THE 140th NYVI
  • HOME
  • Modern
    • Civilians
    • Military
    • In Memoriam
  • Historical
    • Patrick O'Rorke
    • Veteran Research
  • Members
    • Meeting Minutes
    • Treasurer's Report
    • Events
    • Addresses
    • Bylaws
    • Military Fresh Fish Package >
      • Policies
      • Price List
      • Rations for the Reenactor
      • Crackers
      • Frying Pans Get Panned
      • The Manual of Arms
      • Rolling Your Own Cartridges
      • Building Your Own Cartridges
      • Field Cleaning
      • Taking Care of Your Traps
      • Rank Structure
      • Inspection Layout
      • Guard Duty
      • Soldier's Courtesy
      • First Person Impressions
      • What a Reenactor Ought to Know
      • Life on the Homefront
      • Slang
      • Civil War Etiquette
    • Guidelines for Military Participation
    • Policies
    • Guidelines for Civilian Participation
    • Civilian Training Package
    • Forms
  • Events
  • Gallery
    • July 4, 2017
    • Garden Party
    • Sap, Syrup Sugar
    • Elmira
    • High Tide
    • 4th of July
  • CONTACT
    • Become a Member
  • Military Drill and Civilian Seminar

Hardtrack Crackers


Ingredients:
8 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons salt
2 cup warm water

Makes 20 crackers

Clean off a spot on your counter top. Check to see that your rack is in the middle of the oven. Turn the oven on to Bake at 450 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet by wiping it with a little dab of Crisco on a paper towel (unnecessary if you have a Teflon sheet).

Mix the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add most of the water and stir with a fork until well mixed. You should have a homogenous mass that looks like pie or pizza dough. If it's too dry add a little more of the water... if you put in too much water at first, sprinkle in a little more flour (this is where experience comes in handy).

Sprinkle flour on the counter top and on your hands. Dump the dough out on the surface and knead well, 5-10 minutes, until you have a ball of smooth, somewhat elastic dough. During the kneading process, you may need to add more water if the dough is dry and flour-ey. If it sticks to everything and seems too slimy, add a little more flour. Keep working it until it smooths out.

Flatten the ball out with your hands and roll it with a floured rolling pin. If you're handy with the pin, the resulting mass on your counter top will be roughly square and 1/2 inch thick. If you are lucky enough to have a Cracker-Cutter, have at it. Otherwise, use a sharp knife to cut the dough into 3' by 3' squares. Spread the squares out evenly on the cookie sheet. Use a toothpick to poke sixteen holes (four rows of four) in each cracker (per John Billings, Hardtack and Coffee).
​
Bake 20-25 minutes. Dry for 48 hours before storing.

140th NY VI

1335 Jefferson Road
Box 92494
​Rochester, NY 14692

Copyright 2017. 140th NY VI
  • HOME
  • Modern
    • Civilians
    • Military
    • In Memoriam
  • Historical
    • Patrick O'Rorke
    • Veteran Research
  • Members
    • Meeting Minutes
    • Treasurer's Report
    • Events
    • Addresses
    • Bylaws
    • Military Fresh Fish Package >
      • Policies
      • Price List
      • Rations for the Reenactor
      • Crackers
      • Frying Pans Get Panned
      • The Manual of Arms
      • Rolling Your Own Cartridges
      • Building Your Own Cartridges
      • Field Cleaning
      • Taking Care of Your Traps
      • Rank Structure
      • Inspection Layout
      • Guard Duty
      • Soldier's Courtesy
      • First Person Impressions
      • What a Reenactor Ought to Know
      • Life on the Homefront
      • Slang
      • Civil War Etiquette
    • Guidelines for Military Participation
    • Policies
    • Guidelines for Civilian Participation
    • Civilian Training Package
    • Forms
  • Events
  • Gallery
    • July 4, 2017
    • Garden Party
    • Sap, Syrup Sugar
    • Elmira
    • High Tide
    • 4th of July
  • CONTACT
    • Become a Member
  • Military Drill and Civilian Seminar