Pass it on, friends!

My Dear Friends,
Don't you hate when you check your email and you notice that a friend or family member sent you a chain letter? You open it up, read the words, look at the pictures, and then debate whether or not to pass it along. After all, if you don't you will have bad luck for 10 years, lose all of your friends, or never find that perfect someone. Or even worse, that one chain letter that you don't pass along automatically means you don't believe in God or you don't support our troops.

Well, get ready .... because I am passing along a 'chain letter' to you.

WAIT .... keep reading .... I promise this isn't bad!!

You don't have to send it to 10 of your closest friends (only 4, if you so choose), I won't doubt your religious beliefs, and I won't accuse you of not being patriotic.

But what if I told you that you can eat your 'chain letter'? huh?!?!

That's right .... this chain letter is so good ... you get to eat it and pass it along to your friends.

At the bottom of this post, you will see a recipe for Amish Friendship Bread. My SIL (sister in law) gave me my starter last weekend and now I get to pass it along. I have chosen 4 people to physically pass this along to (they get their starters on Tuesday!) but I wanted to share it with everyone.

Why? Because we are friends, I love you, and want you to be happy all day and everyday.

Happy Friendship and Happy Baking!!
Your friend,
Kristin

Please note the following:

DO NOT use any type of metal spoon or bowl for mixing.
DO NOT refrigerate
If air gets inside the bag, let it out. It is normal for the batter to rise and ferment.

You will have to create your own starter ... but think of it as though it is from me. After all, I am the one passing this along to you. : ) This is a good website to create your starter: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Amish-Friendship-Bread-Starter/Detail.aspx

Once you have your starter you are set to go!
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 to the bag: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Mash the bag
Day 7: Mash the bag
Day 8: Mash the bag
Day 9: Mash the bag
Day 10: Follow the directions below:

Pour the entire contents of the bag into a NON METAL bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups milk. Measure out 4 separate batters of 1 cup each into Ziploc bags (gallon size). You will have extra in your bowl to make the bread. Keep a starter for yourself and give the other 3 to friends along with a copy of the recipe. You can give away all of the starters if you don't want to make it again

Note: If you keep a starter, you will be baking every 10 days. The bread is very good and makes great gifts! Should this recipe not be passed on to a friend on the 1st day, be certain to tell the friend which day the bag is on when presented to them.

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. To the remaining batter in the bowl, add:

3 eggs ... 1 cup oil (or 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce) ... 1/2 cup milk ... 1 cup sugar ... 2 tsp cinnamon ... 1/2 tsp vanilla ... 1 1/2 tsp baking powder ... 1/2 tsp baking soda ... 1/2 tsp salt ... 2 cups flour ... 1 large box of vanilla or chocolate instant pudding (or two smaller boxes)
**optional**1 cup raisins or chopped nuts

Grease 2 large loaf pans. In a separate bowl, mix an additional 1/4 cup sugar and 3/4 tsp cinnamon. Dust the greased pans with half of this mixture. Pour the batter evenly into the two pans. Sprinkle the remaining sugar mixture over the top. Bake for 1 hour. Cool until bread loosens evenly from the sides of the pan. Turn onto serving dish.....and ENJOY!