| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Species |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 08:34:14 AM
Since I enjoy baking bread, I decided to try and make crackers last evening (I really know how to live it up on a Saturday night!) and they turned out really good and easy to make. Essentially they are "hard tack" or unleavened bread rolled really thin. The recipe I used called for olive oil instead of butter and I threw some whole wheat flour in with the white to bump up the nutrition value. The best part was figuring out how to flavor them, so I pulled out anything I could think of in my spice cabinet. Results: No more buying crackers for this household. These little babies were delicious (except for the basil ones  ) and you can be creative with the shape too. Anyone else from the cracker factory? jan
"Getting old aint for sissies" Bette Davis |
| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| JojoNH |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 04:57:41 AM
Well Jan, at my house everything I do is a "surprise" for my friends!  LOL!! They are not farmgirls and most don't even cook. Can you imagine!
One thing we are getting ready for is our spring get together. When everyone arrives on a given weekend at their camps, we invite them all here for a BBQ. We set up on our front porch for cooking and target practice. . . the invitations are a hoot, bring your favorite drink and your favorite gun! Hahahaha!!! We set up all the different targets and have a blast Tons of homemade goodies to eat, fresh air and exercise.
 You just cannot beat that!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCents
www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
| tawandasister |
Posted - Mar 10 2010 : 6:16:42 PM
How much FUN! I didn't know anything about making crackers until I read this thread!!! (Farmgirl in heart - still learning the practicality :) Thanks Girls can't wait to try them!!! :)
Lol, Sadimae |
| AliciaNak |
Posted - Mar 10 2010 : 11:06:55 AM
I love the MJF recipes. I baked them for Christmas gifts
My mom and her friends always get together and do some Christmas baking. Everyone pics at least 3 recipes and then we split up the loot at the end of the day. You only make 3 things and go home with lots! I made all of the crackers this year and they were a big hit.
Species-I hadn't thought of pricking them with a fork prior to baking. I'm gonna try that.
I love all the varieties you ladies are trying, I'll be making up a bunch this afternoon!
Joy-I have some blu cheese crumbles in the fridge that need using! I'll try your tip! Thanks
Alicia
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.~Ralph Waldo Emmerson
www.blondenak.blogspot.com
www.artfire.com/users/BlondeNakCreations |
| AliciaNak |
Posted - Mar 10 2010 : 11:05:49 AM
I love the MJF recipes. I baked them for Christmas gifts
My mom and her friends always get together and do some Christmas baking. Everyone pics at least 3 recipes and then we split up the loot at the end of the day. You only make 3 things and go home with lots! I made all of the crackers this year and they were a big hit.
I hadn't thought of pricking them with a fork prior to baking. I'm gonna try that. I love all the varieties you ladies are trying, I'll be making up a bunch this afternoon!
Joy-I have some blu cheese crumbles in the fridge that need using! I'll try your tip! Thanks
Alicia
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.~Ralph Waldo Emmerson
www.blondenak.blogspot.com
www.artfire.com/users/BlondeNakCreations |
| prairie_princess |
Posted - Mar 08 2010 : 12:15:38 PM
YUM!!! that sounds delish, Joy!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
| JoyIowa |
Posted - Mar 07 2010 : 2:30:28 PM
Another addition can be chopped up dried tomatoes to the dough. Makes it a bit pink, but beautiful after baked. Top with egg wash, crushed sea salt and sprinkle with thyme or basil after they come out of the oven. YUM!
Another variation is to cut in an equal amount of butter to replace the oil and then add about a tablespoon of finely crumbled blue cheese before you add the water.
Enjoy!
Joy
If it's not illegal, unsafe, or immoral, why not try anything once? Who knows? You may come back for a second helping! |
| Species |
Posted - Mar 06 2010 : 2:27:57 PM
I also had that "springy" effect when I added too much oil with an experimental batch. But I was able to make them into crackers with a little perserverance. Hey, JoJo, what else have you been doing to surprise you're friends? I might just be interested too! Your southern neighbor, jan
"Getting old aint for sissies" Bette Davis |
| JojoNH |
Posted - Mar 06 2010 : 04:42:50 AM
LOL!! You gal's made my day!! I have always made crackers and rarely have to purchase them. One day I had a friend with her family over. So I made crackers the night before for snacking on. Her face was so funny when she asked where I bought these. . . I said, I made them. She looked at me for a moment, probably trying to figure out if I was teasing her, then she said " You can't make crackers. . there isn't a recipe for them!!" ROFLOL!!!! So I ended up showing her my recipe to prove I made them. To Funny!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCents
www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
| prairie_princess |
Posted - Mar 05 2010 : 5:21:41 PM
oh, i was also wondering if any of you ladies knew what the purpose of the cream of tartar is in the recipe... i know what it does for egg whites, but not sure what it does for other things. i'm lucky i ran out today or i'd be making crackers all day and night! i think i'm kind of addicted! help!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
| prairie_princess |
Posted - Mar 05 2010 : 3:11:05 PM
tried cheese in and on top of the crackers... came out delicious!
also tried the gingerbread crackers from the magazine... also delicious!
