Hard Tack

Hard Tack is a simple type of cracker for biscuit, made from flour, water, and salt. Inexpensive and long lasting, it is and was used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods, commonly during long sea voyages and military campaigns. The name derives from the British sailor slang for food, “tack”. It is known by other names such as Pilot bread (as rations for bush pilots), Ship’s Biscuit, Shipbiscuit, Sea Biscuit, Sea Bread ( as rations for sailors), Dog Biscuits, Tooth Dullers, Sheet Iron, or Molar Breakers.

Because it is so hard and dry, properly stored and transported hardtack will survive rough handling and endure extremes in temperature. In fact, a common joke among American Civil War reenactors is that hardtack made 140 years ago “taste just as good” now as it did back then.

To soften it, it was often dunked in brine, coffee, or some other liquid or cooked into a skillet meal. Baked hard, it would keep for years as long as it was kept dry. For long voyages, hardtack was baked four times, rather than the more common two, and prepared six months before sailing.

The above description was taken from Wikipedia.

Here is one recipe.
Hardtack

3 cups (non self rising) flour

1 1/2 cups graham flour

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 1/2 cup milk

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt.

Mix until a dough is made. Roll out until about the thickness of cardboard. Bake @ 400 on greased and floured cookie sheet until browned, turn over and repeat.

Hardtack is nothing like a cracker, and you could break a tooth on it if you’re not careful. Break it into bite size pieces and let it sit in your mouth a while before you chew it. You can also fry some pieces in bacon grease. In the Civil War they called this concoction ‘Sloosh’


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