I have a family member that frequently makes ‘Amish Friendship Bread’. She is very generous with it and brings it to me (and the family) whenever we see them, which isn’t often enough (sigh). I have asked her for some starter before, but she always tells me that I have enough going on and it takes days to make it, so she’ll just make it and give it to me. My poor family never gets much of it because I can’t stay out of it. It’s delish!!! Probably a good reason for me to not make it, I’d have some every 10 days…not good, at least for my waistline.
Much to my delight, my daughter brought home some ‘starter’ from a friend at school. I was so excited. I faithfully followed the steps every day. Yesterday was my day to actually bake the bread and I couldn’t wait. I was busy working out yesterday (thanks, Honey :o) and we had to leave for softball as soon as the kids I watch left, so I had to wait until we got home. I went and bought bread tins to bake it in because you needed two and I only have one bread pan. I got all the stuff out and mixed it all up short of dumping it in the pan and was thinking, “I am surprised that you don’t take the ‘give away’ bags of starter out before you put eggs and whatever else into it, but whatever”. (I had read the directions several times throughout the week) I was just getting ready to put it in the pans and I read down farther…..hmmmmm, that’s funny……no mention of taking the ‘give away’ starter out. So….I opened the directions back up to ‘full page view’. Uhhhhhh, you were supposed to put in more milk, flour, and sugar THEN take out the starter THEN add the remaining ingredients. OH POOP!!!!! Now what? I have no starter to give away (much to the dismay of my 2 oldest girls, who had chosen recipients for it well over a week ago), I had 10 days wasted ‘mushing’ the bag, I had wasted all of the ingredients, I had wasted the time mixing it up, and most importantly…..I wasn’t getting my beloved bread :o(
My oldest said, “Why don’t you just bake it anyway”. Hmmmmmm….wonder if that would work? We discussed it for a while about how the ingredients proportions were off and they didn’t grasp that concept, but we decided to make it anyway. I made 3 bread tins and put them in the oven for the 1hr cooking time. They started smelling awesome, but I didn’t get my hopes up. I really thought that would come out really runny in the middle or not set on the top or something wouldn’t work. The timer went off and I, very doubtful, went to get the loaves out.
Much to my surprise….they looked like bread. Tops nicely browned. I thought for sure the middle would be like batter so I stuck a knife in one….came out clean. Unbelieveable!!! Next was the ‘taste test’. I cut a piece off the end of one and gave it a whirl………it was good! I don’t think it’s quite as yummy as the ‘real stuff’ is, but it’s definitely edible.
My daughters were upset that they didn’t have any starter so the oldest was going to ask her friend if she had anymore so we could do it right the next time. Guess you live and learn, and just when I thought I was becoming ‘Suzy Homemaker’………………