MRE cookies anyone?

Tornado, hurricane, earthquake, fire, food shortage, unemployment, illness...do these sound familiar? Sounds like the daily news and bad things can happen anywhere. Rather than just hoping for the best, I want to prepare for it, as much as I know how. Over the past few months, we have worked on making full service 72-hour kits, or bug-out bags. The project of the day is to consolidate and organize. That way we can figure out what we still need. More on that later.

As part of the food supply, we are the proud owners of several MREs in various states of completeness. These MREs contain a main dish, utensils, matches, drink mix, salt, pepper, sugar, a hand wipe, a granola bar, and a dessert. This is what one of the desserts looks like:

Lest you don't recognize this sweet delight, it claims to be a chocolate chip cookie. We have nearly 30 of these, so I decided to venture in to see what might be in our emergency culinary future. Here's what I discovered:

• The package contained 3 cookies, all seemingly chocolate chip. News: This non-resealable package contains 1.5 servings of cookies. If you count calories, keep that in mind. Maybe a friend will need one.
• While one may not want to serve these with tea or to guests, the taste fits the level of some grocery store cookies, or some rather unfortunate homemade cookies. It has that nice baking soda taste that my father generously pointed out in so many baked goods, so now I notice it all the time, but the soda taste is masked by a stronger mystery flavor. Maybe it's the ammonium bicarbonate.
• The texture is slightly less grainy than the sand cookies we found at a local bakery a few months ago. They were not actually sand, but some edible imitation. Come visit and we can get some.
• These cookies are thirst inducing! Only partake if you have plenty of water or a toothbrush close by.
• MREs are supposed to last 5-7 years, depending on how well they are stored, however, there is no package date. Probably should label these guys. Any suggestions on what to do when it's time to rotate? Compost? Boy Scout camp? Dinner party? You are invited!