Amish Friendship Starter - you may also hear it called Herman Starter. This is a sweet starter mix used for sweet breads, coffee cakes and the like. It's not typically used for regular bread baking.
Here's how you go about making and using Herman Starter.
Day 1: Stir together 1 cup flour, 1 cup warm water, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 envelope (or equivalent) yeast. Mix the ingredients well (no metal utensils) and place in medium sized glass bowl. Cover with dinner plate so as not to cover tightly. Let stand overnight in warm place.
Day 2: Stir and cover.
Day 3: Stir and cover.
Day 4: Stir and cover.
Day 5: Blend in 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sugar. Cover.
Day 6: Stir and cover.
Day 7: Stir and cover.
Day 8: Stir and cover.
Day 9: Stir and cover.
Day 10: Blend in 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sugar. Cover.
(Important - do not refrigerate batter at any time)
On the 10th day, after adding the flour, milk and sugar; measure out 3 separate cups of starter. Give one cup starter and a copy of these instructions to each of three friends. You should have a cup remaining for yourself.
Friendship Bread
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 box (4 serving size) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
3 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 to 3/4 cup raisins that have been re-hydrated with water (or Maker's Mark Bourbon).
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10 cup bundt pan then sprinkle with sugar (pretend you're coating with flour).
Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, pudding mix, cinnamon, baking soda and salt, set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the Amish Friendship Starter, eggs, oil and vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just blended. Finally stir in any additions (raisins, chocolate chips, fruit and more). Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake at 350°F for 50 - 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.