Wannaskan Almanac for Tuesday, April 2, 2024 Bread in Companionship

Years ago we used to have a tradition...one that dated by all accounts back to the 1860's.  This custom involves leaving a bag of white goop on a neighbor's front porch.  No, it wasn't to torment them.  It was the sharing of a beautiful item called friendship bread.  

Friendship bread, also called Amish friendship bread, traces its roots back to Europe.  The Europeans had a similar treat that they called Herman friendship bread.  Whether it is Amish or Herman, the bread symbolizes the effort and time it takes to cultivate friendship.  The bread has a sweet, cinnamon taste to it.  Friendship bread begins with a starter made from water, flour, milk, sugar, and yeast. This starter usually takes about 10 days to ferment. Once it's ready, you can use it for baking friendship bread and top it with cinnamon sugar.  

But how exactly did it make its way into the Amish community?  To the Amish, this recipe with the free starter can be shared with others in the community, especially the sick and needy, to make fresh, homemade bread recipes. Plus, it can be passed down from person to person, becoming a special gift that keeps on giving.  Some bread starter kits are rumored to be up to 6000 years old...having been passed down from the time of the ancient Egyptians!  

Here is a recipe for making the starter and the bread. 

AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD

Before starting:

* Write the daily directions below on a gallon-size Ziploc Bag.

* Do not use metal containers or utensils. (Sourdough is acidic and can dissolve metal. Use ceramic, glass or

plastic only.)

* It is normal for the batter to rise, bubble and ferment. If the bag has air in it, simply let the air out and seal the

bag again.

* Store the starter at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.

Day 1: Do nothing.

Day 2: Mash the bag.

Day 3: Mash the bag.

Day 4: Mash the bag.

Day 5: Mash the bag.

Day 6: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup of milk. Mash the bag.

Day 7: Mash the bag.

Day 8: Mash the bag.

Day 9: Mash the bag.

Day 10: Pour the starter into a non-metal bowl. Add ½ cup flour, ½ cup sugar, and ½ cup milk.

* Mix well and then measure out 4-5 separate starters of 1 cup each into gallon Ziploc bags.

* Keep one bag for yourself and give 3 or 4 to friends along with a copy of this recipe.

* If you can’t pass the recipe onto a friend on the 10th day, follow the directions above (Day 10 is equal to Day

1) and let your friend know what day you are on once you pass it.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe

Preheat the oven to 325.

To the 1 cup of Amish Friendship Bread Starter, add the following:

1 cup oil

3 eggs

½ cup milk

½ teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix well.

Spray 2 loaf pans with cooking spray.

Mix ½ cup sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon into a small bowl. Dust the greased pans with half of this

cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Pour the batter evenly into the pans and sprinkle the remaining sugar mixture over

the batter.

Bake for 1 hour or until the a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Cool until the bread loosens from the pan evenly and turn onto a serving dish.

Note: If you keep the starter for yourself, you will be baking bread every 10 days. This bread makes a

great gift!

Who knows?  If you start passing around a starter you could be feeding people a thousand years from now!