ARMY RATIONS: HAVING FUN WITH MRES
While it’s entirely possible that governments completely crumble under the immense weight of an undead pandemic, chances are you’ll come across army-run camps at some point during the zpoc. Or maybe you’re a savvy survivor who stocked up on these military rations pre-zpoc. Either way, this chapter offers some fun ways to mix and mash up the monotony of subsisting on the General of shelf-stable meals: the Meal, Ready to Eat.
WTF is an MRE?
MRE stands for Meal, Ready to Eat. Each MRE is a self-contained and complete shelf-stable meal for one individual. MREs are the standard field ration for warfighters in the United States Army, and despite the large amount of research and development that goes into making them nutritionally sound and even enjoyable, pre-zpoc MREs still manage to rack up quite the list of disparaging nicknames: Materials Resembling Edibles, Meals Rejected by Everyone, Meals Rarely Edible, Meals Refusing to Exit, Mass Rectal Ejections, and Morale Reducing Elements, to name but a few.
The funny (and simultaneously sad) thing is, MREs are a wonder of food science. They represent the cutting edge of food preservation technologies and the significant ongoing R & D efforts of the military: complete ready-to-eat meals packaged in layered laminate polymer “retort” pouches that keep out moisture, oxygen, and light, with shelf lives of up to 10 years when stored in cool conditions. The entrées include meats, vegetables, and pastas that are not freeze-dried and can be reheated on the spot with the Flameless Ration Heater pouches included with each MRE. In fact, many of the technologies originally developed specifically for the MRE have found their way into mainstream commercial food production: the process used to freeze-dry Kool-Aid or package tuna, for example.
Their history is actually quite interesting, too. According to Joy Y. Wang in “Materials Resembling Edibles” (Lucky Peach, Issue 6: Winter 2013), you can pretty much trace their existence back to Napoleon’s famous 1795 quote, “An army marches on its stomach,” a sentiment that, backed by a 12,000-franc reward for developing a more shelf-stable ration for soldiers, spawned the world’s first iteration of hot-water canning (see Canning, page 168). MREs have come a long way from the early days of tinned sardines and creamed chipped beef; the foods that are now offered to soldiers out in the field include things like chicken fajitas, vegetable ratatouille, and spicy penne—or if you are a French soldier, you could be enjoying sauté of rabbit or venison terrine (see Other Types of Field Rations, page 294).
Though MREs are not technically supposed to be sold to civilians, you can purchase military-issue MREs through private sellers on eBay and other online outlets. The downside when buying privately, however, is that you can’t be certain of the seller’s storage and handling of the MREs before you receive them—and this can have drastic impacts on the quality and shelf life of the product.
The good news is that the independent manufacturers contracted to produce MREs for the US Army also produce civilian editions that are essentially the same as the military issue meals and perennial favorites among preppers. Look for these brands to purchase directly from the manufacturers or through other emergency preparedness suppliers:
“Sure-Paks” by Sopakco
“APACKS” by AmeriQual
“MREs” by Meal Kit Supply
“Eversafe Meal Kits” by Wornick
But, like all processed foods, MREs lack a certain je ne sais quoi. The heat treatment MRE entrées and other pouched foods undergo (after they have already been cooked once) to make them shelf stable, called “retort processing,” inevitably leads to that less than fresh and somewhat duller flavor that most people associate with canned foods. The visual appeal and texture also suffer.
Let’s get real: If there is a hostile zed take-over and I am lucky enough to find myself under government military protection, I will be more than thrilled to shove some Materials Resembling Edibles down my probably starving gullet. I mean, what more could a hungry survivor ask for? Each MRE contains an entrée, a side dish, a snack, a dessert, some condiments/spreads, and powdered beverages like coffee or juice. Not to mention many of them will contain pre-zpoc relics like M&M’s (even the peanut variety!), Twizzlers, Cheez-Its, Combos, and Skittles. Sounds like a dream, right?
