Diana's Desserts - www.dianasdesserts.com
http://www.dianasdesserts.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipes.recipeListing/filter/dianas/recipeID/995/Recipe.cfm

Amish Friendship Bread and Starter

Servings: Makes 2 (9x5-inch) loaves
Comments:
Amish Friendship Bread

This is a delicious bread that can be adapted many ways. Make it plain or mix in your favorite fruit. Give the starter and recipe as a gift during the holidays.

Amish Friendship Bread Starter

Make something special to share with a friend. This delicious starter can make a variety of breads. Do not use metal containers or utensils.


Ingredients:
Amish Friendship Bread Starter:
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 granulated sugar, divided
3 cups milk

Instructions For Making Starter:
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 at room temperature until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle.

2). On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a spoon. Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 thru 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).

Note:
Once you have made the starter, you will consider it Day One, and thus ignore step 1 in this recipe and proceed with step 2. You can also freeze this starter in 1 cup measures for later use. Frozen starter will take at least 3 hours at room temperature to thaw before using.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup starter
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3 large eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)




Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine all ingredients (including Starter) and mix well. Pour into 2 well greased and sugared 9x5-inch loaf pans. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until done. Cool 20 minutes before removing from pans.

Makes 2 (9x5-inch) loaves.


Source: DianasDesserts.com
Date: November 3, 2002