This was originally posted at another blog of mine (www.motheringtc.com) that I have deleted. I have combined all my blogs into this one for the sake of simplicity in my already busy life. Jen – 6/13/09.
Last week a good friend of mine gave me a starter for Amish Friendship Bread. It’s going to be hard to keep finding people to give these to, but it’s so tasty, I’m going to keep a starter for myself.
It’s the only yeast bread that I’ve not killed b/c the starter stays at room temp for 10 days and someone ELSE started it! It makes two loaves and the only weird ingredient, and by weird I mean that it probably isn’t in your pantry, is a LARGE box of instant vanilla pudding.
It makes the house smell heavenly and makes two loaves; you can share this with 4-5 people if you don’t keep a starter and give away one of the loaves, too. It’s quick– only about 30 minutes from start to clean-up which i know b/c that’s all my daughter can entertain herself for right now 🙂
If you’re interested in getting a starter, go on the message boards & let me know…I’ll have some every 10 days until i screw it up 🙂
If you’d like to start your own, i found instructions here: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/baking_joy/79682
There is also a great discussion on the bread & variations here: http://mysisterskitchen.wordpress.com/2007/03/22/amish-friendship-bread/
And this great recipe tells how to make 3 different starter breads: http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,194,159182-226206,00.html
Enjoy!