I’m back from a long weekend with my family and as always I’ve returned home with more bags than I left with. This time, however, in addition to the usual containers of treats and food from my mom and grandmas (apparently they’re still not convinced I can make it on my own), I also have a Ziploc bag of batter and a recipe from a stranger. (Oh, and a revolutionary H20 Mop Steam Cleaner – but that’s another story for another post.)
I know. How does one end up with such a “gift” from a stranger? While leaving a Good Friday service at my mom’s church I suddenly hear, “Oh Sarah and Terry will do that, won’t you?” And just like that my mom thrusts a bag of batter into my hands and a smiling woman tells me to enjoy.
As we get into the car to drive back to my parents’ house and my initial shock wears off, I ask my mom to explain again why I’m holding a gooey bag and what I’m supposed to do with it. “Oh we did it with muffins and had them coming out our ears. You just mush the bag and then on day 10 you give three away and bake one for yourself.” She says it as though it’s the most normal thing in the world. But I’m confused and a little grossed out. I mean, sometimes I have trouble eating at other people’s houses or at restaurants (how do I know where other people’s hands have been?).
At any rate, we arrive at the house and Terry (always the more enthusiastic of the two of us) adds the day six ingredients (flour, milk and sugar) to the bag and sets himself to mushing. And on Sunday as we load our car up to head home my mom convinces us to bring the sticky bag of batter with us. “I just love the thought of people all over Toronto making bread.”
As it turns out, what we’re making is Amish Friendship Bread and it’s the recipe equivalent of a chain letter. The batter requires no refrigeration, takes only a few basic ingredients to complete and yields a total of five batches. The idea being that after 10 days you will have one batch to bake (it makes two loaves), one batch to save so you can start a new cycle and three batches to share with friends. Now I have to admit I’m intrigued. It’s a recipe that just keeps on giving.
I also really like the symbolism. At a time when so many people are struggling, I can’t help but feel like this simple recipe and the act of sharing it are significant. They’ve reminded me of the importance of sharing what I have (be it a little or a lot) and of breaking bread with my friends and family. I’m inspired.
Here’s hoping you get your daily bread today, too.
(Note: If you’d like to start your own batch, I found a starter kit recipe at allrecipes.com.)
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