US MRE 2014 Menu# 19 Beef Patty, Jalapeno Pepper Jack

[BTemple]

Got home from work this evening, after a long day as a substitute teacher for Junior High (Junior High kids can make you want to choke-slam all of them sometimes) and decided to open up and try Menu # 19. It sounded somewhat promising..... somewhat.

Here's all of the components. It doesn't seem like quite as much stuff as you would normally get. I'll finally get to try some cocoa beverage powder and an oatmeal chocolate chunk cookie for the first time though.

Here we have the Raspberry drink mix and Cocoa beverage powder. I've had the raspberry drink before and it doesn't come close to being as good as the raspberry drink mix in the British ORP. It tastes very much like Raspberry Crystal Light. The Cocoa drink was alright, but very watered down, even when following the directions on the pouch. May need to have it again sometime before I can give a final verdict.

The main entree is up next, in all its glory. It's the Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty, using two pieces of wheat snack bread as a bun, with cheese spread and ketchup (no mustard... I hate mustard). This does not look good... at all. But the taste wasn't bad. Little bit of spice, but certainly nothing I would call "spicy". The slightly dense wheat snack bread didn't make a good sandwich/burger out of this. I give it a "meh".

This is apparently supposed to be cherry blueberry cobbler. It looks absolutely horrible and tastes even worse than it looks. I know one of the Canadian IMP'S I have but haven't tried yet has this same exact dessert and that makes me very sad.

Lastly we have the ONLY redeeming item in the entire ration..... and it's pretty bad when a regular 'ol oatmeal chocolate chunk cookie is the best thing. I was disappointed that it was broken into two pieces, there's something oddly satisfying about having an item being entirely intact. I'm sure I'm not the only person who doesn't buy a chocolate bar or something like that if it already feels broken in the package. Hahaha

Overall, this may be the 2nd worst ration I've had thus far. The top position has to go to the Menu # 14 Ratatouille (which must translate to "not good in pouch-form" in French). Haha

Thanks for popping by, have a good one.

[shawker71]

I have to agree that this menu sounds good on paper but in practice it is horrific. I do have to disagree on the cobbler, this is one of my favorite US desserts. Good review.

[BTemple]

I have to agree that this menu sounds good on paper but in practice it is horrific. I do have to disagree on the cobbler, this is one of my favorite US desserts. Good review.

Thanks. It may just be a visual thing for me, it looked simply horrid. I'll see how it compares to the same dessert in one of my IMP's next, not sure what menu it is.

Next MRE for me is #20, Pork Sausages in Cream Gravy. Not sure what to think of that, white gravy is not a thing we eat here in Newfoundland at all.

[shawker71]

That is one i actually enjoyed. We eat biscuits and gravy in the Alabama white a bit. You will need to crumble the crackers into it to eat it properly or as proper as you can get. Do not put the cheese in it, it doesn't belong.

[BTemple]

Yes I would assume the cheese spread mixed with a cream gravy would not be a great flavour combination.

[parafireboy]

Good review. I haven't tried this one yet, but I admit it doesn't sound to enticing. It's probably nothing like the Canadian IMP hamburger, which I hear is pretty good (for a shelf-stable ration hamburger at least).

I kind of like the cobbler desert, but you're right, it's certainly not something to look at. It's one of those ration items best eaten out of the pouch without giving too much attention to appearance.

The pork sausage in gravy one is pretty good, in my opinion. I grew up in the midwest US though, where biscuits and gravy were a fairly common breakfast, so it's familiar. I look forward to reading what your thoughts are on it after you try it.

Thanks for sharing!

P.S. I admire the level of patience that you must have to sub at the junior high level, not just anyone could do it and not end up body-slamming some back-talker.

[BTemple]

Good review. I haven't tried this one yet, but I admit it doesn't sound to enticing. It's probably nothing like the Canadian IMP hamburger, which I hear is pretty good (for a shelf-stable ration hamburger at least).

