How is your Starter coming along? It shouldn’t be long, and you are going to be wanting to bake something with it. For the first loaf, just work with the original recipe that originally accompanied the starter. Once you have tried it, you are definitely going to want to learn how to make the banana nut muffins, the cinnamon rolls and all the other goodies that can be made with this simple starter. I’ll get you started with the original, but if you want more, just do an internet search or see if the library has a copy of the cookbooks designed for Amish Friendship Starter. This may be the gift you once dreaded getting, but if you ever make the first loaf, it will end up being the one you want to just ‘keep on giving’.
Amish Friendship Bread
BAKING INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Put the remaining batter in a bowl and add the following:
3 eggs
1 cup oil
½ cup milk
1 cup sugar
½ t. vanilla
2 t. cinnamon
1-1/2 t. baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ t. baking soda
2 cups flour
1 large or 2 small boxes Jell-O instant pudding (any flavor)
Optional: 1 cup nuts and 1 cup raisins
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Grease two medium-size loaf pans. In a bowl, mix an additional ½ cup sugar and 1-1/2 t. cinnamon. Generously dust the greased pans with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Pour the batter evenly into the pans and sprinkle the remaining mixture on the top. Bake for one hour or until the bread loosens evenly from the sides and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
Note: To make muffins instead of loaves, reduce the baking time to 20-25 minutes. Fill muffin tins one-half to two-thirds full.
REMEMBER: If you keep a starter for yourself, you will be baking in 10 days. The bread is very good and makes a great gift. Should this recipe not be passed on on the first day, make sure to tell them which day it is on when you present it to them.
