Hardtack: Three Ingredients, Basically Immortal

The Civil War cracker, how to bake it, and how to make it taste like something.

Flour, water, salt. Bake it until it's harder than your kitchen counter. That's hardtack, and it kept sailors and soldiers fed for months.

Recipe

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups water (start with less)
• 2 tsp salt

1. Mix to a stiff dough, roll 1/2 inch thick, cut 3-inch squares.
2. Poke 16 holes in each with a skewer.
3. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, flip, bake another 30.
4. Leave in the turned-off oven overnight to dry fully.

How to actually eat it

Soak it in coffee or soup, or fry soaked pieces in bacon fat ("skillygalee," the soldiers called it). My grandkids like it crumbled into chili.

Why bother?

It's a fun history project, it's dirt cheap, and it teaches the principle behind most long-keeping food: remove water, and you remove spoilage.

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