Amish Friendship Bread

Ingredients

Ingredients for Starter:

1 package active dry yeast

1 cup cup milk

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

Preparation

Procedure to make Starter:

Note: DO NOT use metal bowls or spoons and DO NOT refrigerate. Dissolve yeast in small amount of warm water (100*F - 104*F). Mix all ingredients together in an ample sized bowl, jar, plastic bag (it WILL grow). This is Day 1 of the starter.

Day 1: The day you receive the starter - Do nothing.

Day 2, 3, 4: Stir with wooden spoon or mix the bag

Day 5: Add 1 cup each - flour, sugar, milk. Stir. (*Note: You CAN use less sugar, not less than 1/4 C.)

Day 6, 7, 8: Stir with wooden spoon or mix the bag.

Day 9: Do nothing.

Day 10: Add 1 cup each - flour, sugar, milk. Stir. (See note in step 5) Pour into 3 containers/bag (ziplock type bags) (1 cup each). Give 2 containers/bags to friends along with this recipe. Keep 1 cup for yourself or you will have to make the starter all over or wait for a friend to give you a starter bag.

Combine the remaining cup of Amish Friendship Bread starter with the following ingredients in a large bowl: 2/3 cup oil 3 eggs 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 1 to 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1 cup sugar 2 cups flour 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda Using a fork beat by hand until well blended. You can add 1 cup raisins and 1 cup nuts (optional). Grease two loaf pans with butter, sprinkle with sugar instead of flour. Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes to 1 hour (individual oven temperatures vary). Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans. Makes two loaves of Amish Friendship Bread.

Note: you will be baking every ten days.