From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

     Here's one of those recipes that they say you can only get from the Amish themselves...But, if you take care of it, it can last forever and you can make any number of different items with it! Here's the recipe for the starter...next week I'll include a recipe using this starter that my family enjoys...

Amish Friendship Bread Starter

Rated: Submitted By: GINNY LEE Photo By: Linda (LMT) Prep Time: 30 Minutes Ready In: 9 Days 40 Minutes Servings: 120

"Yeast, sugar, milk and flour ferment to make starter for sweet bread. Because the recipe produces so much starter, give some away to friends."

INGREDIENTS:

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

3 cups all-purpose flour, divided 3 cups white sugar, divided 3 cups milk

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature.
2.	On days 2 through 4; stir starter with a spoon. Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 through 9; stir only.
3.	Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).

Now for the recipe that usually gets handed out with your first batch of starter...


DO NOT USE METAL UTENSILS WHEN MAKING THIS BREAD! It will change the process of the dough!

Take your one cup of starter and add to it:

Add 1 cup oil (or 1 cup applesauce)
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Mix well.

Add 2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup nuts (optional)
1 large pkg instant vanilla pudding
Mix thoroughly. Batter will be thick.

Grease 2 large or 4 small loaf pans.
Sprinkle all around pan with cinnamon sugar.
Pour batter in to pans.
Sprinkle the top with cinnamon sugar.

Bake on 350* for 1 hour (or less if you use 4 smaller pans) or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Allow to cool on wire rack for approx 15 minutes. Run knife around inside edges of loaf pans and remove from pan and continue to cool on wire racks.
I hold the pan, with a pot holder in one hand, and turn out loaf on other hand, then place bottom side down on cooling rack.

 I wish you could smell this bread...

Just look at all it's cinnamon sugar goodness!

Enjoy!