Food Friday: Crackers

I wasn't joking when I threatened to teach you how to make crackers.  They are easy and fairly tasty.  And I don't know anyone who doesn't like crackers.  These can be fancy-schmancy crackers or just nice plain crackers, it's pretty much up to you. 

Crackers

What you need:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup warm water

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For brushing on the dough: 1/2 cup water with 1 teaspoon kosher salt stirred into it
For topping: coarse salt, black pepper, and seeds: poppy, sesame, caraway, celery, flax, pumpkin, whatever you like

What you do:

You can do this all by hand and the crackers come out the same, but it's easier in a stand mixer.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, wisk your flour and salt then stir in the water and olive oil.  Turn your mixer on medium speed and mix the dough for about 5 minutes until it forms a nice looking ball.  The dough will look kind of questionable for a while, but will come together into a nice, smooth ball. 

Now, remove your dough hook and shape your dough into a ball, put it back into its bowl, and coat it lightly with olive oil and cover it amusingly with a shower cap or less amusingly with plastic wrap and then just walk away and let it rest for at least 30 minutes and up to an hour.

When you come back, pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees.  Grab a rimmed baking sheet that is approximately 12x17, flip it upside down, and heavily flour the bottom of it.  Divide your dough in half, and put one half on the floured baking sheet and roll it out until it almost completely covers the pan.  It will be thin!  Go ahead and trim off anything that hangs over the edge and brush off any extra flour. 

Now, get your salt water and brush the dough with it, then prick the dough all over with a fork, then sprinkle on whatever toppings you want, or just leave them plain. 

After sprinkling on your toppings, grab a pizza cutter or a sharp knife and score the dough into cracker shapes the size of your choice.  Don't worry about cutting the dough all the way through, the crackers will break apart just fine once they are baked.  If your dough bunches while you are scoring it, just pull it back out straight, no big deal. 

Now, put the baking sheet in the oven and bake the crackers for 5 to 10 minutes, until they are golden brown around the edges.  Remove the crackers to a cooling rack and they will get crispy. 

Repeat this process with the other half of the dough.  You can either use a second baking sheet, or re-use the first one, just make sure it is cooled completely before you do. 

Once the crackers are all cooled, break them apart and store them in an airtight container and feel all smug because not only do you make your own cheese, you make your own crackers, too.  :)