Yep, it sounds like you definitely had the wrong stove.
Penny stoves are tricky because you can’t see how much you filled up or how much is left.
I never could get into trangia stoves because of the weight. However, it does boil well so I’m surprised you had trouble with it.
If the stove works at 0F, at sea level, with NO priming, you have a nice robust stove.
One that fits that bill is the open top jet stove; like Mechanic Mikes on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/370554317255?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2620wt_1396

“...and finally heating up a little food”
Alcy stoves are best at boiling water. Then dishes are eliminated. Pour the hot water into your ramen noodle cup (or ziploc); zip and wait 10 minutes while you set up your tent. walah! Hot soup on a cold night.

Also note, in actual use, the alcy system will weigh less up to 12 days (use) compared to a canister stove if there are no resupply points. A white gas stove like whisperlight, will never weigh less than its butane and alcy counterparts no matter how many days you stay out.

Furthermore, talking about the open jet alcy stove, hikers were interviewed “on the Appalachian Trail and found that this stove was the only design with a zero-percent failure rate…” [ Mueser, Roland Long-Distance Hiking]

In addition, the fuel is cheaper and you only have to take what you need; there is no fuel can to recycle, or worry that it’s out of pressure on its last drop. Alcy stays pressurized to its last drop even in the cold; no pumping required

Just more camp talk…
-Barry
The Mountains were made for Teva’s