Anytime I have tried it in the field, I was always surprised at how well they tasted. I have just used basic camping cookware to boil up some water.

The only thing that isn't great about them is the fact that the package says it feeds 2. One pouch is a good meal for 1 person. Its a little small for 2 people, especially if you are hungry. Also, you need to let it sit for awhile, and occasionally mash up the food by squeezing the packaging. It sucks when you bite down on a noodle that didn't soften up to much.

I eat them every time I go backpacking. They have several different flavors, and most are pretty good.

As to the "What is best for boiling up the water to add to it" question, a half liter aluminum tea kettle from Primus has found a permanent place in my pack. Since Primus came out with theirs several others have hit the market. I thoroughly enjoy taking a pause while on the trail for a nice cup of tea, coffee, or cocoa. Likewise, I use it to boil water pure to refill my water bottle. No better trail lunch than a fresh caught trout over a fire and a cup of good tea. Feels very Nessmuk-ish. It would certainly boil the needed water for a freeze-dried meal when away from the trout stream, too.

They still make that brand? You need to add your own seasonings.

I have tried many different variations of Mountain House food. I never cared for it very much. I usually just go out and buy dry soup mixes or other foods at the supermarket and find that's generally far superior to any of the freeze dried stuff out there, and weighs about the same in my pack.

As far as heating water goes, you can use almost anything that will hold water and can go on a stove or fire. But if the only thing you're plannin gon doing is heating water, Jetboil makes a great little lightweight stove with a mug/pot that holds a liter of water and has a built-in heat exchanger. Per Backpacker magazine, it's pretty much the fastest/best way to make water hot.