Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs) make field life significantly more comfortable for today’s troops than grandpa or great-grandpa had it, but they’re still not exactly good. And since there are only 24 recipes in any given menu at any given time, even the good ones can get old fast, especially when you’re eating three of them every day.
Also Read: 11 regional American foods we’d like to see in MREs
Luckily, Pvt. Snuffy has enough ingenuity to take individual MRE components and turn them into good food. Although this menu might be dated after a few years, here are nine of the best recipes we’ve found that might help inspire your inner Bourdain.
1. Tex-Mex stew
Ingredients:
- Jalapeño pepper jack beef patty (or substitute beef stew)
- Cheese spread
- Hot sauce
- Toasted corn kernels or crackers (optional)
Instructions:
Cut the patty into small squares and add cheese. Add 3-4 oz. of water (reduce water if using beef stew) and mix. This works best if heated in metal container (canteen cup) over an open flame. Adding ingredients to a hot beverage bag and heating with a chemical pad will work in a pinch. Serve with toasted corn kernels or crackers for texture.
2. Pot Luck Pie
Ingredients:
- Beef stew
- Cheese spread
- Crackers
- Hot Sauce
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients except crackers. Crumble crackers over top. Mixes and tastes best if warmed before mixing.
3. Asian Beef Bowl
Ingredients:
- Asian beef strips
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Cheese spread
- Hot sauce
Instructions:
Mix well. Mixes and tastes best if warmed before mixing.
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4. Loaded Baked Potato
Ingredients:
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Bacon cheese spread
- Hot sauce
- Crackers (or vegetable crackers)
- Salt (optional)
Instructions:
Mix everything but the crackers. Crumble crackers and sprinkle over the top. Mixes more easily and tastes better if heated.
Deserts
5. Apple/Pear Crumble
Ingredients:
- Spiced apples (or pears)
- Crushed oatmeal cookie (or patriotic sugar cookies)
- Creamer
Instructions:
Add creamer to the spiced fruit. Crush the cookie into powder and sprinkle it over the mixture. Best when served hot.
6. Ranger Pudding
Ingredients:
- Cocoa Beverage Powder
- Creamer
- Water
- Additional flavoring (PB, electrolyte powder, coffee)
Instructions:
Combine creamer, cocoa powder, and your additional flavoring in a pouch. Add a small amount of water and mix. Continue adding small amounts of water until the mix takes on the desired consistency. For more sustenance, add thoroughly crumbled crackers.
7. Momma’s Pudding
Ingredients:
- Vanilla dairyshake powder
- Beverage powder of desired flavor (coffee, orange, etc.)
- Creamer
- Sugar (optional)
Instructions:
Mix dairyshake, sugar, and beverage powder. Add water until mix achieves desired consistency.
8. General Patton’s Parfait
Ingredients:
- Momma’s pudding/Ranger pudding
- Crackers/Patriotic sugar cookies
- Spiced apples (or pears)
- Nuts
Instructions:
Make either pudding as described above. Layer pudding with crumbled crackers/cookies, nuts, and spiced fruit. To make other diners jealous, do so in a hot beverage bag so they can see how awesome your dinner is.
9. Frosting/Ranger Cake
Ingredients:
- Vanilla dairyshake
- Additional flavoring (PB, electrolyte powder, coffee)
- Sugar
Instructions:
Mix powder and flavoring with sparse amounts of water. Add water slowly until the mixture achieves the desired consistency. Spread on pound cake to create Ranger cake.
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