Hardtack (original 1860's recipe) Use one part water to six parts flour. Roll dough flat and score into cracker shapes. Bake 20-25 minutes and cool off until completely dry before storing in canisters. The crackers should be hard as bricks and indestructibly unappetizing. If not consumed by hungry soldiers, the crackers might last at least until the Lord returns! The following recipes don't duplicate the indestructible nature of 19th century hardtack, but they are more appetizing since they are made from more than just flour and water: Corntack 1-1/4 cups cornmeal 1 cup water (about) 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tbsp. vegetable oil Combine the above ingredients, using enough water to moisten. Bake in a greased 7x11-inch pan at 375 degrees for around 15 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown slightly. While still warm, cut into squares. A modern day cross between hardtack and cornbread, these thick crackers are actually pleasantly tasty served warm or reheated. Swedish Hardtack 1 cup water 3 tbsp. vegetable oil 3 tbsp. honey 3 cups rye flour (or 1-1/2 cups rye & 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour) 1-1/2 tbsp. brewer's yeast (optional) 1/4 tsp. salt Mix liquids together. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients. Combine the mixtures, stirring to moisten throughout. Form a ball. On a floured surface, flatten the dough, and roll out thinly. Cut into squares and prick each cracker with the tines of a fork a couple of times. Transfer to lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 425 degrees around 8 minutes, checking to be sure not to over-brown. Best served warm. Southern Soda Crackers 2 cups flour (preferably whole wheat) 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 2 tbsp. oil 2/3 cup sour milk (or buttermilk) Mix dry ingredients. Add oil and sour milk. With a fork, stir to thoroughly moisten. Form a ball. Flatten and roll out on a floured surface. Cut into squares and transfer to lightly greased baked sheets. Prick crackers with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes, watching vigilantly so as not to burn. Best served warm. Cornbread. Red meats are complete proteins containing all of the essential amino acids needed by the body to build and maintain muscle and other tissues. Most vegetables don't contain all of the necessary amino acids (although soybeans contain most) and are referred to as incomplete proteins. The Confederate army marched and fought on a staple diet of cornbread and beans, combining incomplete proteins to provide good nutrition. Southern Cornbread 2 cups cornmeal 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. baking powder 1-1/4 cups buttermilk (or sour milk) 1 egg, well beaten 1/4 cup melted grease (your choice) Preheat oven at 425 degrees. Mix cornmeal, salt, soda, baking powder and sugar. Add buttermilk and egg. Blend well. Heat grease (until it almost smokes) in an 8 or 9 inch iron skillet, then pour most of the grease into the batter and stir, mixing well. Pour batter into the very hot skillet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until nicely browned. Molasses Cornbread or Muffins 1-1/2 cups bran 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup cornmeal 1 tbsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup vegetable oil 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup milk 1/3 cup molasses Combine dry ingredients. Add liquid and blend well. Pour into a greased 9x9x2-inch baking dish and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes; or pour into 18 greased muffin tins and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Grandma Sarah's Cornbread 1-1/2 cups sour milk or buttermilk 2 eggs 1 tbsp. sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1-1/2 cups cornmeal 1/2 cup flour 1/4 cup melted butter Combine first five ingredients. Stir in cornmeal and flour. Add melted butter. Pour batter into greased 8-inch square pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. A Lady's Touch Cornbread 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup whole wheat, unbleached or all-purpose flour 2 tbsp. sugar (optional) 1 tbsp. baking powder 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. salt 1 egg, beaten (optional) 3 tbsp. vegetable oil 1-1/4 cup milk Combine the dry ingredients. Stir in the liquids and spoon into a greased 8-inch square pyrex dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. The recipe can be easily doubled and baked in a 9x13-inch pyrex dish. Country Sunshine Cornmeal Loaves 4 cups yellow cornmeal 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. baking soda 3/4 tsp. salt 1/2 cup sugar 6 tbsp. butter or margarine, melted 4 cups buttermilk or sour milk Mix dry ingredients. Stir in butter and buttermilk. Blend well. Pour batter into two greased 9x5-inch loaf pans. Let stand 15 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. (Note: no eggs required for this recipe) Johnny Cake or Journey Cake 1 cup cornmeal 1 tbsp. salt 1 cup water 1/2 cup milk Stir cornmeal and salt into boiling water. Cook until thick. Remove from heat and add milk. Mix well. Drop from large spoon on greased hot griddle or skillet. Turn to brown both sides. Johnny Cakes 1 cup cornmeal 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. sugar 1-1/2 cups boiling water 1/2 cup milk In a bowl combine the cornmeal, salt and sugar. Stir in water, beating out lumps. Slowly add milk. Drop by tablespoons full into greased skillet. Cook slowly for 5 minutes. Turn over and cook 5 minutes more. Makes 10 cakes. Dixie Corn Dodgers 2 cups cornmeal 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking powder 2 tbsp. vegetable oil, melted butter, or bacon drippings 2/3 cup milk (approximately) Combine the dry ingredients. Stir in liquids. Form eight "bullet-shaped" dodgers. Drop in a greased and heated heavy skillet. Brown on one side, turn to brown bottom. Campfire Cornbread 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup flour 2 tsp. baking powder 3/4 tsp. salt 1 cup milk 1/4 cup vegetable oil Mix dry ingredients. Stir in liquids. Spoon into a well-greased, heated 10 or 12 inch skillet. Cover tightly. Cover over a low flame for 20 to 30 minutes, or until firm in the center. When pan baking over hot coals place the pan on a low grill, on a three rock stand in the coals or directly on coals. Place coals on top of the lid (like a dutch oven) to distribute heat more evenly. Baked foods are more likely to burn on the bottom than the top. To prevent burning, check the temperature of your coals before placing a pan on them. Hold your hand about six inches above the coals; it should be hot, but you should be able to keep your hand in place for eight seconds. No-Flour Camp Cornbread 1-1/2 cups cornmeal 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tbsp. sugar, molasses, sorghum, or honey 2 cups buttermilk or sour milk (To sour milk, put 2 tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar in a pint measuring cup. Add milk to make 2 cups. Stir and let sit a few minutes until clabbered.) 2 eggs, beaten 1 tbsp butter or margarine, melted (or other fat) Mix dry ingredients. Stir in liquids. Spoon into a well-greased hot 10 or 12 inch iron skillet. Cover and cook over a low flame for about 30 minutes or until firm in the center (or bake in the oven at 425 degrees for approximately 30 minutes). Hush Puppies 2 cups yellow cornmeal 1 tbsp. flour 1 tbsp. sugar 1 tsp. baking powder 3/4 tsp. baking soda 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 1-1/4 cups buttermilk 1 egg, well beaten lard or cooking oil for deep frying, heated to 375 degrees Mix dry ingredients together and make a well in the center. In a separate bowl mix buttermilk and beaten egg. Pour in the well all at one time and mix until well blended. Using a heaping tablespoon for each, form into small cakes. Deep fry only as many as will float uncrowded one layer deep. Turn several times as they rise to the surface during cooking (do not pierce). Fry 3 to 4 minutes or until well browned. Drain a few seconds before transferring to paper towels. Serve hot. (Note: At fish frys the dogs would start howling from the aroma of the cooking fish and hush puppies were thrown to shut them up.) Cornmeal Pancakes 2 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. salt 1 tbsp. baking powder 1-1/4 cups sifted flour 3/4 cup cornmeal 2 eggs, well beaten 1-1/4 cups milk 3 tbsp. melted shortening Sift together sugar, salt, baking powder and flour. Stir in cornmeal. Combine eggs and milk and add to flour mixture. Add shortening and mix until smooth. Drop by tablespoons full on a greased hot griddle. Cook until edges are brown and bubbles are in the middle. Turn and cook on other side. Serve with butter and sorghum, molasses or other syrup.