Hard Tack

Hard Tack was a hard bread carried by soldiers during the Civil War.  Make your own and see what you think of it.

MATERIALS:

2 cups of flour
¾ to 1 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening (Crisco)
6 pinches salt

PROCEDURE:

Mix flour, shortening, water and salt into a stiff dough, kneading several times. Spread dough ½ inch thick onto baking sheet and slice into 3 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch squares. Poke holes in dough as illustrated below, four lines of four holes across and four down. Bake for ½ hour at 400 degrees. Remove from the oven, cut dough into 3 inch squares. Turn dough over, return to oven, and bake another ½ hour. Turn oven off and leave hardtack in until it is cool.