“Pogue” is common military slang for noncombat and administrative personnel. Often, in order to get what a soldier needs from a pogue (clothing, equipment, etc.), they have to offer a bribe (or bait). Therefore the term “pogey bait” refers to nonmilitary food, most often junk food and snacks that soldiers will bring with them when reporting for duty. If you happen to have nonmilitary foodstuff with you when you arrive at a military-run survivor camp, it will be an invaluable trading and bartering tool.
At first, sure. But you can bet that after 30 days or so of the “rib-shaped pork patty,” you might be getting a little antsy. This section provides several recipes and tips for making eating MREs day in and day out a little more palatable.
It should be noted that the military issue MREs produced pre-apocalypse change slightly from year to year, with 1 or 2 of the least popular entrées being replaced. Generally, there are 24 different “menus” on offer at any time, with each menu offering a different entrée. There is some overlap between the desserts and side dishes from menu to menu, as well as among the snacks and condiments. The recipes in this section cover food items available in MREs circa roughly 2008–2013.
REFUGEE GORP
A staple among backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts, Good Old Raisins and Peanuts (or as it is affectionately known, GORP) is a high-calorie, high-fat, and reasonably nonperishable snack perfect for those on the go. Over time GORP has expanded its horizons to include more than just raisins and peanuts, as you will see here in this MRE-based and yet still entirely tasty recipe.
GORP is also a great food to hide away in your BOB in case your camp is overrun by skels (*ahem*, Zone One) or crumbles under maniacal and sinister leadership (*cough* 28 Days Later); see Preparing for the Inevitable on page 291. Keep your pack in an accessible but covert spot so that you can quickly and easily grab it in the event of emergency.
This recipe should provide enough GORP to keep 1 on-the-go survivor fueled for 24 hours with roughly 3,000 calories. Since all components in an MRE are already conveniently packaged for über-long-term storage, keep all the GORP ingredients separate in their original packaging until you are ready to eat them.
The ingredients for this recipe can be found in the following 2012-issue MREs:
Nut & Raisin Mix: Menus #3, 9, 17
M&M’s: Menu #15
Cranberries: Menu #5
Raisins: Menus #18, 20
YIELDS:
1 day’s calories for 1 Hungry Survivor
REQUIRES:
A BOB (Bug-Out Bag) or other sack or portable container for stashing
A clean plastic bag of some kind, for mixing
INGREDIENTS:
5 x MRE-issue Nut & Raisin Mix
5 x MRE-issue M&M’s (or Peanut M&M’s)
1 x MRE-issue Cranberries, Sliced
1 x MRE-issue Raisins
METHOD:
Open each of the ingredients and dump into a plastic bag. Give it a gentle shake to combine. Enjoy periodic mouthfuls while on the run, remembering to also hydrate regularly for optimal physical performance (see The Zpoc Food Pyramid, page 75).
If we have learned anything from Zone One (yes, if you haven’t read it, that was a spoiler), it’s that we must prepare for the inevitable. Or at least be prepared for anything—a safe and secure military compound one day can be a zed buffet the next.
Since MREs are intended to feed and nourish soldiers in active combat duty, if you aren’t doing intense physical activity or manual labor in your survivor camp, chances are each meal will supply a surplus of calories—each MRE provides roughly 1,250 calories.
This means that you can horde, I mean hoard, the smaller nonperishable items away in your BOB for if/when TSHTF. This will most definitely give you a leg up if you are forced back out onto the wasteland.
Here’s a quick list of items worth stashing:
Caffeine Mints
Cookies
Crackers
Dehydrated granola with milk
Energy bars
Jerky
M&M’s
Pretzels
Skittles
Spreads: cheese, peanut butter, blackberry jam
Twizzlers
HAMBURGER HELP ME
Once society as we know it has been torn down by an undead menace, Hamburger Helper—much like Spam, hot dogs, Cheetos, and Twinkies—will be relegated to the annals of “pre-zpoc convenience foods.” It’s a convenience food that enjoyed popularity well into the 21st century, but in the pre-zpoc age of heightened health consciousness, it is a food that nonetheless has become widely regarded as junk. When your life has gone to bumslop, though, I’m guessing you will be more than happy to have a hot steamy nostalgic bowl of nearly-as-good-as-Hamburger-Helper.
