Good thing we are going to see friends....

So we are heading to Iowa this weekend to see dear friends… but we won’t be showing up empty handed… We’ll have Amish Friendship Bread in hand. What is that you say? Ok… it’s cinnamon bread – basically… but it’s SO good… but it takes time, it takes cinnamon, it takes a sour bag of goop you’d rather throw out than make bread with. That is that “starter.” It’s basically a cup of sugar, milk and flour that has grown something to make it baking goodness. I make starter then freeze it… I only share it if people want it… rarely do I beg for people to hand it to… so… Enjoy. :)

Amish Friendship Bread
What you need!
1 cup starter
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 (5.1 oz.) box instant vanilla pudding mix (may use other flavor if desired)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Topping:
1 Tbl. cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar

Make it!
In a large mixing bowl, mix oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla with the starter, mix well.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, vanilla pudding mix and nuts. Add to liquid mixture and stir thoroughly. Grease two 9" x 5" loaf pans or one Bundt pan and sprinkle them with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Pour batter into pans. Sprinkle more cinnamon sugar onto the top.
Bake at 325 degrees for one hour or until the loaves test done.

Amish Friendship Bread Starter:
What you need!
1 cup sugar
1 cup Milk
1 cup flour

Make it!
Place sugar, milk and flour in a gallon-sized Zip-Loc-type plastic bag. Knead bag to mix.
Days 1 - 17 - Knead bag.
Day 18 - Do nothing.
Days 19 - 21 - Knead bag.
Day 22 - Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk, and1 cup flour. Knead bag.
Days 23 - 25 - Knead bag.
Day 26 - Do nothing.
Day 27 - Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup flour. Knead bag. It is now ready for making bread.

Each time you make the bread, reserve 1 cup starter for yourself to keep it going, 1 cup for the bread, and give remaining 1 cup amounts to your friends. Or freeze them in 1 cup increments and have the bread any time without the mess of growing the starter and finding 4 friends each time.

To Keep the Starter Going:
Include these instructions with the 1 cup of starter you give to your friends.
Day 1 - this is the day you receive the bread, do nothing.
Day 2 - 5 - Knead bag.
Day 6 - Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sugar. Knead bag.
Day 7 - 9 - Knead bag.
Day 10 - Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sugar. Knead bag. Use 1 cup for bread, 1 cup for starter, and give the other two cups away with these instructions and the following recipe.