I recently read a book called "Friendship Bread" and have added it to our shelves. The book is sweet, uplifting (without being too holier-than-thou) and contains recipes for the so called "Amish" Friendship Bread, and variations.
Now, for those of you not familiar with this, how shall I say, nightmare, it all started with a troop of girl scouts in the 1980's. The bread, which is like a sourdough since it has a starter that must be tended to and fed, became a phenomenon in the U.S. and still makes the rounds in many offices. The idea is that you start this, and after a certain time, "share" with friends, giving the instructions for feeding and for baking.
It all sounds really good, but people run from you eventually,kind of like summer gardening when you and your neighbors grow the same things and can't get rid of them....
In the book, a natural disaster happens in a neighboring town, and the over-run with starter town bakes off all of their bread to share.
It got me thinking that if this is meant to be a friendship bread, then perhaps keeping the recipe and some starter in the freezer is not a bad idea. For times just like now with Joplin, MO pretty much being wiped off of the map, maybe, just maybe, for some, some of that bread would be a comfort....or maybe just a soup kitchen or a shelter would welcome your loaves....just a thought.
Now, for those of you not familiar with this, how shall I say, nightmare, it all started with a troop of girl scouts in the 1980's. The bread, which is like a sourdough since it has a starter that must be tended to and fed, became a phenomenon in the U.S. and still makes the rounds in many offices. The idea is that you start this, and after a certain time, "share" with friends, giving the instructions for feeding and for baking.
It all sounds really good, but people run from you eventually,kind of like summer gardening when you and your neighbors grow the same things and can't get rid of them....
In the book, a natural disaster happens in a neighboring town, and the over-run with starter town bakes off all of their bread to share.
It got me thinking that if this is meant to be a friendship bread, then perhaps keeping the recipe and some starter in the freezer is not a bad idea. For times just like now with Joplin, MO pretty much being wiped off of the map, maybe, just maybe, for some, some of that bread would be a comfort....or maybe just a soup kitchen or a shelter would welcome your loaves....just a thought.