The ingredients for this recipe can be found in the following 2012-issue MREs:
Cheese & Bacon Spread: Menu #10
or
Cheese Spread: Menus #4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 18, 23
or
Jalapeño Cheese Spread: Menus #1, 2, 15
YIELDS:
1 Hungry Survivor or Regular Joe serving
REQUIRES:
1 bowl, for eating, if available
HEAT SOURCE:
1 Flameless Ration Heater
TIME:
10 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
1 x MRE-issue Chili & Macaroni
1 x MRE-issue Cheese & Bacon Spread (plain Cheese Spread or Jalapeño Cheese Spread can also be used)
METHOD:
Add the pouches of Chili & Macaroni and Cheese Spread to a Flameless Ration Heater and activate as per package directions. Let the contents heat for about 10 minutes.
Add the contents of both pouches to a bowl, or, if no bowl is available, add the cheese spread to the macaroni pouch. Mix thoroughly and eat immediately.
Note: If you have access to a fire, you might want to crumble then toast one package of standard-MRE-issue “Crackers” (Menus #1, 4, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19) to sprinkle on top for added texture.
SHEPHORDE’S PIE
It seems I am never at a loss for a cheesy pun, am I? When the horde comes banging down your barracks, take comfort in some quintessential comfort food: shepherd’s pie. You can prepare this recipe with either of the MRE-issue Beef Pot Roast or Beef Stew entrées.
While not strictly necessary, this recipe benefits greatly from an indirect heat oven-type rig. The Garlic Mashed Potatoes crisp up nicely, and you can crush Vegetable Crackers for added texture and flavor if you’re feeling adventurous.
The ingredients for this recipe can be found in the following 2012-issue MREs:
Beef Pot Roast with Vegetables and
Gravy: Menu #6
or
Beef Stew: Menu #9
Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Menu #7
Vegetable Crackers: Menus #5, 15
YIELDS:
1 Hungry Survivor or Regular Joe serving
REQUIRES:
1 mess kit bowl or other small pot (if cooking over fire) with lid
1 small frying pan (if cooking over fire)
HEAT SOURCE:
Indirect, Ammo Can Oven or other Oven Hack (page 44) (optional), and 1 Flameless Ration Heater
TIME:
20 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
1 x MRE-issue Garlic Mashed Potatoes
1 x MRE-issue Vegetable Crackers
1 x MRE-issue Beef Pot Roast or Beef Stew
METHOD:
Set up an Ammo Can Oven or other Oven Hack for 350°F baking (see Judging Temperature, page 47).
Using a Flameless Ration Heater, heat the Garlic Mashed Potatoes as per package directions for about 10 minutes to make them easier to work with.
In the meantime, crush the Vegetable Crackers inside their packaging using your hands or another blunt object.
Add the Pot Roast or Beef Stew to a mess kit bowl or a small pot. Cover with the now-warm (and somewhat more pliable) mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with the crushed crackers.
Bake for about 10–15 minutes or until the top is browned and the contents bubbling. Let cool for a few minutes before eating.
GEEDUNK MAGICAL LAYER BARS
The word “Geedunk” is old Navy slang for candy, chips, and soda and reportedly comes from the sound these items made when they fell out of a vending machine. The name is appropriate here because this MRE version of the Magic Layer Bar consists almost entirely (unless you substitute the Chocolate Peanut Spread for Peanut Butter, then entirely) of junk.
I won’t lie, these pale in comparison to the pre-zpoc originals. But if they can satisfy my sweet tooth, chances are yours will be satisfied too. After all the living hell you’ve been through, your brain probably can’t even conjure a decent memory of what the originals tasted like, anyway. Yum!
