M.R.E. (Meals Ready-to-Eat)

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serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

0 posted 2005-10-20 03:55 AM

New Respect, here, folks.

Here's some stuff I didn't know:
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-food/m-r-e.htm

and I was looking for a favorites list, so I could compare, but I haven't found that yet.

I haven't tried that many, but I think it depends on what yer accustomed to anyhow.

The jambalaya? Although I was impressed that it was even there--big thumbs down, even with the teeny tabasco offering.

The meatloaf and gravy was cafeteria edible, but the potatoes on the side were best served merely as fork sculpture material.

Forget anything with dairy--the omelets were powdered eggs of course, so they tasted like powdered eggs.

and omg...they offer a milkshake. If you haven't access to an M.R.E. milkshake, you can prolly come up with something equivilant in taste by taking some talcum powder, adding vanilla, water and chilling. (They give ya a chill packets with that, in case you're wondering. It's downright um....cool.)

And should you think this is entirely about sarcasm? It is not.

I am here to testify that I witnessed near physical confrontations for ownership of the jalapeno cheese packets, and in fact? All of the Mexican dishes were rather tasty. (Again, that tabasco helps tho.)

But what impressed me the most, out of all the offerings on the M.R.E. menu was the clam chowder.

I was kinda surprised. But then, I figgered clams are supposed to be chewy, so...

but no, really, it was quite good.

and Oh. The most popular snack items included in the M.R.E., in my experience, was a toss up between the Tootsie Roll and Beef Jerky.

Grin...it would figure.

So there you have it---I have already invited my Florida friends to come here, and I wanted to clue them in on the menu.

It ain't bad folks. And I have air mattresses.

(Beds, that can double as boats.)

sigh

Stay safe, be well?

Come see me--gawd knows my door is open.

*chuckle*?

It has been for over a month now.

Love to all.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2005-10-20 06:43 AM

I remember daddy saying
that the jerky had a double use...

as a toothbrush.

Ron

Administrator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-05-19

Posts 8669
Michigan, US

2 posted 2005-10-20 07:15 AM

quote:
The MRE, which replaced the canned Meal, Combat Individual (C Ration) in the early 1980s, is the current standard individual military operational ration.

Could be worse, Karen. Apparently, this is an upgrade to what I ate on and off for most of a year in the field.

Ironically, my mom always said I was a very picky eater growing up. Boy, did that change. Canned ham and eggs (not exactly the same nomenclature used by your average Marine, by the way) was probably the best, at least as long as you had enough catsup to cover them thoroughly. In fact, just about anything is palatable with enough catsup. LOL.

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

3 posted 2005-10-20 08:28 AM

If you Florida folks are heading to New Orleans... Make sure Karen finds her snake first. Slithery surprises in the middle of the night might be just as treacherous as riding out the storm...

Ringo

Member Elite

since 2003-02-20

Posts 3684
Saluting with misty eyes

4 posted 2005-10-20 08:31 AM

YEah... I had the C-rats more than once... Dad would bring them home to prepare us for hurricanes when we were stationed in NC.
As for the MRE's, Karen... it could have gotten worse for you... they hvae these freeze-dried prok and beef patties (or they used to) that either tasted like soggy cardboard or like flavored hockey-pucks...
Then again, I guess it's all subjective as to your circumstances.

When all is said
All is done
Still I live
And carry on-
Quiet Riot

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

5 posted 2005-10-20 01:39 PM

OH.

I didn't mean to imply I didn't like the M.R.E.

In fact, just the opposite.

Otherwise, we wouldn't have bribed the National Guard with Mardi Gras beads for extra rations.

Oh-yeah, we did...

But actually, since each meal is 1200-1400 calories? wincing, not like somethin' you'd wanna eat three times a day, or even every day, considering the high sodium content.

But no, I wasn't complainin' at all.

(In fact---passssssssst--I still have three of the better ones "stashed" in my file cabinet.)

Kaoru

Member Elite

since 2003-06-07

Posts 3892
where the wild flowers grow

6 posted 2005-10-20 01:43 PM

Tabasco makes everything taste better...mostly.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

7 posted 2005-10-20 02:00 PM

Kaoru? Indeed it does. (Although I confess a preference to a now defunct hotsauce company by one of Pip's own--Stephanos still makes the best hot sauce I ever tasted.)

But my husband (who has a chronic medical condition) found better health care while we were in Acadiana too, and he went for his check up today. And what did I say to him before he left, in all my wifely concern?

"BRING BACK BOUDIN."

And again, for those who don't know:
http://www.cajungrocer.com/default.php?cPath=32

If you do try it, folks, it'll be delivered frozen--and it's best to steam it to reheat it.

sighing...I may be the only refugee who gained weight while on the run!

And Nancy? Alas, I forgot to mention the snake while I was issuing the above invitation.

I just figgered snakes were a "given" when ya flee a hurricane.

Seriously, I could make friends with the garter snakes, but when that rice field flooded and the cottonmouths moved in? Nod. I'd had enough!

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

8 posted 2005-10-20 07:26 PM

Why even bother with any other type of foodstuffs? In emergencies, as in real life, SPAM is always the answer!!!

snakes?

