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Amish Friendship Bread

© Melissa Ecton

By now, I am sure everyone is familiar with Amish cooking, due to the popularity of such cooks as Marcia Adams. Amish cooking is old fashioned. The recipes are basic, filling, nourishing, dishes that have little concern for fat and calories, but a lot of taste. The classic Amish recipe for this week is Amish Friendship bread. This is a delicious sweet bread made from a yeast starter. Historically, you would make the bread, then pass along the recipe and some starter to a friend. Since it is unlikely that your next-door neighbor has some Amish bread starter sitting around, I've also included a recipe for the starter. In total there are three recipes with slight variations. Keep in mind that this recipe does require ten days for the starter to develop. Enjoy! Do not use metal spoons or equipment. Do not refrigerate. Use only glazed ceramic or plastic bowls or containers. Amish Friendship Bread Starter Ingredients: 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)3 cups all-purpose flour, divided3 cups white sugar, divided3 cups warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C), divided

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 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 or 2 cups to make your first bread, give three cups to friends along with the recipe. Store the remaining starter in a container in the refrigerator and begin the 10 day process over again. 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. Makes 6 cups of starter

Friendship Bread

1 c. starter (use the above recipe) 2/3 c. oil 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. baking soda 3 eggs 1 c. sugar 2 c. flour 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

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