So, without further gilding the lily... I give you the 2013 Jalapeno pepperjack beef patty...
The accessory packet B and Oatmeal cookie
Twin snack bread and cheddar with bacon spread
Cocoa beverage powder and BBQ sauce. Note the 2013 menu list it containing ketchup and mustard.
The boxed Entree
Cherry Blueberry cobbler
Ok, i cheated making the cocoa. If you remember from the coffee discussion, i had told about how my buddy taught me to make "camp coffee" from the mre stuff. Well. Thats what I did here. A packet of cocoa mix, then raided from an accessory pack A i added non-dairy creamer, sugar, and Diablo instant coffee. Its not Starbucks, but to all come from powder...pretty good.
Raspberry beverage mix. Its the first time ive done one of these stick mixes in something other than a 16.9oz water bottle, and I dont think ill go back. Using slightly less water actually seemed to double the flavor punch and muted the artificial sweetener aftertaste. Im not a big raspberry fan, but I really enjoyed it.
Well, the cookie didnt seem to travel well, but thats ok because...
Mixing it with the Cherry Blueberry cobbler makes for a really filling dessert. It almost makes it more of a crumble than a cobbler.
The main event...so let me tell you what I did...
This aint my first rodeo where the bread or bacon cheese spread, so I tried something different. I opened the top of the FRH, and slid the patty packet in. I then raised the heating element slightly, and poured in the water. Then, on the opposite side of the patty from the element, outside the bag, i laid the bread and cheese packages and folded the flap over them. I slid that in the box with a little finalaging, then laid the box sideways to bring the water in contact with the element. I then stood the box up against my backpack and let it work. 10 min later i worked the flap out to release any residual steam, and pulled out the packets.
My observations...
Heating the bread didnt do anything but increase the smell when i broke the seal on the packet. Taste and texture didnt change.
Heating the cheese didnt change the taste, but made it much, much easier to spread. But, even tho it got as hot as the entree, it didnt turn liquid or become runny. Good to know.
I was impressed with the patty. Thick, firm, lots of heat, and without the heavy process taste some meats get. I knew it wasnt "fresh", but it was pretty good. Id happily eat again.
The BBQ sauce was basic, run of the mill sauce. Honestly, it got lost in the burger.
Takeaways:
This meal doesnt seem thought out too well. Cobbler AND a cookie? Jalapeno pepperjack patty and cheddar bacon spread? This is one of those meals id strip down and mix-n-match with other meals if I was carrying it on an extended trip. That, and im curious what a TOTM version would look like. But, i will say it would not upset me to see this entree n bread show up in.a future FSR type meal...
