Bold Black Bean Chili Blend

This really is unbelievably delicious and good for you too! Love the single serving size for backpacking. I used the presoak method and added water to the pouch a couple of hours before to reduce simmering time. It calls for half a cup to presoak which was a little more than I could fit in the pouch . You just need to fill the pouch as much as you can with water and still seal it. Next time I will probably add the water in the morning and then eat for dinner after it's soaked all day. I think this would help the beans get softer. After I presoaked it, I added in the rest of the 1.5 cups water it called for and brought to a boil. For me this was a little soupier than I would've liked but still delicious. Maybe it's because I didn't simmer as long as recommended, but next time I will start with 1 cup water and add more as needed to reach the desired consistency.The pouch is light and does not weigh down your pack and seemed to do a good job of sealing with the water in it. However, I would put it in a ziploc as extra protection if it's going in your pack with water.I also added some cheese and Fritos for a little extra flavor kick and calories. One of the best meals I've had yet. Love everything I've tried from Harmony House!