Food for thought

Submitted by Dan Weissman

As we all know military food isn't top of the line and when on deployment it only gets worse with age. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has seen "For Farm and Military Use Only" or "Rejected by Air Force" stamped on the side of a box. Fortunately I was given a solution for the average deployment military meal.

My best friend’s Father gave us 1000 packets of Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning just before we left. It's salty with a slight kick and just like it says, It's "Great on Everything!"

Also, while packing up for deployment and cleaning out the ‘frig I stumbled upon a bottle of Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce that I didn't have the heart to throw away.

There seems to be a rule in the military that says what's mine is yours but I haven't found it in writing yet. With in a week of leaving the bottle was already gone and I had the entire division hooked. Since then everyone, including myself, has had family members send some in the mail. BBQ sauce not only adds flavor but also provides moisture to food that could normally be used as a sponge.

There’s nothing more glorious than 30 bottles of Jack Daniels BBQ sauce arriving in the mail. Fortunately we have yet to run out of Tony's. The seasoning packets may be small but they go a long way.

Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
Jack Daniels' Original No. 7 BBQ Sauce

Comments

[speedy]

In Nam when we came in from the bush we would collect all the care pkgs we got from home and mix it with our c rations in a 50 cal ammo can and build a huge fire and cook it and chow down...but the kicker was the tobbasco sauce we put in it...man that was the best chow we ever had. I even had my mother send me some tortillas wrapped in a cotton cloth and the top ones were molded but we just ripped off the molded part and went to town on the rest.....
Sometimes we would gather all the beer we could get along with some tiger piss and silver fox from the villagers and that would be the clincher. Then we were ready for another couple of weeks in the bush humpin"
Ahhhh, those were the good ol" days

[march]

The Tony Chachere's is great. Tried it a couple of years ago and now I have to stop myself from putting it on everything. MREs have gotten better from the dehydrated beef patty days, but still a long way to go. Great idea!

[john morrissey]

For my guys it was Dave's insanity sauce and old bay seasoning. It could make a pile of meadow patty taste good.

[Mike]

I've got 18 years in, of which 11 was in a Light Infantry unit. For me, the way to make a difference in the bush was to use Tiger Sauce or Liquid Smoke. But the bottom line was, you don't have to stand for Army food that lacks quality taste! Your only limitation is your creativity. HOOAH!!

[George]

If you know anybody who has an original copy of Tony's cookbook, he included the complete ingredients for his seasoning.

[TZ]

Camping stores sell little spice wheels as well which have around 8 different spices or seasoning that you can add. Those are great to have.

[eric lee]

Ketchapotle, it's a great addition to any meal with a good kick.

[Jester]

From down here in Louisiana, Tony's is a staple condiment. It's on the stove, the table and the spice cabinet. What's salt & pepper? With that and some Tabasco, you bring a bit of LA with you!

[Danny]

I used to live in South Mississippi so I put this stuff on everything. I got the guys in my platoon hooked on it. I never go anywhere without it.

[Travis]

Tony's is awesome, but even better is Tony's More Spice which I have only ever found in Louisiana. I took 5 cans with me to Iraq last year and left what I had left for my compadres. Even eating in the dining facility - good chow for the most part - needed some kick. Need a sealable refillable container for best use and so as not to waste.

[Curtis]

The basic rule of thumb is simple.

If it can be used as a sponge to clean truck tires, moisten with tobasco sauce.

If it is disgustingly moist and sloppy, dry it up a hair tad with Chachere's.