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

9 posted 2005-10-20 07:56 PM

LOL, if its any consolation, even the high priced (overpriced) dehydrated camping and backpacking foods you buy aren't much better. Just gimme a jar of peanut butter, jam, some crackers or rice cakes...'n leave me alone. With some tea, cocoa or coffee please? ~sigh~ its time for some really GOOD cooks to step up to the MRE designers plate and redesign/remake those disgusting survival rations

Any good cooks out there? and I agree, throw in a bottle of ANY label hot sauce (and a bottle of ketchup for the kids) with whatever yer servin in those lil cans and baggies.

OMG, I just went to that link and read some of the info. Those meals almost sound edible! maybe even GOOD and TASTY as well as GOOD and PLENTY? HAH
Is MRE is another acronym for WMD? LOL

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

10 posted 2005-10-20 10:37 PM

Do I dare ask what catsup is? I sure hope this is just another American term for something edible up here in Canada?

I have to tell you I think I would be on a fasting diet if faced with this water-makes-instant buffet-din-din.

However, after what I have not had time to even eat in days, that Mexican actually sounds palatable.

Glad they sufficed for the time they were needed by all that needed food that is for sure.

Oh ~ Karen I thought crawfish were itty, bitty, tiny things? The very first item on your shopping site showed them all nicely battered, etc. but brother you'd have to eat a trillion of those weenie things to even call it a snack wouldn't ya?

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

11 posted 2005-10-20 10:45 PM

lol...think ketchup, yanno, that mushed up tomatoey stuff you pour on french fries
(otherwise called chips in england, maybe canada too?)
hope the move is going easily for you Sharon!

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

12 posted 2005-10-20 10:51 PM

Oh of course! Thanks Kacy - and no the move is not going that great - my clothes just all fell on the floor in the cupboard

and I am so frustrated I may have to find a mall to walk tomorrow and leave this for a bit of a diversion. I love the place though, just can not get it unpacked and put away, but I will so thanks for asking.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

13 posted 2005-10-21 12:23 PM

One more thing before I try for some R.E.M. tonight--Shar? About those crawfish--they can be very filling when you suck all their brains outta their heads.

I'll show you someday.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

14 posted 2005-10-21 12:27 PM

I wanna watch you do that!

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

15 posted 2005-10-21 01:00 PM

YOU wanna watch??? I would pay a fortune to see it!!

Nightshade

Member Patricius

since 2001-08-31

Posts 13962
just out of reach

16 posted 2005-10-21 01:19 PM

Brains ?!!! ...... Snakes?!!
What kind of chowder is that?!!

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

17 posted 2005-10-21 02:07 PM

I have eaten snake before.

It was kinda chewy.

Alicat
Member Elite

since 1999-05-23

Posts 4094
Coastal Texas

18 posted 2005-10-21 04:49 PM

Ah yes...snake...the main ingredient, aside from water and bourbon, for bayou gumbo.

Ron

Administrator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-05-19

Posts 8669
Michigan, US

19 posted 2005-10-21 11:46 PM

quote:
It was kinda chewy

It wasn't cooked properly. Or you had a really OLD snake?

Like everything that doesn't move on hooves, it tastes just like chicken.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

20 posted 2005-10-22 03:04 AM

Actually, Ron, it was fried like chicken.

And then stuck on this stick, like a bad corn dog or somethin'.

but?

and I'm still freaked about this, it was merchandised decorated, with ribbons of a sort--red, green and blue.

shrug?

hey man, it was Tijuana...laughing now.

I'm not even sure it was snake.

*shudder*

But I ate it.

(yer turn to shudder)

SmartChick
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-09-23

Posts 7081
On A Journey To The Unknown

21 posted 2005-10-23 11:08 AM

Oh my gosh, Karen! You ate a snake?

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

22 posted 2005-10-23 05:48 PM

You would not believe some of the things I have put in my mouth.

er--well, maybe you would.

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

23 posted 2005-10-24 12:59 PM

Ah Karen, I would

Nightshade

Member Patricius

since 2001-08-31

Posts 13962
just out of reach

24 posted 2005-10-24 09:31 AM

no comment

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

25 posted 2005-10-24 05:09 PM

Karen? You sure that wasn't a special
pin`a`ta? (OMG I'm dying over here)

Ok I ate rattlesnake before . . . in a restaurant . . . LOL and Eddie made me eat squid!

And I exit cuz that doesnt sound much better than what is up there . . .

fmlbarebackrider2001
Member

since 2005-11-16

Posts 138
West Texas, United States

26 posted 2005-11-18 01:29 AM

While I was in the Army we learned to either love MRE's or hate them. Depending on which one you happened to get depended on if you loved it or hated it. While some of them were rather good others were rather gross. (Being nice) The miklshake doubles as bug killer though. Makes you wonder doesn't it. lol

Know yourself before you try to know someone else.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

27 posted 2005-11-18 01:52 PM

The milkshake is a bug killer?

like in FLIES?

OMG, I hope I didn't throw 'em out!

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