Favorite Ingredient Friday - Amish Friendship Bread Starter

A couple of weeks ago, a dear friend of mine and I met for dinner and she brought me a bag of Amish Friendship Bread starter. Most of you know what this is, but for those who don't - its so much fun and a cute "gift" for a friend. I plan on making a few starters up, pairing them with a Christmas dish towel and a wooden spoon - a little Christmas ribbon, or red and green rafia and wa-lah - a cute little hostess gift, or something fun for a neighbor. Here is the recipe for the starter:

Amish Friendship Bread Starter

Ingredients: 1 package active dry yeast 1/4 cup warm water 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided 3 cups white sugar, divided 3 cups milk Directions: Step 1: In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container (anything but metal), combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature. Step 2: On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a wooden spoon. Step 3: Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Step 4: Days 6 thru 9; stir only. Step 5: Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2). **Tip**: Once you have made the starter, you will consider it Day One, skip step 1 and proceed with step 2. Enjoy!