The ingredients for this recipe can be found in the following 2012-issue MREs:
Fudge Brownie: Menu #2
Blackberry Jam: Menus #3, 9, 16, 19, 22
Chocolate Chip Toaster Pastry: Menu #4
Chocolate Peanut Spread: Menu #6
or
Peanut Butter: Menus #3, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 22
Peanut M&M’s: Menu #13
or
Plain M&M’s: Menu Menu #15
Kreamsicle Cookie: Menus #6, 7, 11
YIELDS:
1 Hungry Survivor or Regular Joe serving
REQUIRES:
Chef’s or survival knife and cutting board 1 plate or bowl
HEAT SOURCE:
1 Flameless Ration Heater
TIME:
10 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
1 x MRE-issue Chocolate Peanut Spread or Peanut Butter
1 x MRE-issue Fudge Brownie
1 x MRE-issue Blackberry Jam
1 x MRE-issue Chocolate Chip Toaster Pastry
1 x MRE-issue Peanut M&M’s or Plain M&M’s, crushed
1 x MRE-issue Kreamsicle Cookie, crushed
METHOD:
Use a Flameless Ration Heater to warm the Chocolate Peanut Spread or Peanut Butter for about a minute, to loosen it slightly and make it more spreadable.
In the meantime, remove the Fudge Brownie from its packaging and lay it, upside down, on a plate or in a bowl. Spread a thick layer of Blackberry Jam over the brownie.
Remove the spread from the heater and set aside. Carefully remove the Chocolate Chip Toaster Pastry from its package (it’s delicate!) and layer on top of the brownie. Spread a thick layer of the Chocolate Peanut Spread or Peanut Butter onto the pastry.
Sprinkle liberally with the crushed M&M’s and Kreamsicle Cookie.
Cut your creation in half and devour.
Other Types of Field Rations
When TSHTF and you find yourself in the care of the military, chances are you will see field rations beyond the MRE (which may very well be kept aside for, you know, warfighters who are actually defending you from the walkers). From MREInfo.com, here is a shakedown of the other field rations produced for the US Army and other international military forces that you might come across in an army camp:
FSR: FIRST STRIKE RATIONS
The First Strike Ration is a stripped down and higher calorie version of the standard MRE, designed for warfighters in highly intense and highly mobile combat operations. They were first developed when it became known that soldiers in intense combat situations would “field strip” their MREs to get a full day’s worth of food into one MRE pouch. A single FSR, which is 24 hours’ worth of food, weighs approximately 50% less than the equivalent 3 MREs. The contents also appear to be 50% less tasty.
MCW/LRP: MEAL, COLD WEATHER/LONG-RANGE PATROL
These rations were developed for extreme cold environments. Each 1,500-calorie meal includes a freeze-dried entrée that will not freeze (heh) and can be eaten dry, if necessary, along with other ready-to-eat components like cookies, crackers, energy bars, nuts, etc.
HDR: HUMANITARIAN DAILY RATIONS
Here’s a ration that hungry mouths in a survivor camp are especially likely to see. HDRs were originally developed for use during humanitarian crises to feed large displaced populations or refugees and have been used extensively in a variety of emergency situations, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They have been designed to be dropped from aircraft and satisfy a wide range of cultural and religious food requirements. Each HDR contains 24 hours’ worth of food (about 2,200 calories) for one individual and contains no animal products or by- products, aside from a small amount of dairy. HDRs do not come with the Flameless Ration Heaters and must either be eaten cold or heated by flame.
TOTM: TAILORED OPERATIONAL TRAINING MEAL
The Tailored Operational Training Meal is a spin-off of the MRE, a sort of “sack lunch” developed to feed warfighters during inactive duty training. They contain many of the same components as an MRE, just fewer, to account for a more sedentary lifestyle. Each TOTM contains about 1,000 calories and, like an MRE, a Flameless Ration Heater to heat the entrées.
KOSHER/HALAL
MRE-type meals developed for soldiers who maintain a strict religious diet, each meal contains kosher/halal-certified entrées and other components.
AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE RATIONS
The Australian Defence Force also offers MRE-style meals (read: entrées in retort pouches that can be heated in the field). These standard-issue meals come in sizes to feed 1 soldier (CR1M) or 5 (CR5M). The PR1M is similar to the MCW/LRP meals outlined earlier, designed for cold weather and long-range patrols.
