Amish Friendship Bread and Starter

You'll Need

Glass Bowl, Wooden spoons - DO NOT USE ANY METAL UTENSILS.

STARTER:

1 package active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
2 cups sifted flour
1 tablespoon sugar

Dissolve yeast in 1 cup of the warm water. Stir in remaining warm water, flour and sugar, beat until smooth. Place in a glass bowl on the countertop, do not put in refrigerator. Cover with clean dishcloth.

The starter will ferment for 10 days before it is ready to give away or use for bread.

10 DAYS INSTRUCTIONS:

DAY 1 Begin or receive starter
DAY 2 STIR
DAY 3 STIR
DAY 4 STIR
DAY 5 ADD 1 CUP SUGAR, 1 CUP FLOUR, 1 CUP MILK.
DAY 6 STIR
DAY 7 STIR
DAY 8 STIR
DAY 9 DO NOTHING
DAY 10 ADD 1 CUP SUGAR, 1 CUP FLOUR, 1 CUP MILK

Put 1 cup of starter in each of three containers, give to friends and keep one for yourself to start again. This will begin their DAY 1. You can give them away in ziplock bags, but make sure you tell your friends to "burp" the bag about twice daily.

Friendship Bread:

1 cup starter
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Add all ingredients to starter in order listed and mix by hand till combined. Do not use electric mixer. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and sugar two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Transfer the batter to the pans. Bake for 40-50 minutes and remove from the oven. Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes, then tip out onto a rack
to finish cooling completely.

Friendship Bread 2

1 cup starter
3 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

TOPPING:

1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixer bowl, beat together the starter, eggs, and vegetable oil; add the rest of the ingredients and mix. Set aside. Combine the topping ingredients in a small mixing bowl.

Put half of the batter in a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle with half the topping. Cover with the remaining batter, sprinkle on the rest of the topping and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.