Amish Friendship Bread

The Amish have or still have a wedding custom. When a new bride leaves her home to start a life and home with her new husband, her mother gives her a cup of "starter" from her own pot. The idea is that you take to your new life what you are and have become. As you add to the starter from your own pantry, the flavor becomes uniquely that of your own family. Over the coarse of months and years, there will be a discernable difference between the flavor of your starter and that of your mother's...... and neither will taste like it did when you first began (because you both have changed)

Starter 1 cup milk  (room temperature) 1 cup sugar 1 cup regular flour  (room temperature) Note: do not use self-rising flour Mx in a non-metallic bowl  (glass or plastic is fine). Note:  The metal interferes with the chemical reaction that needs to take place. Use a plastic or wooden spoon to mix. Don't be concerned if you can't get ALL the lumps out. Try to mix until lumps are pea sized, but with none larger than a grape.  Pour into a quart sized, non metallic container. Note:  The finished starter (or sponge) will expand to over 2-3  times it's original volume. If the sponge gets too close to the top, pour into a larger container. Cover LOOSELY with plastic wrap. Let starter sit in a quiet place, away from drafts or hot breezes.  YOU SHOULD NOT REFRIGERATE A NEW STARTER!

*Stir daily* Day one : Stir  (always with non-metal stirrer) Day two :  Stir Day three : Stir Day four :  Stir Day five :   Add:   1 cup flour              1 cup sugar              1 cup milk              Stir Note:  The sponge (or starter) will get foamy and frothy. Don't be alarmed. This is natural. The mixture is reacting together and expanding. Day six:  Stir Day seven:  Stir Day eight:  Stir Day nine: Stir Day ten:      Add 1 cup flour              1 cup sugar              1 cup milk              Stir Seperate into 3 portions from batter in bowl.           1 cup sponge (1 to keep)           1 cup sponge, each, to  give to friends.           Remainder  (about 1 - 1/4 cup) to use in recipe

Friendship Bread Recipe ---- (Using completed starter) To the balance, after seperating (a little over one cup) of the batter, add the following ingredients and mix well. 1 cup oil 1/2 cup milk 3 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla In a seperate bowl combine the following ingredients and mix well: 2 cups flour 1 - 1/2  tsp. baking powder 2 tsps. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 - (5.1 oz.) box instant vanilla pudding 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup nuts Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients.  Mix and pour into two well greased and floured bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Experiment with using different  puddings and fruit and nuts. For example: Use chocolate pudding and choc. chips. Use lemon pudding and poppy seeds. Put in some strawberries and bananas. Use pistachio pudding. Just have FUN with it!