Friendship Bread

I know! It has been FOREVER!  I have been traveling the country and spending some much needed time with my family, my mom especially!  So there you have it, my excuse for lack of posts, take it for what it is worth!

Now, on to yummier (is that a word?) things!

I don't know about you but Spring makes me feel all friendly and stuff.  I think that might be because I can finally venture outside of my house without getting frostbite.  Or maybe it is the sun finally making an appearance, or all the friendly flowers popping up.  Well, whatever the reason I usually end up making Friendship Bread and spreading around the love.  So this time I decided to spread it around on a much bigger level, the only catch is you have to make it yourself!  We have been making this recipe in my family for a while so I have no idea exactly where it came from, I know there are lots of recipes for this bread out there but here is mine...
* The starter for this bread has to sit for 10 days so plan in advance, it is well worth the wait!

Friendship Bread

Starter

2 1/4 t yeast (one package)
1/4 c warm water
1 c flour
1 c sugar
1 c milk

Dissolve the yeast in the water.  In a different bowl mix together flour,sugar, and milk.  Add the yeast mixture and mix well. Store this in a large jar with a lid or in a large zip lock bag on the counter, DO NOT REFRIGERATE!

This bag will take 10 days and makes 2 loaves plus 3 starters to give to friends.  Make sure to put the date on the bag to track the days.

Day 1:  Do nothing
Days 2-5:  Mash, yes, mash your bag 2 times a day
Day 6: Add one cup flour, one cup sugar and one cup milk to the bag and mash together
Day 7-9: Mash the bag and release the air 2 times a day
Day 10:  YES!  Today is the day!  The day you get to make your bread! Follow the direction below...
* If you forgot and today is really day 11 or even 12, do not fret, you can still make your bread*

Squeeze the contents of the bag into a large bowl.  Add one cup flour, one cup sugar and one cup milk to the bowl and mix together.  Now get 3 big baggies and add one cup of this mixture to each bag (this is the starter for 3 more batches for you to share, keep one for yourself if you want to make more bread in 10 days!)

Now, here is what you do with what is left in the bowl...

Add:

1 c oil
3 eggs
1/2 c milk
1 t vanilla

Mix this well and set aside.

In another bowl mix:

2 cups flour
1 c sugar
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 t cinnamon
1 large box instant vanilla pudding (you can also add other flavors of pudding, chocolate is really good, so is butterscotch)

Add these ingredients to the starter mixture and mix well.

In a small bowl mix together 1/2 cup sugar and 1 t cinnamon.

Spray 2 loaf pans.  Pour 1/4 of the cinnamon and sugar mixture into the bottom of each pan to coat the bottom.  Divide the bead batter evenly between the pans and top with the remaining cinnamon and sugar.

Bake at 325 for one hour.