RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

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Norton
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Re: RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

Post by Norton » Sun Nov 08, 2015 9:42 am

Steve
thanks for the great post. Some of these components look thicker and this bar far more dense.
Is the idea behind RCW to provide higher calories than normal MRE, as the troop would be using more calories to stay warm?

How did these taste
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Ultra thick dense looking bars
Ultra thick bars.JPG (84.34 KiB) Viewed 10451 times

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steve1989
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Re: RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

Post by steve1989 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:21 pm

Hey Norton! Thanks as always, man. It always feels good to know I caught your interest on something I posted.

The RCW's were produced from 1989-2000. I have only had access to 1989 Rafco's, 1990-1993 Cinpacs, 1 So Pack which I think was a 1995 DoP, and the Wornicks from 1998.

Ok, so they had the "Fruit Soup" ONLY in the 1989 Rafcos - I would pay someone $20 to get one of those to review here on HD pics to show everyone. Lemme know folks.
Anyways - the fruit soup came in Raspberry and Strawberry - it was like Kool Aid but all natural but with pectin added.. one of these days I am going to attempt to re-create RCW Fruit Soup.. and again I got $20 on who ever brings me one. Hope that's a fair #.

Ok, I'll keep rambling here - had my coffee and am feeling inspired.. thanks again Norton!

Anyways, these RCW's had like 4,500 calories in em' - ok actually I am going on Kman's main Home Page and I will copy & paste his perfect information here.. thanks again to Kman - I remember over 10 years ago looking at your RCW page and it was the only bit of info I had on these things.. still an inspiration. Always will be.
(Coped part in asterisks)
**Each menu provides approximately 4500 kilocalories (8% protein, 32% fat, and 60% carbohydrate). The RCW provides sufficient kilocalories to meet energy expenditure during heavy exertion in extreme cold, while limiting sodium and protein content to reduce the risk of dehydration in arctic environments. The sodium content is 5 grams per ration. **

Ok back to the Fruit Soups, they took em' out in 1990 - and for over 3 more years the darned Oatmeal Packet's instructions still suggested adding Fruit Soup for flavor variation although the Fruit Soups had been replaced with the AWFUL Chicken Noodle Soup (Cambell's brand never had a fresh one.. guess the salt and broth was more valuable than yet another sugary drink like the Fruit Soup).

Anyone else notice how much darned sugar is in one of these things? Guess it's another preservative - and all that sugar would maybe be nice for bulking the food's caloric content.

These things take like 90 OZ's of water just to fully re-hydrate all contents... I should take a picture of 90 ounces of water and we can all get an idea on that one.. that's like over 5 pounds of water!



Norton, that Granola Bar pack there is from a 1998 Wornick RCW - they used to put the Oatmeal Cookie Bar & Granola Bar in the same pack and were both rectangular.. then they switched that in 1998 and put the 2 Granola Bars in one pack and kept them the same Rectangular shape and thickness. The Oatmeal Cookie Bars were essentially doubled in width and reduced the thickness by half.

Oh - those 1998 Wornick Granola Bars are fantastic! Sweet cinnamon, and apple undertones! Very nice mild flavor and I would seriously like to try crumbling some up one day out primitive camping and only thing I add to em is hot water and an Accessory Packet Creamer. Maybe a tad bit of salt too.. like a dash.. oh heck that sounds decent!!

Lemme see if I can get ya on a good comparison here in pics.
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1993 DoP Cinpac RCW Oatmeal Cookie Bar/Granola Bar
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Before splitting these two love birds up for their last couple years of being produced, these had them married into one packet - the only time I have ever seen two different Ration items paired together is here. And they are quite the couple these two - a carbohydrate filled pairing that goes very will with the Apple Cider or a Hot Cocoa.
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1998 Wornick Oatmeal Cookie bars
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My apologies for the blurry picture. Happens to me sometimes - I don't maintain the most steady of hands.
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1998 Wornick Granola Bars
Last edited by steve1989 on Sun Nov 08, 2015 1:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

Post by steve1989 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:31 pm

Who wants to see something that is just absolutely beautiful? :D


These pictures are dedicated to the Great Norge!

