Welcome to TKL, Dan! I am sorry about your dad's cancer. I'll include him in my prayers.

Here is a recipe for basic crackers:

Homemade Crackers

1 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. shortening
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C. water

Mix to make like pie dough, turn on slightly floured surface.

Roll with rolling pin until very thin.

Cut into square and pick several times with a fork. Bake on bottom rack in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Then remove and place on top rack and increase temperature to 450 degrees to brown the crackers.

Immediately salt to taste when removed from oven.