The entre' item, "Vegetable Barley Soup" was selected at random from the bucket.  Instructions call for the contents of the five serving packet (~ a one cup mixture of vegetables and barley) to be added to five cups of boiling water and then simmered for 25 min.  The current interest was a quick meal, so after bringing two cups of water to a boil in a Jetboil, 1/2 the package was added and simmered for 10 min., then allowed to cool for three minutes. 

Almost everything but the peas were soft with this amount of cooking.  While 25 min. would certainly do the job, 15 min. might be sufficient for this dish.  For those content with soup (as opposed to more of a stew) the contents would supply the advertised five servings.  However, for a hungry individual that wasn't trying to conserve rations, two servings per package would be more reasonable.  For those wanting a thicker result, one package in three cups of water might yield a better result.

In regard to taste, it was completely acceptable and also completely bland.  It would certainly do the job for survival food, but once salt and other seasonings of choice are added, it should be perfectly acceptable for any use.

While other food item types from the bucket will be reviewed, for planning purposes one might want to de-rate the servings.  An estimation of 100-110 serving per bucket would be more conservative, with the knowledge that the serving number could always be stretched if one had to do so.