Monthly Grocery Budget.

[N F C]

That sounds like a challenge if I've ever heard one. Ok readers. The challenge is on. Let's see some home made crackers.

I tackled that today, it was so easy I don't know why I haven't made crackers before! There are a lot of recipes online so I just took one at random for sort of a basic cracker. Turned out great and I think this recipe would be easy to try with different dried herbs or seeds (like poppy or sesame).

Sea Salt & Pepper Crackers

2 C All-Purpose flour
1 Tab sugar
1 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
2 Tab. chilled butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 C milk
additional salt & pepper is desired

* Preheat oven to 450*
* Blend flour, sugar, salt, pepper
* Add pieces of chilled butter & mix until the butter is no longer discernible in the mixture (easiest to do with your fingers)
* Add milk & mix until the dough comes together
* Turn dough onto floured board & knead 5-6 minutes
* Shape into ball & cut in half
* Roll out dough on baking sheet as thinly as possible. Repeat with other half of dough on 2nd baking sheet.
* Sprinkle with additional sea salt & pepper if desired
* Prick dough with fork & score with pizza wheel into serving size pieces
* Bake 10-12 minutes, rotate pans halfway through baking time
* Take out of oven & let rest on pans for a few minutes then transfer to wire rack to cool completely
* Break apart on the score lines if necessary (easier to do once they have cooled, then they are crisper)

I found it easier to roll the dough out on the back of the baking sheets, otherwise the sides got in the way of the rolling pin. You want to roll these very, very thin.
I added the optional salt & pepper this time but next time, I'd just add the optional salt...mine were peppery!
These were very easy to make, came together fast and didn't need any special ingredients.

 

[Gorman Farm]

Oh yum didn't think about homemade crackers goes well with homemade soup.
I make all of our bread, buns, and rolls.
Luckily we have a coop for beef, I can get porterhouse steak and ground beef for cheap.. I have started a small herd of Katahdin sheep after we get babies I will have the males butchered.
We have chickens for eggs, and we do eat the chickens when they stop laying. Older chicken is only for stew or soup though.
We will be starting turkeys in March.
I didn't have time to get a big garden in this year, but I did manage lots of tomatoes, some lettuce and cucumbers. I tried cantaloupe but something got to them before they ripened and so we didn't get to eat any.
We are in Florida so we can pretty much grow something year round. I planted 2 dwarf banana trees, and a dwarf peach and apple tree but they won't produce for a couple years.
Trying to cut way back on what we have to buy and seeing what we can do for ourselves.

 

[N F C]

Oh yum didn't think about homemade crackers goes well with homemade soup.
I make all of our bread, buns, and rolls.
Luckily we have a coop for beef, I can get porterhouse steak and ground beef for cheap.. I have started a small herd of Katahdin sheep after we get babies I will have the males butchered.
We have chickens for eggs, and we do eat the chickens when they stop laying. Older chicken is only for stew or soup though.
We will be starting turkeys in March.
I didn't have time to get a big garden in this year, but I did manage lots of tomatoes, some lettuce and cucumbers. I tried cantaloupe but something got to them before they ripened and so we didn't get to eat any.
We are in Florida so we can pretty much grow something year round. I planted 2 dwarf banana trees, and a dwarf peach and apple tree but they won't produce for a couple years.
Trying to cut way back on what we have to buy and seeing what we can do for ourselves.

Since you like to bake, you should come check out the home baker's thread (link is in my signature line). We've been going for over a year now and there are a lot of good recipes, people and sharing there. Page 1 of the thread has an index to help you find recipes (it's in the process of being sorted by category but all the recipes are posted there). Love to see some of what you make!

 

[lazy gardener]

Good looking crackers North Fl Chick! Since I issued the challenge, I'd better not slack off on joining, eh? But... I'm also a bonafide certified member of the procrastinator's club. Just don't have a membership card, cause I haven't sent in my dues yet. Still a few days left this month. I'm thinking that something cheesey and garlicy will do the trick for me.

 

[MeepBeep]

 
That sounds like a challenge if I've ever heard one.  Ok readers.  The challenge is on.  Let's see some home made crackers.

I tackled that today, it was so easy I don't know why I haven't made crackers before! There are a lot of recipes online so I just took one at random for sort of a basic cracker. Turned out great and I think this recipe would be easy to try with different dried herbs or seeds (like poppy or sesame).

My hats off to you, I doubt I could bring myself to make crackers when they can be purchased so reasonably...

And beyond that I have a hookup at a local grocery store for day old produce and such for my chickens, and about once a month they rotate the crackers on the shelves out as well and sometimes offer them to me by the case full... I eat some but most just get stacked up in the basement and when I have time I soak them in hot water to make a gelatinous blob treat for the chickens...

 

[donrae]

Nice job NFC! I'll be looking at a recipe tomorrow, once everyone goes back to work and school and I have the house to myself again. Yours look great.

Honey's wanting to go down to Costco this afternoon. I know we save a ton on eggs there, I just don't want to spend a bunch of $$ we don't need to.

 

[DuckLady]

Nice crackers!

 

[N F C]

Thanks everyone

@lazy gardener I'd like to try some cheesy crackers but will have to do more digging for a recipe. It seems the ones made with real cheese got mixed reviews for being greasy. Other recipes use a cheese powder but I don't have any on hand, maybe something to do in the future. The garlic wouldn't be hard to do with garlic powder.

 

[lazy gardener]

Your new avatar brought a smile to my face!!!

 

[N F C]

Your new avatar brought a smile to my face!!!

Who's?