33 year old Mountain House Beef Stew (A Taste Test...)

I have to admit something right here folks...I chef Tess, ate food that was put in this can by Mountain House when I was four years old. I'm not 15. Try 37.  Simple math aside...that's a little scary.  Not me being 37...but the freeze dried stew being 33 years old. Let's not get into my age here...because it appears I have broken the unwritten law of never actually revealing that holy number.  While we're all about admitting deep dark secrets... I have also have to admit that I was a little nervous about eating said "food-item". I thought that freeze dried beef was a relatively new thing but Troy and Tracey down at the store brought this to my attention and I am happy to report that I am now enlightened and... still alive. I'm not blind or puking my guts out. I feel great. I may give it a few more days...No, really. That's the point. I'm not kidding when I say it either...it was actually not too shabby.

Ingredient list...

Looking at the actual contents of the can surprised me a bit. I was expecting a lot less color. I was also expecting a lot less flavor.

I added the customary boiling water.

Put a lid on it. No comments from the peanut-gallery about me and "putting a lid on it."

Waited the customary 10 minutes...and look.

 Taste and texture were like regular beef stew. Not too smooshy. Flavor was mild. Perfect for most regular folks who don't like a lot of "fluff" and snazzy new flavors. It was straight forward son-of-a-gun stew. Who knew that 33 year old freeze dried stew would still not only cook fine, but taste good too?  Makes me want to buy some for the next 30 years! Mind you...in 30 years, I will never admit that I am *still* 37. You can quote me. I'll be just as well preserved as that stew...I can only hope.
There you go.