After a 6-mile hike in the snow, I decided to pull out a packet of FishSki Provisions Hatch Green Chile Mac & Cheese. I was craving a salty, calorie-dense meal and it seemed like it would be a good choice.
The immediate return of a meal full of savory, cheesy carbohydrates can sometimes be what drives me, with gusto, to the end of any trail. I think it’s worth mentioning that this mac & cheese triggered something in my psyche, as well. It went deeper than a simple comfort food item. It took me back to my childhood. It reminded me of the warmth and comfort of my home, and the safety that came with it. No wonder this is what I was craving when I came back from a trip where nature had left me feeling completely drained and somewhat miserable! This particular meal of Hatch Green Chile Mac & Cheese didn’t just feed my body, it fed my soul.
As I spooned mouthful after mouthful of cheesy pasta, I read the nutritional info on the packaging. I was surprised and delighted to see whey protein concentrate in the ingredients list. I wasn’t just feeding my craving, I was giving my muscles the protein they needed for recovery, too.
The feelings of warmth and comfort mixed with the southwestern ingredients in FishSki Provisions’ mac & cheese, easily set it apart from other boring brands. This is not just regular mac & cheese. This is true culinary success. The fresh and spicy flavor of hatch green chiles, savory garlic, and deliciously creamy cheddar cheese meld into a magical mystery tour for your mouth.
Since I enjoyed the mac & cheese so much, I wanted to try more of these meals. So, I made the FishSki Provisions Easy Cheddar Grits at home. It was a day with horrible winter storms, with temps in the 20’s and over a foot of snow. I was bummed about not being able to get outside because the wind was blowing a million miles an hour and trees were falling all over town. I had shrimp in the freezer, some old green onions in the fridge, and a bunch of backpacking food in the cupboard. I decided to make shrimp and grits.
When I lived in Portland, I used to go to a spot near my house called Pine State Biscuits. They were super popular and always had a line around the block for their biscuit sandwiches. I typically ordered their shrimp and grits because it was one of the only gluten-free options they had. They were slightly spicy, creamy, and topped with buttery garlicky shrimp. So I decided to try and re-create this meal with the FishSki Provisions Grits.
I boiled 3 cups of water and stirred in the grits. They cooked in about 5 minutes. I vigorously stirred in the flavorings, as directed. Then I topped them with pan-fried garlicky shrimp and dropped some sliced green onions on top, like Salt Bae.
I wish I had known back in the Pine State Biscuit era, that Future Me would be making shrimp and grits that tasted better, in her own kitchen, and for a fraction of the price. My husband and I ate in sated silence, bite after bite. I even used a spatula to get every last bit out of my bowl and into my mouth.
PROS OF FISHSKI MEALS
- Easy to prepare
- Tastes really good
- You can use the bag itself as a measuring cup for your water.
- 3% of every sale is donated to local conservation or access efforts that improve fishing and/or skiing
- Southwestern Flavors take your mouth on a flavor adventure
- Grits are gluten-free
CONS
- Requires a pot for cooking (NOT a cook-in-the-bag meal)
- Cooking method consumes more fuel
- Mac & cheese has gluten, my nemesis (I ate it anyway, and didn’t regret it!!!)
Hatch Red Chili Macaroni and Cheese
*Very Mild*
- Vegetarian
- Price: $6
- Weight: 6oz
- Servings: 2
- Calories per serving: 300
- Carbs: 58g
- Fat: 5g
- Protein: 11g
- Water: 2 cups
Hatch Green Chile Macaroni and Cheese
*Mild*
- Vegetarian
- Price: $6
- Weight: 6oz
- Servings: 2
- Calories per serving: 290
- Carbs: 58g
- Fat: 5g
- Protein: 11g
- Water: 2 cups
Easy Cheddar Grits with Jalapeno + Hatch Green Chile + Cheddar
*Spicy*
- Vegetarian
- Price: $6
- Weight: 6oz
- Servings: 2
- Calories per serving: 200
- Carbs: 39g
- Fat: 2.5g
- Protein: 8g
- Water: 3 cups
Bottom Line
I tried 3 different meals made by FishSki Provisions, Hatch Green Chile Mac & Cheese, Hatch Red Chile Mac & Cheese and the Easy Cheddar Grits. All three of these were tasty, stick-to-your-ribs type meals that left me feeling warm and comforted. The Southwestern recipes make these meals stand out from the crowd. The cooking method is pretty quick and easy, which is paramount after a high-mile day. Added protein makes this mac & cheese a great choice for hikers.
At 4000’ feet elevation, the Hatch Green Chile Mac & Cheese took about 7 minutes to boil the water and 8 minutes to cook the pasta, so 15 minutes from start to finish. On one side, I was eating a little faster than I would have if I was hot soaking my meals for 20 minutes, while on the other, I was using more fuel. Fortunately, this stuff tastes good enough to pack in and out some extra fuel.
Eating these FishSki Provisions meals is an act of self-love. So if you love nature, and you love yourself, grab some Hatch Green Chile Mac & Cheese, walk out into the wilderness, and absolutely savor every last bite.
Ace Curtis is a plus-sized outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys hiking in Northern California and taking photos of many tree-covered hillsides. She was born and raised in Mt Shasta, CA at the base of a 14,163’ mountain. She is currently working with her husband on creating an off-grid lifestyle on 2.5 acres just a few miles from where she started life, 36 years ago.
