Assorted Amish Country recipes

Assorted Recipes that folks around here have contributed. Try them out... let us know how they worked.

Amish Friendship Bread- the most requested recipe we have.

Part 1: Amish Friendship Starter
             3 1/2 cups of bread flour*
             1 tablespoon sugar
            1 pkg. dry active yeast           
            2 cups warm water

Combine flour, sugar, and un-dissolved yeast into large bowl. Gradually add warm water to dry ingredients. Using a spoon**, beat by hand (with a spoon and not an electric mixer) until smooth. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let stand in-a warm place for two days. DO NOT STIR, It is natural for the starter to bubble and rise. Proceed to Part 2.

 *Bread flour may be easily obtained from your local grocer. It is different from all-purpose flour because it contains a gluten-forming protein that is essential to the structure in yeast breads.

 **Important: Do not use a metal spoon or metal mixing bowl when making starter or bread, as this can interfere with the fermentation process. Use a wooden or plastic spoon, and preferable a glass bowl.

 Part 2: Amish Friendship Bread.

Directions for the prepared starter:
Day 1: Do nothing
Day 2, 3, 4: Stir starter with wooden or plastic spoon and re-cover.
Day 5: To starter add one (1) cup each: flour, sugar & milk. Stir, re-cover loosely with plastic wrap and set in a warm place.
Day 6, 7, 8, 9: Stir starter each day with wooden or plastic spoon and re-cover.
Day 10: To starter add one cup each flour, sugar, & milk. Stir well, put one-cup quantities into three separate containers and give to three friends with these instructions or keep one of the starters for yourself to repeat this process. Using the remaining starter to make your own bread.

Ingredients to make Bread:
2/3 cup oil
2 cups bread flour
1/2 cup bread flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3 eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 large box (5.1 oz.) instant vanilla pudding.
1 cup chopped nuts, pecans or walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf pans, metal or glass, or 1 Bundt pan.

To remaining starter add ingredients in order listed, beginning with oil and ending with nuts. By hand, mix well. (with a spoon and not an electric mixer)

Divide batter between loaf pans or pour all into Bundt pan, if using. Bake 40 to 50 minutes in preheated oven. (If using Bundt pan, the entire 50 minutes will be needed.) Toward the end of baking time, watch bread carefully and cover with foil, if necessary, to prevent burning. Test center for done-ness with a toothpick. Cool in loaf pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto cooling. If using Bundt pan, cool for 1 hour before inverting onto serving plate.

A local Arthur Amish recipe.

Other recipes will be added or linked in here including ones from our newsletters.