I kind of like the cobbler desert, but you're right, it's certainly not something to look at. It's one of those ration items best eaten out of the pouch without giving too much attention to appearance.

The pork sausage in gravy one is pretty good, in my opinion. I grew up in the midwest US though, where biscuits and gravy were a fairly common breakfast, so it's familiar. I look forward to reading what your thoughts are on it after you try it.

Thanks for sharing!

P.S. I admire the level of patience that you must have to sub at the junior high level, not just anyone could do it and not end up body-slamming some back-talker.

I`ve yet to find the IMP Hamburger ration as of yet, but hopefully soon. You`d think that being in Canada it would be fairly easy to find IMP`s to buy, but man, the Canadian government must really try to keep a tight hold on them. Can`t even find any at surplus stores here.

Yes the Pork Sausages and Gravy one will certainly be something outside my wheelhouse, more of a dark gravy kind of area where I live.

I`ve been a substitute now for 5 years, but last year I managed to get a replacement position for the entire year, nice to teach my own classes and all that stuff. Feel like you have a little more control over your students. But subbing junior high, especially grade 8 and 9, is the worst. I had a grade 9 student ask me a couple years ago, in the middle of Social Studies class, if I was `getting any skin`...... I mean, who the hell asks their teacher a question like that, in class of all places.

[rabidwolf]

A good and informative review BTemple. The Menu 19 Beef Patty, Jalapeño Pepper Jack may be a bit underwhelming to some. It helps to keep things in perspective towards its purpose as a MRE. Having never tried the IMP Hamburger. I can not compare the two.

Though as with many other things. Personal preferences make the difference. I do not like either mustard or ketchup. Like you, I also am not a fan of the Ratatouille. The cobbler to me is "O.K.". It is just a bit too sweet for me.

I like the Pork Sausage with White Gravy. The white gravy can be compared to what is called locally to me, as "Saw Mill Gravy". As suggested, breaking up or crushing the crackers and adding them to the gravy helps. If you are really lucky. You might have one of the rare MRE Biscuits inside your particular menu. I have added the cheese as well. It makes for a unique flavor. The Jalapeño Cheese Spread, as opposed to the normal one, provides a unique flavor with a kick. This is also one of the menus that is much more palatable when warmed up properly. In both looks and taste. It helps to blend in the crackers, and especially the cheese if you add it as well.

[BTemple]

A good and informative review BTemple. The Menu 19 Beef Patty, Jalapeño Pepper Jack may be a bit underwhelming to some. It helps to keep things in perspective towards its purpose as a MRE. Having never tried the IMP Hamburger. I can not compare the two.

Though as with many other things. Personal preferences make the difference. I do not like either mustard or ketchup. Like you, I also am not a fan of the Ratatouille. The cobbler to me is "O.K.". It is just a bit too sweet for me.

I like the Pork Sausage with White Gravy. The white gravy can be compared to what is called locally to me, as "Saw Mill Gravy". As suggested, breaking up or crushing the crackers and adding them to the gravy helps. If you are really lucky. You might have one of the rare MRE Biscuits inside your particular menu. I have added the cheese as well. It makes for a unique flavor. The Jalapeño Cheese Spread, as opposed to the normal one, provides a unique flavor with a kick. This is also one of the menus that is much more palatable when warmed up properly. In both looks and taste. It helps to blend in the crackers, and especially the cheese if you add it as well.

Thanks!
I already looked inside the Pork Sausage MRE and it has crackers, granola, a chocolate banana nut muffin top and an orange drink mix. The last chocolate banana nut muffin top I had tasted OK, but it had the weirdest consistency/mount-feel of any ration component I've ever had.... dry and yet moist all at the same time. Hopefully this one will redeem what should be a great item.

[shawker71]

The IMP hamburger is just delicious. 2 pattys in it and they are flavorful. Add a little of the juice to the bun and it really picks it up. The bean salad that comes with it really shines.

BTemple is really correct on the muffin top....one of the oddest flavors/textures out there. I also love the granola w/blueberries and milk (i had it again today with the maple sausage).