Can you guess what this is?
I’ll give you a hint: It’s all wrapped up (with holes cut into the top) so that my cats won’t get to it. Stumped? Ok, here’s another hint: They really, really want to eat it, which I think is gross.
Still confused? Ok, here’s a picture of what’s inside:
It’s Amish Friendship Bread Starter! And since I can’t give each of my internetty friends a cup of starter, I’ll give you the recipe. Once I actually make bread from it, I’ll give you the recipe for that, too.
There are 2 main recipes I’ve seen. Here’s the one I used:
Ingredients
1 package yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup room temperature milk
Directions
Combine the yeast, water, and 1 tsp sugar in a bowl, and let it sit for a while.
IN A GLASS, PLASTIC OR CERAMIC BOWL: Combine the flour, sugar and milk and stir. Once the yeast is all bubbly, add that to the flour mixture.
Cover the starter, but make sure that the cover has holes so that the carbon dioxide from the yeast can escape.
This recipe follows a 10 day schedule:
Day 1: Make the starter
Days 2-4: Stir each day
Day 5: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk
Day 6-9: Stir each day
Day 10: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup of starter to make a loaf of bread, give 2 cups to friends, and keep the rest. Begin the cycle again (day 10 counts as day 1).
Notes
The starter can be frozen, and should be thawed to room temperature before using. DO NOT use metal anything, as this is a sourdough starter. The starter should be kept on the counter or somewhere at room temperature, but if you want to slow down the cycle, you can refrigerate it. Finally, use a bowl that is much larger than the original starter, because it will grow and grow.
The other recipe I’ve seen uses 3 cups flour, 3 cups sugar and 3 cups milk with 1 package of yeast. The 10 day schedule is the same – stir every day, on the 5th and 10th days add 3 cups flour, 3 cups sugar and 3 cups milk, and on the 10th day make bread and give 3 cups of starter to each friend. This, to me, seems like it would yield way too much starter. If my starter doesn’t work out for me, though, I’m going to try that recipe.
[...] DISASTER!A big white blob is sitting on my counterIn which I discuss Chrismukkah, mangers and liquified Smurfs [...]
That sounds like REAL Amish friendship bread. The last one I got called for vanilla pudding mix. Um, yeah, the Amish use pudding mix. Sure…
[...] I was all excited about my Amish Friendship Bread Starter, you know? Like All. Kinds. Of. Excited. I figured out the perfect bowl for it, my favorite bowl, [...]
MMMMM…I love Friendship bread! I had a list of all kinds of variations to add to it…but I can’t seem to find it. If I find it I will post it for you.
OMG< I totally lurve Amish Friendship bread. Have you ever made it with cranberries in it…delish. The other favorite in our house is crushed pineapple.