BRITISH 24-HOUR OPERATIONAL RATION PACK
The General Purpose British 24-Hour Operational Packs also share many similarities with MREs, including retort pouches. They do not, however, contain flameless heaters. Instead, all British soldiers are issued pocket-sized foldable stoves fueled with hexamine tablets so that the food packets can be warmed by submerging them in boiling water. The British also produce Religious, Vegetarian, Patrol, and Hot/Cold Climate varieties.
IMPS: CANADIAN ARMED FORCES INDIVIDUAL MEAL PACKS
The Canadian version of MREs, IMPs do not include flameless heaters but can be used with the US military-issued heaters or submerged in boiling water. They are, by all other accounts, very similar to MREs: Each IMP contains enough food for one individual meal and includes an entrée, dessert, several types of beverage, hard candy, and a cookie or chocolate bar.
RCIR: FRENCH RATION DE COMBAT INDIVIDUELLE RECHAUFFABLE
The French RCIR (or “Individual Reheatable Combat Ration”) is a soldier or survivor’s wet-retort-pouch dream. The meals are, not surprisingly, of better quality than any other ration out there and include 2 ready-cooked entrées (beef Bourguignon, anyone?), one appetizer (how about duck paté?), one package of instant soup, cheese spread, 16 salted and sweet crackers, a breakfast kit (tea, coffee, cocoa, milk powder, sugar, etc.), nougat bar, fruit gelee, chocolate bar, chewing gum, caramels, hard candies, water-purifying pills, and a disposable reheating kit (matches, fuel tablets, and a disposable folding stove). The French rations also make use of canned food items like tuna.
GERMAN EINMANNPACKUNG
The German Einmannpackung (or “Combat Ration, Individual”) is intended to provide an individual soldier with 2 substantial meals. The entrées and spreads in the EPs are packaged in heavy-duty foil trays, while other food items are vacuum-packed in plastic packages. Also included in each ration: instant fruit juice powder, instant coffee, instant tea, powdered cream, a chocolate bar, sugar, salt, gum, jam, water-purifying tablets, and paper towels.
ITALIAN RAZIONE VIVERI SPECIALE DE COMBATTIMENTO
Like the French, the Italians don’t waste their time with subpar rations (though there is an emphasis on pasta-based entrées). Their “Special Combat Food Ration” contains 24 hours’ worth of food for one soldier and offers such Italian staples as tortellini, ravioli, and minestrone. They continue to use canned foods, such as tuna and turkey, despite their bulk and weight. And like their French counterparts, they provide disposable stoves for reheating food.
IRP-P: RUSSIAN INDIVIDUALNOVO RATSIONA PITANEE-POVSEDYEN
The Russian “24-Hour Individual Food Ration” is quite similar to the French and Italian rations in that they too use canned food items and include a disposable stove and fuel for reheating. There is a heavy emphasis on meat—a 24-hour ration for one soldier might include a can of meat/ vegetable medley, a can of straight-up meat, and a can of stewed meat. Other contents would include a powdered beverage, tea, jam, and crackers, among other miscellany.
SOCIETY AS WE KNOW IT HAS FRUIT CRUMBLED
The ingredients for this crumble are not the easiest to come by—the Dehydrated Granola with Milk and Berries is only available in Menu #4, while the stewed fruits are collectively found in only 3 menus. But the combination of these 2 simple ingredients yields a final dessert so reminiscent of pre-zpoc crumble that you could close your eyes and imagine yourself in a warm kitchen rather than in a dismal survivor camp—so set either ingredient aside until you complete the set.
The ingredients for this recipe can be found in the following 2012-issue MREs:
Dehydrated Granola with Milk and Blueberries: Menu #4
Apple Pieces in Spiced Sauce: Menu #24
or
Pears: Menus #13, 19
YIELDS:
1 Hungry Survivor or Regular Joe serving
REQUIRES:
1 mess kit pot or other small pot
HEAT SOURCE:
Indirect, Ammo Can Oven or other Oven Hack (page 44), or 1 Flameless Ration Heater
TIME:
2 minutes prep time
5–10 minutes bake time
INGREDIENTS:
2 x MRE-issue Apple Pieces in Spiced Sauce or Pears
2 x MRE-issue Dehydrated Granola with Milk and Blueberries (berries removed if desired)
METHOD:
Set up an Ammo Can Oven or other Oven Hack for 400°F baking (see Judging Temperature, page 47).
