Amish Friendship Cake

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 fluid ounce warm water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup sourdough starter
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Recipe

• to make starter: dissolve yeast in warm water. add 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup of the flour, and 1 cup of the milk in a non-metal bowl and stir with a non-metal spoon until creamy. cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place for two days to ferment. it will become bubbly and have a sour odor. do not place in refrigerator. on second day, third day, and fourth day: stir. on fifth day, add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk, and stir. on sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth day: stir. on tenth day add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. reserve 1 cup starter; pour remaining starter, 1 cup each, into 3 containers to give away to friends if desired. starter is enough for 8 loaves.
• to make cakes: preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). grease two 8 or 9 inch loaf pans.
• mix 1 cup of the starter, oil, baking powder, eggs, 1 cup of the sugar, 2 cups of the flour, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, vanilla, and chopped nuts. stir in the baking soda just before pouring the batter into the prepared pans.
• bake at 350 degrees f (175 degrees c) for 45 minutes to 1 hour. bananas, dates, or raisins can be added for variety.