Farmer Boy Recipe - Hardtack

Hardtack is probably one of the oldest recipes known to man; going back thousands of years!  It was one of the staples of the pioneers as they journeyed across the prairies of America.  Laura wrote about baking it and how they would eat it along the way in their covered wagon.

Hardtack is the forerunner of our modern day soda crackers.  It was a simple food item that could be packed away for a snack or part of a whole meal without fear of it going bad.  But, it wasn't something that they would eat, "As is".  It is a hard piece of bread or cracker.  It is only palatable when sucked on and chewed or soaked in water or dipped in hot tea or coffee.  It might be used in a meal, if first soaked in water and then fried up with bacon drippings or covered with gravy.  It is not a gourmet food item - but if you need something to sustain you, it will keep you going till you can get a well-balanced meal!

Farmer Boy Hardtack

Ingredients:

• 4 Cups of all-purpose flour (Laura's family probably used whatever was on hand)
• 4 teaspoons of salt
• 2 Cups of water

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  In a bowl, mix flour & salt.  Add the water and stir.  It will be stiff as you mix it.  Knead it a bit and roll out the dough (use a rolling pin or just flatten it with your hand) to a thickness of about 1/2 inch.  Cut the dough into 3 inch squares.  Place on an ungreased baking sheet and poke at least 4 holes into each square, using a clean, large nail or other sharp, pointed instrument.  Bake for 30 minutes on each side, till lightly brown.

The end result should be something hard and breakable.  Cool before eating or storing in a container. 

*Remember - don't try to bite into it without first soaking it to make it soft!  I wonder how many really hungry, anxious pioneers lost a tooth trying to eat it without soaking it!  :)

Now, the next time you read one of Laura's books or watch the TV show, you can snack on a piece of Hardtack and feel like you are part of the action!  (Don't throw out that popcorn just yet! :)

"I wish folks had to live for a little while like we did when I was young so they would know what work is and learn to appreciate what they have." Laura Ingalls Wilder

If  you make some Hardtack, let us all know, by leaving a comment here. Thanks. The Old Man in the Bib Overalls