Amish Friendship Bread Starter and Feeder
Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup warm milk
Instructions
In a small bowl, soften yeast in water for 10 minutes. Stir well. In a 2- quart bowl, combine flour and sugar. Mix thoroughly. Slowly stir in warm milk and softened yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature until bubbly. Refigerate. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Days 2 through 4: Stir. Day 5: To feed, blend 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar in a small bowl; slowly mix in 1 cup milk. Stir mixture into starter. Return to refrigerator. Day 6 through 9: Stir. Day 10 (which becomes Day 1 for the next series). Feed as you did on Day 5. Note: Consider the 10-day cycle a guide; it does not have to be followed exactly. If you need more starter, feed it more often. The starter is a yeast culture and will grow when fed. To hasten growth, leave starter at room temp for several hours. After feeding the starter. Return starter to refrigerator. Remove what you need for baking and leave it at room temperature until very bubbly. Return remainder to refrigerator and continue to follow the 10-day cycle. If you are getting to much, cut the feeding in half. Don't let starter drop below 1 cup, because rejuvenating it to usable amounts takes several days. Measure out 1 cup lots to give to friends or put in the freezer. Frozen starter takes at least 3 hours at room temperature to thaw and come to life.