Can't Live Without Them

At least I wouldn't call it living.  Life without friends and family, not a very good life. They make everything better.  They help celebrate all the good things that happen in our lives and are there for us through the bad times too.  What would we do without them.  The making of this recipe is a process over time just like the making of any good friendship is and the results are just as good.  Friends and family can make a huge difference even in the smallest things.  This is a great recipe for sharing with your friends and  for starting some new friendships as well.  Perfect for giving as gifts too.  Who wouldn't love some homemade bread?

Friendship Bread

1 Pkg Yeast
1/4 Cup Warm Water
3 Cup Flour
3 Cup Sugar
3 Cup Milk

Do not use any metal.   I use a gallon Ziploc bag.  Do not refrigerate.  You will have to let the air out of the bag every so often when it builds up.

Day 1  (if making starter follow this)
Pour 1/4 Cup warm water into bag.  Add yeast.  Let dissolve.  Add 1 cup of flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk.  Close bag.  Mush together until mixed.

Day1 (if been given the starter)
Mush the bag

Day 2, 3, & 4
Mush the bag

Day 5
Add to bag 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.  Mush together.

Day 6, 7, 8 & 9
Mush the bag

Day 10

Pour entire contents from the bag into a non-metal bowl.

Add 1cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk 

Measure out 1 cup of batter and place in non-metal bowl.  The remaining batter measure out 1 cup each into 1 gallon bags. Keep a starter for yourself and give the others to friends along with a copy of this recipe.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

To the batter in the bowl add:

3 eggs

1 cup oil (or 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup applesauce)

1/2 cup milk

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon (optional)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups flour

1 large box instant pudding (any flavor you want)

Grease 2 large loaf pans and mix additional 1/2 teaspoon sugar and a 1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust the

greased pans with half the mixture.

Pour the batter evenly into the pans and sprinkle with the remaining sugar and cinnamon mixture over the

top. (You can also try using a mixture of cocoa powder and sugar to dust pans and

sprinkle the top of the batter with or even try brown sugar).

8. Bake 1 hour (check the last 10 minutes of baking). Cool until the bread loosens from the pan evenly (about

10 minutes). Turn onto a serving dish. Serve warm or cold.

Lots of options:  

Add a cup or so of nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit or even toffee pieces.  Mix and match your favorite pudding flavors.  One of  favorites is white chocolate pudding with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.  Yummy!