Gluten Free Hard Tack - Attempt Number Three

Welcome back. If you are reading this you either just now stumbled upon my blog, or you are returning to see how my third attempt at making gluten free hard tack has turned out.

This time around, I decided to go for the "roll out" tradition of hardtack dough. The dough worked nicely for simply rolling out into a stoneware jelly roll pan with a small rolling pin, with a piece of parchment on top. First, I will admit that I used three teaspoons of salt, going for the "saltine cracker"-like imitation, and knowing our son is going to be sweating bullets playing soldier out in Gettysburg, and his body will lose necessary salt and iodine with that very physical activity in heat and humidity. TOO MUCH salt, in my opinion, although both of our kids think it tastes good. Go figure...

The dry ingredients are as follows, sift/stir together:
3/4 cup  rice flour
1/2 cup arrowroot starch
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1 1/2 cups sweet sorghum flour
1-2 teaspoons Celtic sea salt, fine (depending on salty preference)

In 1 cup measuring cup lightly whisk together:
1/2 cup water
1 T. agave nectar, or honey
1 T. coconut oil - melted

Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, blending with wooden spoon, until a ball of dough forms. Place ball of dough on a cool or cold baking stone, seasoned with oil if necessary.
Place parchment paper over the dough, and use a small rolling pin to roll out into jelly roll bar pan.

The ingenious part - BEFORE baking use a pizza cutter to make 3" squares (or there about). Use a chopstick, or what have you, to poke 9 holes into each square - somewhat symetrically.  Bake for 20 min. at 350 degree or until lightly golden.  

We are starting to pack suitcases for Gettysburg. I reserved tickets for the grand opening of Seminary Ridge Museum today  -they are selling out fast so be warned! I am hoping the tons of rain they are getting out east as well won't make for a muddy mess, ie. spectators vehicles getting stuck in the mud. I could see that happening to the trucks bringing in all the cannons, too!

Non hardtack related:
Sometimes I'm an ingenious mother....I bought a diabetic insulin travel kit from amazon.com - which has a spot for an ice pack in the lid. It is black and blends in perfectly with Kyle's black Civil War haversack, and tucks inside nicely as well. In it will be essentials for dealing with heat and humidity while dressed in wool from head to toe in Gettysburg, re-enacting battles in the swelter. AB lip saver with spf of 30, COOLING SeeSource Body Gelee to help deal with heat exhaustion, cool the body down and relieve aches, Fizz Energy drinks with complex Vit B, guarana and taurine for focus and energy (without the harmful artificial ingredients typical of the energy drink market), a wet and cold wash cloth (in Union blue) inside a baggie to use as a compress. It takes up little space, and an outside pocket can keep his "marching orders" secure.

We are getting set to experience HISTORY coming alive - even our 10 yr old daughter is getting excited at the prospect - opening her mind to history and realizing there is more to life than math, science and writing.

To your health,
Rita S.