just can't go wrong!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
| prairie_princess |
Posted - Mar 04 2010 : 1:41:28 PM
yay! i finally made some crackers this morning... they came out yummy! question is, is the dough supposed to be that sticky? i figure it is because when i baked them, they still came out good. but the dough is very hard to work with. i tried a round biscuit cutter and it was just too much work, so i found just cutting them with a knife worked best... i think a pizza cutter would have worked even better.
i tried using butter rather than olive oil on the second batch... they came out nice and buttery! has anyone tried brushing melted butter on top instead of the vinegar/sugar/egg wash? might be a good replacement for Ritz.
shari, using cheese in the batter sounds awesome! let us know how it comes out!
i also discovered a possible trick... i made 3 batches and one batch, the dough was just falling apart, so i set it aside to deal with it later while i worked on the next batch of dough. when i came back to it, it seemed a little easier to work with, was getting to the point where it was a bit like bread dough where it would spring back a bit when rolling it out. but letting it sit for a bit made it less sticky and easier to work with....
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
| Ms. Hannigan |
Posted - Feb 27 2010 : 9:43:36 PM
I've been wanting to make these for about 2 weeks! (I already make yogurt from this same issue) I'm out of flour though, so off I go to the mill tomorrow morning, and I'm gonna try these out. I have some local hoop cheddar cheese I think I'll try in some. Replace Goldfish crackers? Worth the work to make them.
...some women are drippin' with diamonds... some women are drippin' with pearls... look at me, lucky me, the only thing I'm drippin' with is... little girls...
Farmgirl #1158
blog: http://www.lifegetsmessy.com
website: http://www.eatlocaltn.com |
| Species |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 5:23:20 PM
My DS wants to make them now when he comes home to visit next month as he loves to bake. Parmesan cheese is a great topping. I used a pizza slicer to cut them quick and then pricked them with a fork so they wouldn't puff up. Thanks for sharing the MJ recipe, I'll try it next weekend.
"Getting old aint for sissies" Bette Davis |
| prairie_princess |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 4:49:35 PM
it's from the Oct/Nov 2009 issue.... For those of you who don't have the issue, here's the recipe (actually I don't either... my lovely neighbor lets me borrow her issues and i scan the articles and recipes i want to keep to put in my "farmgirl folder." But, luckily, that was an issue she just loaned me!)
Basic Farmhouse Crackers
1 1/2 C. flour
1 1/2 t. cream of tartar
3/4 t. salt
3/4 t. baking soda
1/4 C. oil (MJ uses grapeseed)
1/2 C. water
1 medium egg
2 t. sugar
1 t. balsamic vinegar
1/4 C. sesame seeds, toasted
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease baking sheet with oil or butter
2. In med. bowl, combine first four ingredients and mix well
3. Add oil and stir till mixture resembles course meal
4. Add water and stir till dough forms
5. Whisk together egg, sugar, and venegar. set aside.
6. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and roll very thin. Brush with egg mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds, Cut, tear into strips, or use a cookie cutter to make any cracker shape you like. Transfer to baking sheet.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes depending on size and thickness of cracker. cool on cooling racks
Store crackers in airtight container. if they ever pick up moisture and lose crispness, pop into oven 250 degrees for a few minutes.
There are also recipes for sundried tomato basil crackers, tamari and pumpkin seed crackers, rosemary crackers, and garlic dill crackers... let me know if any of you gals would like those recipes as well and i'll type 'em up!
i figure this recipe is very versatile... you could probably get quite creative with it and add whatever you'd like! i thought maybe poppy seeds, flax, italian seasonings, cheese... will be fun to try!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
| alterationsbyemily |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 3:36:06 PM
yes, please, we tried crackers here some time ago and they came out terrible! please share!
See my custom costumes, download free patterns, and hear some spook EVPs from Gettysburg, PA on my site, www.alterationsbyemily.com |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 11:46:05 AM
I'd love to see the recipe!!!! ;)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com |
| classygram |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 08:24:15 AM
ok girls, you've got my cooking juice's going. Going to make cracker's today!
Brenda |
| Tanna |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 08:14:08 AM
How funny to see this today because I decided to make crackers last night. I used the MJ recipe. It's in a back issue of the magazine. I just made the basic cracker and it was so easy! I was surprised how easy.
Tanna |
| Species |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 6:08:19 PM
OK, now I've got to try the MJ recipe. Where do I find it?
"Getting old aint for sissies" Bette Davis |
| Ms. Treadle |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 5:45:50 PM
Maybe this week I'll find the time to join the cracker factory. It's been on my "want to try" list for a while now.
The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary. ~Mary Kurtz
|
| prairie_princess |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 2:08:53 PM
i want to join the cracker factory! it's on my list of recipes to try in the future... i, too, want to replace store bought crackers. i figured i'd try MJ's recipe... thanks for yummy tips, Carol!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
| Bellepepper |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 1:45:11 PM
I have a cracker recipe book by Jim Long. Thanks for reminding me. This is perfect weather to experiment with some recipes.
Belle |
| Lessie Louise |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 1:27:59 PM
I make crackers using MJB recipe from a few issues ago, and I love them. I love adding the fresh rosemary, but parmasean cheese is good too.
Forget buns of steel, I'd rather have buns of cinnamon!
Farmgirl #680! |
