Amish Friendship Bread Starter

By kdet

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/4 ounce package of yeast
• 3 cups milk
• 3 cups all-purpose flour

Preparation

Step 1

Day 1:

1. Sprinkle one tablespoon of the sugar over the warm water. Sprinkle yeast over this and let stand in warm place to double in size (approx. 10 minutes).

2. Mix 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup flour and yeast mixture in a large plastic or glass container. Stir, using only a wooden spoon as metal objects retard the yeast's natural growth. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly in room temperature overnight.

3. This mixture doubles, even triples at times of vigorous rising.

Days 2 through 4:

1. Loosely cover and try to stir starter each day with wooden spoon. Warning: yeast-type mould may begin to form on the surface after 48 hours if you don't stir daily.

Day 5:

1. On 5th stir in 1 cup plain flour, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup sugar and stir well, cover up loosely.

Days 6 through 9:

1. Stir well. Cover back up, loosely.

Day 10:

1. Stir in 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.

2. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe.

3. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator (or freeze it) or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).