Kevin Callan has created a video review on the SolHuma Vital Stove. It looks like a great little gadget.

Tropical Couscous
Courtesy of A Fork in the Trail  © Laurie Ann March 2008 

Makes 2 servings

Couscous makes a wonderful breakfast food since it cooks very quickly.

1 cup instant couscous
1 1/2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped dried pears, peaches, and mangoes
1 teaspoon crystallized stem ginger
1/2 teaspoon creamed coconut or 3 tablespoons coconut powder
1 1/2 teaspoons butter (optional)
Enough soy or whole milk powder to make 1/2 cup milk
1 1/4 cups, plus 1 teaspoon hot water, plus enough water to reconstitute milk

At Home
Place the couscous and brown sugar in a medium sized freezer ziplock bag. Place the fruit, ginger, milk, and coconut in separate bags, and put the bags in with the couscous. Add the butter to what you are taking on your trip.

At Camp
Bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil. While you wait mix the couscous and brown sugar mixture with the fruit, ginger, and butter in a freezer ziplock bag. Place the coconut cream in a bag or container large enough to accommodate at least 1/2 cup of liquid. Add 1 teaspoon of hot water to the creamed coconut and mix. If you’re using coconut powder, then you will need to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water. To the same container add enough milk powder and water to make a 1/2 cup of milk. Carefully pour the boiling water into the bag with the couscous mixture. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir the couscous, scoop it in bowls, and top it with the milk mixture.

I love some of the innovative products out there but I do limit those because I like to have my pack fairly light. Of course, there is always an exception to the rule and one of the tools I love is the UCO Fuel Faucet Pour Spout (when you click the link you’ll have to scroll to the bottom of the page).

While I’ve never had issues with fuel spillage, even before using this product, a few people have mentioned that they’ve had problems with spillage. That’s where this product comes in. It gives you the control of a spout with the security of a leakproof lid that fits a standard fuel bottle. And, because you are replacing the existing lid on the fuel bottle, it doesn’t add any pack weight.

One firm twist opens the spout. Just tilt and cover or uncover the air vent as needed to control the stream. This allows you to refill the fuel bottle safely and easily without wasting a drop.