AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD advanced version
By Becky Melendez

Important: Do not at any time use a metal spoon or bowl for mixing. Do not refrigerate the starter.
Recipe for starter:

2 ½ tsp. active dry yeast (one package)
2 ½ cups warm water
1 T sugar
2 cups flour

In a medium size bowl, dissolve yeast in ½ cup of the warm water, then add remaining ingredients. Beat until smooth. Cover with loose fitting cover. Do not cover tightly on day 1 or it will explode. Starter can be transferred to a Ziploc bag on day 2 or left in the bowl.

Day 1    Make the starter as outlined above, or do nothing if you already have a bag of starter.
Days 2-5 Mush the bag or stir in the bowl. Transfer to Ziploc bag on day 2 if desired if you made the starter.
Day 6 Add 1 cup each flour, sugar and milk. Mush the bag or stir in the bowl. Whole milk works best.
Days 7-9 Mush the bag or stir in the bowl.
Day 10 Baking Day

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup each flour, sugar and milk and all of the starter. Stir thoroughly. Pour 3 one cup starters into 3 gallon sized Ziploc bags. Keep starter for yourself and give the other two away to friends with a copy of instructions. (Or you can add 1 ½ cup each flour, sugar and milk and then you will have 4 starters, 3 for friends and 1 for yourself.) To the remaining starter, add the following ingredients, mixing well.

1 cup oil (or ½ oil and ½ applesauce or buttermilk.)
1 cup sugar (or ½ sugar and ½ pureed fruit or honey)
1 tsp. vanilla
3 large eggs
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups flour
½ cup milk
1 large box of vanilla instant pudding (optional)

Pour into 2 large or 6 mini loaf pans or 24 muffin tins. Grease and flour pans well. You can sprinkle some cinnamon and sugar on pans and on top of batter. Bake at 350° for 1 hour. Reduce cooking time for muffins or small loaf pans.

Variations: You can use any flavor pudding. You can use maple extract instead of the vanilla.  You can put some allspice cloves and nutmeg or poppy seeds.  You can add nuts, raisins, or dates. Tossing the nuts, raisins or dates in the flour first will prevent them from sinking.  English toffee bits or chocolate chips can be sprinkled on top during last 10 minutes of cooking.

I have used ½ wheat flour and have used sweetened condensed milk instead of the milk and sugar. For low sugar recipe omit sugar, add ¼ cup honey and use sugar free pudding. I have used all pureed fruit and left out the oil, but it’s better with some oil.

Should the starter not be passed on to a friend on the first day, be certain to tell the recipient which day the starter is in at point of transfer. If the bread is made every 10 days you do not have to repeat the starter recipe. Just follow the steps in Days 1-10 with the starter you keep for yourself. Bread freezes well.

Additional Variations: Can be made into cornbread. No changes need be made to cornbread recipe, except maybe leaving out the sugar if it calls for it.

If you don't want sweet bread, just put 1 tsp. in the starter on days 6 and 10. Learn more.