1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 c. warm water (110 degrees)
1 c. all purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. warm milk (110 degrees

STARTER FOOD: (every 5 days)
1 c. all purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk

In small bowl, soften yeast in water for about 10 minutes. Stir well. In a 2 quart glass, plastic, or ceramic container. Combine flour and sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in warm milk and softened yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature until bubbly. Refrigerate. Consider this Day 1 of a 10 day cycle.

Days 2-4, stir with a spoon.

Day 5, to feed, blend flour and sugar in a small bowl. Slowly mix in milk with a spoon, whisk or hand mixer. Stir mixture into starter. Return to refrigerator.

Day 6-9, stir.

Day 10, (which becomes Day 1 for the next series) feed again.

NOTE: Consider the 10 day cycle a guide. It doesn't need to be followed exactly. If you need more starter, feed it more often. The starter is yeast culture and will grow when fed. To hasten growth, leave starter at room temperature for several hours.

BASIC FRIENDSHIP BREAD:

2 c. all purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1 1/4 baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 c. Friendship starter
2/3 c. vegetable oil
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1-2 c. optional addition (see below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans with shortening.

In a large mixer bowl, sift or thoroughly mix flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add starter, eggs, vanilla, and mix well. Stir in optional ingredients and divide batter between the prepared pans. Bake about 55 minutes (exact time will vary because of differences of optionals). Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes then turn out of pans and cool.

Optional Additions:

Raisins, chopped pitted dates, nuts, dried cherries, mashed ripe bananas, blueberries, coconut, canned pumpkin, chocolate chips, chopped apples, grated carrot, grated zucchini.