Editor’s Note: This product was tested during a 2-week Ice-Out by ATV Adventure in Manitoba, spring 2009. Look for the story in print in May 2010.

Mountain House's freeze-dried dinners come in a variety of flavors and cuisines that taste surprisingly delicious (sweet-and-sour pork was my favorite). To make one, just boil a few cups of water and pour it into the packaging, stir it once, close it using the zip seal, then wait for five minutes. The meals cook right in the bag, and when you open it up it’s ready to eat (though you might want to let it cool for a few minutes so that you don’t burn your tongue). On a trip like ours, when you’re worn out, wet, and covered in mud at the end of a long, long day, the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time preparing your grub. Meals like these put hot food in your belly fast, with a minimum of effort. One thing to keep in mind: Mountain House says their 20-ounce entrees are enough dinner for two people, but it took each of us both servings to satisfy our hunger at the end of the day.