I will never forget your amazing contributions to the site and everyone who saw your amazing reviews before that Photo Bucket thing a couple years back will always have fond memories of your experiences.


Miss ya, brother, and we all hope you & your son are doing well!
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This case of RCW's and the review I am doing on them is dedicated to the Great, Legendary, Norge! Thank you, Norge for all your inspirational reviews and knowledge - sadly many of Mr. Norge's reviews have plunged into Photobucket Oblivion - but I will always remember the picture of him smiling whilst eating a MCI B-Unit Cracker. That same night I think I recall he ate a Vintage 1982 MRE and even MCI Peanut Butter! He is one of my heroes!!
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I can see right through you, baby. ;)
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steve1989
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Re: RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

Post by steve1989 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:41 pm

Continued.
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These M&M's were still PERFECT - I ate them all and I am tellin ya they were the freshest 22 year old M&M's I have ever seen.. maybe a 5% chance of this with old Rations.. I always have powdery M&M's even at like 15 years old let alone 22 years! Amazing.
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Hey, who else here thinks Chicken Stew from Oregon Freeze Dry is one of the tastiest things on the Planet Earth?
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steve1989
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Re: RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

Post by steve1989 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:50 pm

...!
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I seem to have forgotten to take a picture of the coffee after adding this unusual sugar and stirring.. I am so sorry! Whoops! Anyways.. who cares it's just coffee.. not like I forgot to photograph the Strawberry Oatmeal.. now that woulda sucked.
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Creamer is still good too - this is obviously just before stirring. Oooo! :)
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Clear & clean of dry mold. Good deal - getting some more coffee - like I really need more coffee in my already far over-caffeinated system.
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Well, hello there!
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Slits along the backs of all packaging for these RCW's I am preserving the packaging and case so I can put it all back together for a perfect presentation piece that will endure through the ages. People from 500 years from now will see these.. well I can only hope. And I hope they read this here: Bring me back from the dead, future people! hehehehe!
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Slightly oxidized.. but I ate em' all anyways -oxidation with chocolate is normal and fine.
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22 year old M&M's.. this was the most exciting thing of the hour.
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Gold.

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steve1989
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Re: RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

Post by steve1989 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:59 pm

More...!
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Still edible.. just old Tootsie Rolls are kinda gross. I ate the one hunk and threw the rest out.. I normally eat everything but in this case.. man who cares it's just an old Tootsie Roll.. heck I got one from a Food Packet, Assault.. now that is a little Gem but this thing.. aaahh I will save the other one and maybe it will be worth something in 40-50 years.
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A plethora of Vintage Snacks! Guess who's pancreas was working over-time that night? hehe
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Hey there, Blueberry bars... how you doin'? ;)
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oooo laa laaa!
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Oh wow another shaky hand Steve blurry pic.. sorry folks.

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Re: RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

Post by steve1989 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 1:08 pm

...!
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Just added water stirring for maybe 15 seconds in.
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Apple Cider & the nice dark bits are the spices. They did not go cheap on these.. best Apple Cider on the planet~!
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After a few minutes of color adjusting, I have gotten this one as perfect as it's going to get picture-wise.


hmmm it smelled strong of strawberry and in such a nice way.
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Before removing inner packet of Stawberry Oatmeal


Smells like Oats & Strawberries and no staleness. Good sign!
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cavguy
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Re: RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

Post by cavguy » Sun Nov 08, 2015 1:09 pm

Cool pics! The RCW is my favorite ration because most everything holds up so well through time and most everything tasted so good ( minus the added MSG in the meals)!

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Re: RCW - Brownie, Chocolate Covered and Oatmeal Cookie,CC

Post by housil » Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:23 pm

Great pics and review, thx for sharning

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