Amish Friendship Bread

The meals served at Amish tables vary by region, proximity to town, and type of work. Popular recipes come from their German/Swiss heritage, passed down over the centuries, and from adaptations from the American culture surrounding them. Apparently there are no restrictions relating to food in the Ordnung, beyond following the principles of not being wasteful and working hard to produce the best quality product. In fact, the Amish eat quite well, enjoying God's bountiful provision. While most still enjoy homegrown meat, eggs, grains, and produce as well as homemade cakes, pies, and canned goods, some Amish are seen shopping at local grocery stores, adding items liked boxed cereals, canned soups, prepared mixes, and flavored gelatin to their pantries. There is little concern over modern dietary issues among traditional Amish because of their labor-intensive lifestyle. Some Amish are even reputed to have quite a sweet tooth, fully appreciating the homemade cookies, cakes, and ice cream coming from their wives' kitchens.

Amish weddings are a prime example of how the Amish enjoy good food. The Bible relates the story of the wedding attended by Jesus and his family at Cana. This celebration featured bountiful good food and wine. In Amish culture, meals are very social events, a time to enjoy good food and company. A typical breakfast consists of hot cereal like corn meal mush and eggs, sometimes with canned fruit or juice. For main meals, stewed, roasted, fried or grilled meat, pasta or potatoes, canned vegetables, and always bread, are served. Lighter meals commonly include soup, cheese or bologna, and fruit. Snacks are usually apples, cookies, or leftovers. The Pennsylvania Dutch particularly enjoy a salty pretzel with their ice cream.

Rural Amish families are basically self-sufficient, raising their own animals for meat, pork, poultry, or beef. Homemade bologna is quite popular. Homesteads also have vegetable gardens and orchards, so that families can enjoy fresh produce when in season or canned goods later in the year. Besides canning vegetables and fruits, apple butter and jellies are favorites. Breads and cereals are made from whole grains. Since most families have at least one cow, cheese and other milk products are common. Members, even children, usually drink water with their meals, rarely milk or juice; coffee, tea, and lemonade are reserved for dessert time.

Some notable Amish dishes and food products include Scrapple, a popular breakfast food, made with fried cornmeal mush prepared with sausage and liverwurst, Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Potatoes, Cream of Cabbage Soup, Chicken Pot Pie, and Apple Butter. The best-known Amish desserts include Shoofly Pie, Sugar Cookies, Banana Pudding, Vanilla Cornstarch, Caramel Pudding, Cracker Pudding and Schnitz Pie, which is made with dried apples.

Although the history of Amish Friendship Bread is vague, it typifies the strong Amish community. The term "Friendship" relates to the custom of sharing some of the bread starter with your friends, like a food chain letter. The base of the bread recipe is actually a type of sourdough starter, which begins as a mixture of flour, sugar, and water. Airborne yeast ferments the mixture, which was a staple to early pioneers in bread-making; this was before you could buy active dry yeast at the grocery store. The starter, which is the leavening agent, can be used to make pancakes, breads and cakes. Below are some yummy recipes to enjoy.

Amish Friendship Bread
Source: http://homeparents.about.com/cs/recipescooking/a/amish.htm

Amish Friendship Starter
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour

Combine the ingredients in a large deep glass or plastic container. Cover lightly. If the container has a lid, leave it slightly ajar or place a piece of cheesecloth over the container and secure with a rubberband. Store at room temperature. Stir every day for 17 days. On day 18 do nothing. On days 19, 20 and 21 stir. On day 22, stir and add 1cup of flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Stir again. On days 23, 24, 25, and 26 stir. On day 27 add 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of milk. Stir. You should now have about 4 cups of starter. Give 2 friends each 1 cup and keep 2 cups for yourself. Use 1 of the two cups in the Amish Friendship Bread recipe and use the other to keep the starter going. When you give the starter away include these instructions:

Keeping a starter going: Do not refrigerate and do not use a metal spoon when stirring the starter. On day 1 (the day you receive the starter), do nothing, on days 2, 3 and 4 stir. On day 5 stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and cup milk. Pour mixture into large glass mixing bowl; cover lightly. The mixture will rise. On days 6, 7, 8, and 9 stir. On day 10 stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Stir. Give 2 friends each 1 cup. Keep for yourself 1 cup to make Friendship Bread and one cup to keep the starter going.

Amish Friendship Bread
1 cup starter
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar 3 eggs
1 1/2tsp baking powder
1-1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2tsp salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Your choice of raisins, chocolate chips, nuts, seeds, apples, dates etc.

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Place batter in well greased and sugared 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350*F for 45-50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan.

Shoofly Pie
Source: http://www.foodbycountry.com/Spain-to-Zimbabwe-Cumulative-Index/United-States-Amish-and-Pennsylvania-Dutch.html

Ingredients
Frozen 9-inch pie crust, unbaked
1 cup flour
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tablespoon cold butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup molasses
3/4 cup cold water
1/4 cup hot water
1 Tablespoon baking soda

Procedure
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, butter, and salt.
3. Remove ½ cup of the mixture and set aside.
4. In a small bowl, beat the egg. Add the molasses and cold water. Stir and set aside.
5. In another small bowl, mix the hot water with the baking soda and blend into the molasses mixture.
6. Add to the flour mixture and mix well Pour into the pie shell and top with the reserved crumbs.
7. Bake for 35 minutes.
8. The pie filling will appear jelly-like but will firm up as it cools.
9. Transfer to a rack to cool completely before cutting.