Add the pouched fruit to a mess kit pot or other oven-safe vessel and cover with granola. Bake for 10–15 minutes until the granola has browned and the contents are bubbling. Let the crumble cool slightly before eating.
COBBLER VARIATION: Swap the granola for the Spice Pound Cake, Carrot Pound Cake, or the Maple Muffin tops to make a cobbler instead of a crisp.
ZOMBPOCALYPSE PARTY MIX
Zombie apocalypse, zpoc, ZA, zombpocalypse—it doesn’t really matter what you call it, if you’re still alive that’s reason enough to celebrate. And if you happen to find yourself in a military-protected survivor camp or settlement, being fed regularly with warfighter rations in the form of MREs, well, now, that’s just the perfect reason to full-on party down. Here’s the perfect survivor camp party snack to fuel your festivities. And that crazy twitchy guy down in the D Block? I bet he’d share some of that hooch he supposedly cooks up in exchange for some of this party mix . . .
In order to collect the needed quantities, have all the survivors you intend to invite pitch in and bring a bag or two of ingredients.
The ingredients for this recipe can be found in the following 2012-issue MREs:
Smoked Almonds: Menus #2, 21
Pretzels: Menus #9, 20
Cheddar Cheese Pretzels: Menu #15
Pepperoni Pizza Cheese Crackers: Menu #19
Baked Snack Crackers Hot and Spicy Cheese (Cheez-Its): Menu #21
Toasted Corn Kernels: Menu #18
YIELDS:
44 snack-size servings
REQUIRES:
1 or several large bowls, for mixing and serving
INGREDIENTS:
16 x MRE-issue Smoked Almonds
8 x MRE-issue Pretzels
8 x MRE-issue Cheddar Cheese Pretzels
8 x MRE-issue Pepperoni Pizza Cheese Crackers
8 x MRE-issue Baked Snack Crackers Hot and Spicy Cheese
8 x MRE-issue Toasted Corn Kernels
METHOD:
Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl, pot, or some other container, then divide into smaller bowls or serving dishes and set them out around your quarters for easy access and festive face stuffing.
PATRIOTIC DUNK-A-MROOS
As a kid it was a rare treat to have Dunk-A-Roos in the house. Dunk-A-Roos are pretty much the definition of an indulgent, sugar-laden snack: a divided plastic package containing cookies and frosting for dipping.
Warfighters use the Strawberry Banana Shake mix to whip up a makeshift frosting to put on crackers or the Chocolate Banana Muffin Top for birthdays celebrated “in the field.” So when I came across the Patriotic Sugar Cookies, the idea for Dunk-A-MRoos struck me immediately. Both the sugar cookies and shake mix are not widely available but worth the effort to squirrel away as you come across them for later pairing.
The ingredients for this recipe can be found in the following 2012-issue MREs:
Patriotic Sugar Cookies: Menu #23
Strawberry Banana Shake: Menus #14, 21
YIELDS:
1 Hungry Survivor or Regular Joe serving
REQUIRES:
1 mess kit bowl or other small bowl
TIME:
2 minutes prep time
INGREDIENTS:
1 x MRE-issue Strawberry Banana Shake
2 tbsp. clean potable water
1 x MRE-issue Patriotic Sugar Cookies
METHOD:
In a mess kit bowl or another small bowl/container, mix the shake mix and water to taste, adding the water in increments until you get a thick icing-like consistency.
Dip the Patriotic Sugar Cookies in liberally, contemplating where you might be without the aid of your armed forces. Enjoy.
LIVING LIKE A GI FRIED RICE
OK, so eating MREs while under military protection from hordes of walking dead corpses isn’t exactly akin to living like a GI, but really, in a way, aren’t we all survivor soldiers in the war against the undead?
