Last week, Mr. T. brought home a bag of gloop, and a recipe. He said his friend gave it to him, and that if we followed the recipe and instructions, this gloop would turn into Amish Friendship Bread!
Not only that though, the recipe is such that we would also have to give 3 bags of gloop (also known as starters) out to 3 of our friends, who would make the recipe and give 3 bags to 3 more friends, who would do the same for 3 more friends, and on, and on, and on….kind of like a chain letter, just in bread form instead of on paper.
Now, I’ve never made a recipe like this, nor has Mr. T. but, we figured we’d give it a shot. It seems a tad overwhelming when you first look at it but, if you review the instructions further, you’ll find that all you’re really doing is stirring, stirring, stirring and feeding those yeasties. Then you bake and enjoy.
Well, we tried it all out, and, the gloop did in fact turn into bread, and, the bread actually came out pretty tasty….kind of like zucchini bread, but without the zucchini. The whole family liked it, and the 2 loaves were gone in just a few days.
As far as this recipe being at all Amish. I grew up in Pennsylvania, and although I didn’t have any Amish friends per say, I know enough about them to know that “Instant Pudding” is not an ingredient that screams Amish by any means.
What I could dig up on the web suggests that this bread is not Amish at all. Instead, what I found said that Amish Friendship Bread was actually started by the Girl Scouts in the 90s. I don’t know. But, the bread is good, and, sharing the starter, recipe and bread with friends is pretty fun.
The Recipe
Important Note: Don’t use metal spoons or equipment. Do not refrigerate. Use only glazed ceramic or plastic bowls or containers.
Required Main Ingredient
1 cup live yeast starter (see above)
- day 1:
- Do nothing with the starter.
- days 2-5:
- Stir with a wooden spoon.
- day 6:
- Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Stir with a wooden spoon.
- days 7-9:
- Stir with a wooden spoon.
- Day 10:
- Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Stir. Take out 3 cups and place 1 cup each into three separate plastic containers. Give one cup and a copy of this recipe to three friends. To the balance (a little over one cup) of the batter, add the following ingredients and mix well.
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
In a separate bowl combine the following dry ingredients and mix well:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 – (5.1 oz) box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup nuts
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix and pour into two well greased and sugared bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.
For more information on Amish Friendship Bread, the myths surrounding it, and some variations you can check out this site.
{ 0 comments }