Revisiting hardtack

BillinOregon · Sep 24, 2023

I did a search and found this seven-age thread from 2020, which gave me ideas.
Seems like eight or ten years ago I tried several hardtack recipes, several of which were scarcely edible and one of which was quite addicting, but it wasn't true hardtack as it was soft enough to eat without tooth damage.
I think I will try a couple of the variants from the thread above: the one with oats, sugar, shortening and baking soda, and the one specifying whole wheat pastry flour and wheat bran.
Anyone else out there been on the hardtack/biscuit trail lately?

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/tasty-tasty-hardtack.123464/

Loyalist Dave · Sep 24, 2023

No as I posted the whole wheat pastry flour/bran recipe, and have biscuits that are three years old and edible, I'll wait until I run out.

I recently bought a large set of round cutters, to do all sorts of different things when baking, but one of which that will work for hardtack. In the past I've made mine rather small. I'm told they should be about 4 ounces, and a soldier would get like four a day. A steel coffee can that has from 12-16 ounces of ground coffee might be the right diameter for those not wanting to splurge on the fancy, store bought cutter set.

LD

BillinOregon · Sep 24, 2023

Thanks Dave. I'll be trying your recipe here shortly. I may have to go to the "big city" (Abilene) to find whole wheat pastry flour and wheat bran without ordering it. I have one of those rolling perforators for pizza crusts that ought to be the nuts for putting the holes in the hardtack dough.

The Crisco Kid · Sep 24, 2023

Here's one way to do it. I haven't tried it. I seem to get by on Sailor Boy pilot bread.

BillinOregon · Sep 24, 2023

These Townsend videos have gotten better with each passing year. I for one greatly appreciate the effort they put into them, and the videography and editing are first-rate.

William Sublette · Sep 24, 2023

Ive been listening to some civil war audio books lately, and just last week I was thinking I should make some hard tac just to see what it was like.

Kansas Jake · Sep 25, 2023

I made some using a variation of LD’s recipe above. I also made some using just whole wheat flour. I added a bit of salt which made them passable.

appalichian hunter · Sep 25, 2023

William Sublette said:
Ive been listening to some civil war audio books lately, and just last week I was thinking I should make some hard tac just to see what it was like.

Got an old pair of boots laying around, save yourself the trouble and chew on the sole of those.

springfield art · Sep 25, 2023

The Crisco Kid said:
Here's one way to do it. I haven't tried it. I seem to get by on Sailor Boy pilot bread.

Don't forget to add the little weevils for authenticity! :thumb:

springfield art · Sep 25, 2023

appalichian hunter said:
Got an old pair of boots laying around, save yourself the trouble and chew on the sole of those.

Some of the "hard core" CW enactors carry and use authentic hardtack. Sure to be some on this site!

appalichian hunter · Sep 25, 2023

Been there done that, believe me stick with the boot sole.

Hawk54 · Sep 25, 2023

springfield art said:
Some of the "hard core" CW enactors carry and use authentic hardtack. Sure to be some on this site!

Our CW unit made hardtack by the case and carried it at reenactments. Good stuff cooked in the frying pan with cooking bacon. I have eaten a lot of hardtack.

tenngun · Sep 25, 2023

Broke a molar on ships bread.
I like ships bread. While it is bland I do like the nutty wheat flavor, especially in a camp stew or broke up and used as a coating for fried meat.
However since breaking a tooth I go with a lighter pilot bread. It’s a little out of time, not coming in to use until after the 1790s, and only last well about a year, mine never gets that old. Serves like ships bread but my teeth are safe(er)

appalichian hunter · Sep 25, 2023

Hawk54 said:
Our CW unit made hardtack by the case and carried it at reenactments. Good stuff cooked in the frying pan with cooking bacon. I have eaten a lot of hardtack.

Soak it in milk before you fry it, much better.

Loyalist Dave · Sep 25, 2023

Kansas Jake said:
I made some using a variation of LD’s recipe above. I also made some using just whole wheat flour. I added a bit of salt which made them passable.

They get better after a 72 hour, hard fast

LD

Loyalist Dave · Sep 25, 2023

springfield art said:
Some of the "hard core" CW enactors carry and use authentic hardtack. Sure to be some on this site!

I was once an ACW reenactor. Didn't switch to the flintlock era until 1994. Never found ACW reenactors prior too, or after, who didn't make their hardtack with flour from hard red wheat.

LD

Brokentaileddog · Sep 26, 2023

appalichian hunter said:
Got an old pair of boots laying around, save yourself the trouble and chew on the sole of those.

Brokentaileddog · Sep 26, 2023

BruceHuxford · Sep 26, 2023

I have a recipe stored away for hard tack, I actually like it with some coffee out hunting

Loyalist Dave · Sep 28, 2023

It's also not bad in Lobscouse or Skillagalee. Which are pretty much the same, 'cept the former is done as a stew and with a few 'taters, and the latter is done in a skillet with fat.

LD

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