The Fried Rice side dish available in MRE Menu #22 is quite versatile, and one of the best ways to use it is to bump it up with other items and make a rice salad of sorts. Here I use the Asian Beef Strips also in Menu #22 along with a few other choice tidbits—toasted tortilla strips and corn kernels—to jazz things up, but there are lots of other ways you can use the Fried Rice side dish (see Beef or Chicken Variation opposite).
If you don’t have access to a fire, use the flameless heaters to warm the rice and beef strips, then toss along with the corn to combine and serve with the tortilla. The preparation does benefit, though, from sautéing the rice and beef strips over an open flame and toasting the tortilla to provide a nice crunch factor.
The ingredients for this recipe can be found in the following 2012-issue MREs:
Asian Beef Strips: Menu #22
Tortillas: Menus #2, 14, 16, 21, 24
Toasted Corn Kernels: Menu #18
Fried Rice: Menu #22
YIELDS:
1 Hungry Survivor or Regular Joe serving
REQUIRES:
1 mess kit bowl or other small bowl
1 small-medium sauté pan
Spoon or other utensil for stirring
HEAT SOURCE:
Direct, open flame or other Stovetop Hack (page 42)
TIME:
10 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
1 x MRE-issue Tortillas
1 x MRE-issue Fried Rice
1 x MRE-issue Asian Beef Strips, roughly chopped
1 x MRE-issue Toasted Corn Kernels
METHOD:
Set up a cooking fire or other Stovetop Hack. Tear the Tortillas into strips and dry toast them over medium-low heat until they are browned slightly and start to become crunchy, 1–2 minutes. Set aside.
Add the Fried Rice to a pan. Sauté, stirring constantly until the rice is sufficiently dried out and starting to become sticky. Remove from pan to the mess bowl and set aside.
Add the chopped Asian Beef Strips to the pan and increase the heat. Sauté until they begin to brown and develop a crust, about 5 minutes. Add to the mess bowl with the rice and let it cool slightly, 1–2 minutes.
Break the tortilla strips into smaller bite-sized pieces and add to the mess kit bowl along with the Toasted Corn Kernels. Toss to combine and eat immediately.
BEEF OR CHICKEN VARIATION: Try swapping the Asian Beef Strips and Toasted Corn Kernels for the Chicken with Tomato and Feta (Menu #5) or Chicken Fajita (Menu #2) and Smoked Almonds (Menus #2, 21).
CHICKEN POTPIE À LA RESCUE CAMP
The idea of mixing dried nondairy creamer with an MRE chicken, vegetable, and noodle entrée may sound totally disgusting, but it works surprisingly well by survivor fare standards.
This is a recipe that greatly benefits from embers or some other Oven Hack for baking, to achieve the “potpie effect”—simply heating the components separately with the flameless heaters and then topping the chicken with a piece of wheat bread just won’t cut it. When baked, the top of the bread gets a little crunchy, while the underside soaks up the liquid from the chicken. Trust me on this one.
The ingredients for this recipe can be found in the following 2012-issue MREs:
Chicken, Vegetables and Noodles in Sauce Menu #3
Wheat Snack Bread: Menus #3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 20, 22
Dried Creamer: Menus #1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23
YIELDS:
1 Hungry Survivor or Regular Joe serving
REQUIRES:
1 mess kit bowl or other small pot, with lid Spoon or other utensil for stirring
HEAT SOURCE:
Indirect, embers or other Oven Hack (page 44), and 1 Flameless Ration Heater
TIME:
10 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
1 x MRE-issue Chicken, Vegetables and Noodles in Sauce
2 x MRE-issue Dried Creamer
1 x MRE-issue Wheat Snack Bread
METHOD:
Heat the Chicken, Vegetables and Noodles in Sauce in the flameless heater as per package directions, about 5 minutes.
Add the warmed chicken mixture to a mess kit or pot along with the dried creamer and mix thoroughly. Lay the Wheat Snack Bread over the mixture then cover with the lid.
Put the mess kit bowl/pot onto a thin layer of glowing embers, with a few more glowing embers on top of the lid. Let cook for about 10 minutes, or until the bread is toasted brown. Let cool for about 3–5 minutes before eating.