Amish Friendship Bread

FRIENDSHIP FOOD

A girlfriend of mine gave me a bag of Amish Friendship Bread starter along with directions.  The directions are very specific.  At the end of 10 days, it is ready for you to add the additional ingredients and pass on a starter to some friends.  Today I baked my portion and it wa absolutely delicious!

This is a great idea for a complimentary item for your Supper Swap entree.

Or you can pass it on with Amish Friendship Soup, Mason Jar, 24 oz.

It also makes for a great Holiday gift idea.

After you have made or recieved a starter follow the following directions below:

Important Note: Don't use metal spoons or equipment. Do not refrigerate. Use only glazed ceramic or plastic bowls or containers.

Required Main Ingredient
1 cup live yeast starter (see above)
day 1: Do nothing with the starter.
days 2-5: Stir with a wooden spoon.
day 6: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Stir with a wooden spoon.
days 7-9: Stir with a wooden spoon.
Day 10: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Stir. Take out 3 cups and place 1 cup each into three separate plastic containers. Give one cup and a copy of this recipe to three friends. To the balance (a little over one cup) of the batter, add the following ingredients and mix well.

1 cup oil

1/2 cup milk

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

In a separate bowl combine the following dry ingredients and mix well:

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1-1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 - (5.1 oz) box instant vanilla pudding

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup nuts

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix and pour into two well greased and sugared bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Enjoy!


 

Taco Soup

TACO SOUP

Ingredients:
1 medium onion

1 can corn

2 can beans (black, pinto, kidney, white, etc.)

2 can Stewed Tomatoes

1 Can green chilies

1 package taco seasoning (dry)

1 package Original Ranch Dressing Mix (dry)

Optional:

Add tortilla chips and or a sour cream

Directions:
Saute meat and onion.
Add rest of ingredients, mix well and simmer 30-45 min.

What a Crock of......Soup!

Recently, I dug out the Crock Pot  from my appliance graveyard cabinet.  I eyed it like a foreigner.  I wondered where it originally came from.  If my memory serves me I think it was a wedding gift.  One of those obligatory items I thought I had to register for. Its history dates back to the 70's and slow cooking even further back. 

I never pictured myself as an Ozzie and Harriet sort of wife but I thought I would attempt to get to know this new/old appliance. Now that I was welcoming this new visitor back into my home, I figured I best learn its language. So out came the step stool to help me reach the upper shelf where the cookbooks collected dust and down came the Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting with Your Slow Cooker cookbook.

Little did I know this odd little appliance would soon become my best "Mother's Helper!"  The crock pot is ideal for making large quantities for supper swapping, freezing extra helpings etc. 

With the wonderful odor emanating from it, it creates the grand illusion that I have been slaving in the kitchen all day.  Throw a little flour on your face and greet your spouse at the end of the day. I guarantee you will be greeted with "MMMMMM smells good.  What's cookin?"  Oh nothin, you reply.  Just a little something I whipped up...NOT! 

One of my recent forays into crock pot cooking was French Onion Soup.  It makes approximately 10 servings and was delicious.  I have included the recipe below for you to try.  Enjoy!

FRENCH ONION SOUP

Ingredients:
8-10 large onions, sliced (Note: its worth shedding a few tears over)
1/2 cup butter or margarine
6 10 1/2 oz. cans condensed beef broth
1 1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
10 slices french bread toasted
Grated parmesan and/or mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Saute onions in butter unitl crisp-tender. Transfer to slow cooker.
Add broth, worcestershire sauce.
Cover. Cook on low 5-7 hours, or until onions are tneder.
Ladle into bowls or french bread bowls.
Top each with a slice of bread and cheese.
Microwave to melt cheese.

  

Bulk Buying and Meal Planning

FROM WAREHOUSE TO MY HOUSE

I can not extol enough the virtues of bulk buying and having a second freezer. I guarantee over time, this will save you time and money!  Our second freezer is in the garage.  We have a large pantry to accommodate the oversize dry goods inside. However, if you don't have the space inside, designate a shelf in your garage.

My family and I conduct what we refer to as "The Big Shop" at either Costco or Sam's Club 1-2 times a year.  When we return home we form an assembly line and label freezer bags using a Sharpie with the date and name of each item. For tips on how to freeze food properly and avoid freezer burn  visit the highlighted link above.

If you are located near a Sams' Club, a little known secret is the Click N' Pull Service.  You can shop on-line and schedule your pick-up. No more wandering through the warehouse filling your cart with "wants" rather than "needs". Your cart is ready for you on arrival.  You may still need to shop for desinated perishables like meats.  This can be done online or if you already completed your "Big Shop" you can supplement what you need at the local supermarket.

Once you are stocked, you can then plan your meals on a weekly or monthly basis including the ingredients you have in-stock. You can thumb through cookbooks, subscribe to a meal planning service or use meal planning software.

If your meal planning for a day that you are doing a supper swap you can increase the ingredients in the recipe easily for the amount of people needed to serve using meal planning software.  The added advantage of using a meal planning software is that many will generate a shopping lists for you of ingredients that you may need to purchase for a particular recipe.

 Fix, Freeze, Feast: Prepare in Bulk and Enjoy by the Serving - More than 125 Recipes.  Don't spend every night slaving over the stove. Pre-plan, prepare, pre-cook and spend that valueable time saved with your family!

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