Civil War Hardtack

Someone asked what it was and my reply was "They were still serving the leftovers during Vietnam." For the full original post see my site.

• Ready In: 24 hrs 25 mins
• Serves: 11
• Yields: 11 crackers

Ingredients

• Mix well with a fork

• 4  cups flour, see note
• 2  tablespoons  fat, see note
• 2  tablespoons cream of tartar, see note
• 1  cup water
• 1  teaspoon baking soda, see note
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt

Directions

1. Flour: preferably not white.
2. Fat: Lard, Crisco will do but be FARB.
3. Cream of Tartar: a powder which, mixed with baking soda, makes baking powder. Should be in the baking section or spices.
4. Saleratus is baking soda. This was the term used for 1 tsp baking soda. It read 1 tsp saleratus -- sort of. Measurements were different. Everyone knew what size an eggs sized lump of butter was or a handful of flour.
5. Mix well with a fork the flour, fat and cream of tartar. Set aside. Dissolve the saleratus and salt in the water.
6. Combine liquid and dry ingredients; mix well. Roll out dough 3/8" thick (up to a half-inch is okay too) with a rolling pin. Cut into 3" x 3" squares. Use a 1/8" dowel to put 16 holes in each cracker in a 4 x 4 pattern.
7. Bake 20-25 minutes at 450°F When done, let air-dry for minimum of 24 hours (preferably more) before you put in a bag or sealed container.
8. I knew it was a mistake --.
9. Farb: not authentic. "as in those who, no matter how often they are told, seem oblivious to major errors in their dress and equipment. For example: percussion cap weapons on an 1812 field; "furtrade" types with a mixture of clothing dating from mid-18th Century to ACW" OR "would you take those Hushpuppies off before muster please.".
10. That and more definitions found here:
11. http://www.historicgames.com/glossary.html.