "Survivor: Africa," contains each of these, together with pancake mixes, maple syrup, and garlic dip, as well as a tube of zinc oxide, a camping knife, and a "Survivor" bandana to help make life on the veldt bearable.

Meanwhile, Shari's Berries, Sacramento, Calif., checks in with sugar-free chocolate-dipped strawberries. Starting with premium strawberries dipped daily, Shari's Berries adds white, milk, or dark sugar-free chocolate, topped with almond slivers or sugar-free toasted coconut. Your coated strawberries will arrive in a gold or black foil box, lined with velvet. To order, go to www.berries.com.