Amish Friendship Bread

Important note: Don't use metal spoons or equipment. Do not refrigerate. Do not bake in conventional oven. If air gets in the bag, let it out. It is normal for batter to rise, bubble and ferment.

Day 1: do nothing (this is the day you received the batter)
Day 2: mush the bag
Day 3: mush the bag
Day 4: mush the bag
Day 5: mush the bag
Day 6: Add to the bag: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk--then mush the bag
Day 7: mush the bag
Day 8: mush the bag
Day 9: mush the bag
Day 10: follow the instructions below

1. Pour the entire contents of the bag into a non metal bowl.
2. Add 1 1/2 cup flour, 1 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 cup milk.
3. Measure out four separate batters of 1 cup each into 4 1-gallon freezer bags. Keep a starter mix for yourself and give the other three bags to friends along with a copy of the recipe. (Should this not be passed on to a friend on the first day, be certain to tell them which day the bag is at when presented to them. It is helpful to mark the bag).
4. Preheat oven to 325.
5. To the remaining batter (1 1/3 cup left) in the bowl, add:
3 eggs
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 large box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
6. Grease two large loaf pans and mix additional 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust the greased pan with half the mixture.
7. Pour the batter evenly into the two loaf pans and sprinkle the remaining sugar mixture over the top.
8. Bake 1 hour. Cool until bread loosen from the pan evenly (about 10 minutes). Turn out onto serving dish. Serve warm or cool.

If you keep the starter for yourself, you will be baking every 10 days. The bread is very good and makes a great gift.