While we are all down for the holidays I went shopping at the food store and I always find something that I would like to try on the trail - but will do it at home first to see if will fit my needs... This week I tried these two items.
Marie Callenders "Easy Sides" 4 minutes Yes this works with a cozy! Cooks in pouch - It's a step above ramen, the noodles are small and taste better - but the product doesn't match the picture on front.. its a salty chicken flavor bullion. The sauce can be fixable with a tablespoon or two of Nido. Makes two servings or 480 calories. The pouch, is 4.2 ounces, needs 10 ounces of boiled water. Adding a tablespoon of dried vegetables would also improve this, overall I think this product is workable. Also note some of the bullion gets stuck in the corners.
[IMG:http://norcalcoupongal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Marie-Callenders-Easy-Sides.jpg]
Alessi Raviolini in Brodo (chicken Soup Cheese Ravioli)In the past I noticed a few recommend this for the trail... at 4.1 ounces and 15 minutes of cook time, already it was awkward.. the real cook time is a soft boil and 20 minutes. Taste? The ravioli small and chewy at 15 minutes - at 20 minutes its cooked but tasteless. the broth is salty chicken stock with a few peas and carrots... Well nobody in the family would touch it. This was a huge "not going to happen" for the trail.
[IMG:http://thedutchshop.com/images/al071072003718t.jpg]
Marie Callenders "Easy Sides" 4 minutes Yes this works with a cozy! Cooks in pouch - It's a step above ramen, the noodles are small and taste better - but the product doesn't match the picture on front.. its a salty chicken flavor bullion. The sauce can be fixable with a tablespoon or two of Nido. Makes two servings or 480 calories. The pouch, is 4.2 ounces, needs 10 ounces of boiled water. Adding a tablespoon of dried vegetables would also improve this, overall I think this product is workable. Also note some of the bullion gets stuck in the corners.
[IMG:http://norcalcoupongal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Marie-Callenders-Easy-Sides.jpg]
Alessi Raviolini in Brodo (chicken Soup Cheese Ravioli)In the past I noticed a few recommend this for the trail... at 4.1 ounces and 15 minutes of cook time, already it was awkward.. the real cook time is a soft boil and 20 minutes. Taste? The ravioli small and chewy at 15 minutes - at 20 minutes its cooked but tasteless. the broth is salty chicken stock with a few peas and carrots... Well nobody in the family would touch it. This was a huge "not going to happen" for the trail.
[IMG:http://thedutchshop.com/images/al071072003718t.jpg]
Be wise enough to walk away from the nonsense around you! 
