FRIENDSHIP BREAD STARTER

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
2 cups milk
2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
2 cups sugar

Day 1: In a glass, or ceramic bowl, combine first 3 ingredients thoroughly. Leave on counter uncovered; don't refrigerate.

Days 2, 3, and 4: Stir well with wooden spoon.

Day 5: Stir and add 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar. This is called feeding the starter.

Days 6, 7 and 8: Stir with wooden spoon.

Day 9: Stir and add 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup sugar. Stir well.

Days 10 and 11: Stir well

Day 12: Ladle 1 cup of starter into each of 4 containers, and refrigerate.

Use 1 to make the bread recipe that follows, keep one for your use another time and give 2 others to friends. (if your making the cake you need 2 cups of the starter) Date the jars and every 10 days remove the starter from the refrigerator, transfer it into a bowl and feed it the usual 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup sugar. Leave it outside the refrigerator, uncovered, for 2 days, then either bake it or divide it among friends and always save some for yourself.

FRIENDSHIP BREAD

1 cup starter
3 eggs
2/3 cup oil
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans
2 medium apples, peeled and finely chopped

Grease 2 (9 x 5-inch) loaf pans. In a large mixing bowl, beat together starter, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and blend. Fold in nuts and apples and transfer batter to prepared loaf pans. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50 minutes and remove from oven.
Allow bread to cool for 10 minutes then tip out onto rack to finish cooling completely.
Variation: To make 24 muffins, spoon into greased muffin tins and bake 25 to 30 minutes.

FRIENDSHIP CAKE

2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups friendship starter
1 1/2 to 2 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt

Combine oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla beat until light.
Add starter and beat until smooth.
Blend dry ingredients together and fold into starter mixture.
Pour into greased Bundt pan and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

Variations: Just before baking fold in up to 2 cups chopped nuts, diced apple, or applesauce or raisins. For a chocolate version substitute 1/2 cup of cocoa for the cinnamon and nutmeg and add ingredients such as chocolate chips and nuts.