*  Exported from  MasterCook  Buster  *

                             PLAIN CRACKERS

Recipe By     : Ann Hodgman, "Beat That! Cookbook"
Serving Size  : 10   Preparation Time :
Categories    : Breads

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  4      cups          all-purpose flour
  2      tablespoons   sugar
  1      teaspoon      salt
    1/4  cup           unsalted butter -- (1/2 stick)
  1      cup           milk
                       milk -- for brushing
                       -- cracker tops
                       salt -- optional

1.  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.  with a rack in the middle.

2.  Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, and salt.  Cut in the
butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until it looks like cornmeal.  Stir
in the milk until the homemade dough forms a ball.  The dough will be quite
stiff.

3.  On a lightly floured board, with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out
the dough 1/8-inch thick.  With a 2-inch round cookie cutter dipped in flour,
cut out round crackers.  Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Prick the
top of each cracker in several places with a fork.  (Making the "fork lines"
charmingly askew will emphasize that these are handmade.) Brush the top of
each cracker with milk and, if desired, sprinkle with salt.

4.  Bake the crackers for 15-20 minutes, or until they're light gold.  Cool
them on a rack and store them airtight at room temperature.

Makes around 3 1/2 dozen.

Notes: From Ann Hodgman's BEAT THAT! COOKBOOK, 1995, Chapters Publishing Ltd.,
ISBN 1-881527-92-1, page 46.

Typos by K. Hudson Lipin, 09/06/98
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