Back! Homemade Crackers Three Ways / and Fry Bread

My buddy Jill, from Jill's Blog (http://jillbert.wordpress.com/) mentioned that she wanted to make her own crackers. Crackers? I love eating them, but I'd never even considered making my own. So, of course I was game to try baking along with her.

We decided on three different recipes--Hi Tech Crackers which are basically just a very plain whole wheat cracker, 4-Seed Crackers which have ground seeds as well as whole seeds, and lavash.

I think my favorite cracker was the 4-Seed since I love the hearty texture and the mixture of seeds. In making those I used a combination of rye flour, whole wheat flour, and white flour. They sort of remind me of a hearty version of Wheat Thins, but with more flavor.

The Hi-Tech crackers were good, but lacked flavor. The next time I make them I will use rye flour as well as whole wheat, and add some onion powder, extra salt, and some ground seeds. These crackers are especially good with dips.

We made Alton Brown's version of lavash--a crispy Middle Eastern bread-cracker. I like lavash and this was an easy recipe to follow. I think lavash is really good served with things like soups or stews, or even salads. It doesn't have much flavor on its own, so it compliments heavily spiced foods very well.

I am including Navajo Fry Bread in this post since it's also a bread. I made it awhile ago and never wrote it up. Fry Bread is a traditional Native American recipe and is very versatile as it can be served savory or sweet. It sort of reminds me of a puffy, fried tortilla. I love to use it for tacos, but many people eat it sweet--dusted with powdered sugar or drizzled with honey. Since it's deep fried it's a once in awhile special treat, and not something I make very often. Still, if you want to really make wow-tacos, try using fry bread instead of regular tortillas.

Here are the links to the recipes:

4-Seed Crackers
http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/food/la-fo-crackerrec28b-2008may28,0,2515763.story

Hi-Tech Crackers--Jill has the recipe on her post http://jillbert.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/crackers-three-ways/

Lavash http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/lavash-recipe/index.html

Navajo Fry Bread
http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/NavajoFryBread.htm